Graded Exercise Testing (Stress Test)

An ECG (also called EKG) is one of the simplest and fastest procedures used to evaluate the heart. Electrodes (small, plastic patches) are placed at certain locations on your chest, arms, and legs. When the electrodes are connected to the ECG machine by lead wires, the electrical activity of your heart is measured, interpreted, and printed out for the physician's information and further interpretation.

An exercise ECG is performed to assess the heart's response to stress or exercise. The ECG is monitored while you are exercising on a treadmill.

An ECG tracing will be run at certain points during the test in order to compare the effects of increasing stress on the heart. On a treadmill, the incline and treadmill speed will be increased periodically in order to make you exercise harder. You will exercise until reaching a target heart rate (determined by the physician based on your age and physical status) or until you are unable to continue due to fatigue, shortness of breath, chest pain, irregular heart rhythms, or other symptoms.

How is the exercise ECG test performed?

The procedure is performed in a physician's office, clinic, hospital, or medical center. The equipment used includes an ECG machine, electrodes (small, plastic patches that stick on the skin), and lead wires which attach to the skin electrodes. A blood pressure cuff attached to an electronic monitoring machine is used. A treadmill is used for exercise.

You will have initial, or "baseline," ECG and blood pressure readings done while sitting, prior to exercising. You will walk on the treadmill during the exercise portion of the procedure. The incline of the treadmill will be gradually increased in order to give you a harder workout. ECG and blood pressure will be monitored during the exercise portion of the test. You will then sit after exercising while ECG and blood pressure are monitored for a short time, perhaps another 10 to 15 minutes or so.

The procedure will take approximately one hour, including check-in, preparation, and the actual procedure.

After the procedure, a hospital stay is not necessary, unless your physician determines that your condition requires further observation or hospital admission.

Your may feel a little tired or sore for a few hours after the procedure, particularly if you are not used to exercising. Otherwise, you should feel normal within a few hours after the procedure, if not sooner.

Depending on the results of the exercise ECG, additional tests or procedures may be scheduled to gather further diagnostic information.