Stress Test for Heart: What Is the Purpose and Procedure of a Heart Stress Test?
By: Fourth Frontier Desk -
December 8, 2022 7:15 pm
We live in a fast-paced world where stress has become a part of our life. As widespread as it may be, it’s important to understand that chronic stress can cause (ref. link) depression, anxiety, and cardiovascular diseases. Doctors often recommend stress tests to determine heart health. A cardiac stress test and exercise stress test determines how well your heart responds when it’s made to work at its hardest. It is a great way to assess whether your heart is healthy.
What Is The Purpose Of Doing A Stress Test?
According to the British Heart Foundation (ref. link), the stress test helps you and the doctor understand how well your heart pumps blood, and whether it is receiving an adequate blood supply. It lets the doctor analyze if you have any issues with your muscles or valves. Depending on the stress test results, the doctor determines whether you need additional tests.
Types Of Stress Tests
MedicalNewsToday (ref. link) states that there are three types of stress tests.
- Exercise Stress Test: In this test, the doctor aims to determine the person’s heart rate, how tired they feel during different levels of physical activity, and their blood pressure. The exercise stress test takes place on a treadmill, with the patient made to jog and continually increasing speeds. The doctor attaches sticky electrodes to the person’s chest so they can monitor the heart and analyze the readings.
- Nuclear Test: As per the National Heart, Lung, & Blood Institute (ref. link), a nuclear test, also known as thallium stress test, is performed after the exercise test. Here the doctor injects a tracer dye into the arm of the person taking the test. The tracer dye helps highlight the heart and blood flow on an image, and is able to show the areas of the heart where the blood is not flowing.
- Stress Echocardiogram: This is similar to the stress test but provides in-depth details about the heart. Doctors perform an echocardiogram before and at peak exercise. It evaluates blood flow through your heart, the pumping chambers of the heart, and the valve functioning.
What Is The Process Of Stress Test?
Stress tests take place on a treadmill, and the speed and grade of the treadmill increases as the test continues. It lasts for 15-20 minutes. The doctor may ask you to stop the test if you experience chest pains, fatigue, or weakness. Your heart rate and breathing will be monitored for a short while, even after the test. It is advisable to report any chest pains or complications you notice before starting the test. Before the test begins your doctor can check your heart and breathing by attacking stick pads to your body. You will get your results a few days after the test has been completed.
Finally, though stress tests are extremely valuable, they are a snapshot of the functioning of your heart at the time of the test. These tests are usually no longer than 30 minutes, so what do you do if you want to monitor the functioning of your heart through the day, through all your different activities.
Do not worry, because our patented Frontier X2 heart monitoring device allows exactly this. Purchase the Frontier X2 to always know how healthy your heart is!
Frequently Asked Questions on Heart Stress Test:
What Is a Stress Test?
Stress test determines how well your heart responds when working at its hardest. It is a good way to assess if the heart is healthy.
What Are The Three Types Of Stress Test?
There are three types of stress test- the exercise stress test, the stress echocardiogram, and the nuclear stress test.
What Is The Duration Of A Stress Test?
The stress test lasts for 15-20 minutes. The doctor may ask you to stop the test if you experience chest pains, fatigue, or weakness.
Where Is the Stress Test Performed?
It is performed in a doctor’s office or hospital.
What is the normal heart rate during a stress test?
During a stress test, the heart rate should increase in a predictable way as the intensity of the exercise increases. The normal heart rate during a stress test depends on a number of factors, including your age, fitness level, and the type of test being performed.
As a general rule, the heart rate should increase by about 10-20 beats per minute (bpm) for each 1-minute stage of the test. For example, if you are 50 years old, your resting heart rate may be 70 bpm. During the first stage of the test, your heart rate may increase to 90 bpm. During the second stage, it may increase to 110 bpm, and so on.
The goal of the test is to increase the heart rate to a certain level, usually between 85-95% of the maximum heart rate for your age. The maximum heart rate can be calculated using the formula: 220 – age = maximum heart rate. For example, if you are 50 years old, your maximum heart rate would be 170 bpm (220 – 50 = 170). During the stress test, the goal would be to increase the heart rate to around 153-162 bpm (85-95% of 170 bpm).
Other Heart Health Topics To Explore:
Heart Rate While Running | Mental Stress Symptoms | Heart Attack Symptoms | Heart Palpitations Causes | Increased Heart rate | AFib Risk Factors | Low Carb Diet | Heart Palpitations After Eating | Silent heart attack | Stress Test for Heart
Frontier X2:
Smart Heart ECG Monitor in USA | ECG Machine Price in India | Best Heart Rate Monitor UK
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