Stress Test

Stress Test services offered in Homestead, FL

An electrocardiogram (EKG) often reveals what’s causing heart-related symptoms, but if yours is inconclusive, stress testing could be the solution. Cardiovascular Wellness Center in Homestead, Florida, provides state-of-the-art stress testing facilities to help them diagnose symptoms that aren’t clear when your heart is at rest. The practice uses the latest technology for shorter test times and increased patient comfort. Call Cardiovascular Wellness Center to learn more or book an appointment online today.

What is stress testing?

Stress testing is a method of analyzing how well your heart works when it’s beating hard. The stress aspect of the test involves exercising to raise your heart rate or taking medication that replicates the effect of exercise on your heart.

Blood needs to pump around your body more quickly when you’re physically active, revealing information about how well your heart’s working that doesn’t show up on regular cardiac tests.

Your Cardiovascular Wellness Center provider can measure your heart’s performance using electrocardiogram (EKG) technology, which records the electrical activity in your heart. Or you could undergo a stress echocardiogram to produce images of your heart’s chambers and valves.

Why would I need to take part in stress testing?

You might need to take part in stress testing if you have symptoms of a heart problem, but nothing is showing on a resting EKG.

Not all heart conditions cause symptoms that an EKG can detect without the additional stress of exercising. You could have a disorder like arrhythmia or coronary artery disease (CAD) that doesn’t cause abnormal EKG readings, but the evidence is there when you have a stress test.

Stress testing is also useful for patients already undergoing treatment at Cardiovascular Wellness Center. The test enables your provider to assess how well your treatment program is working and make any necessary adjustments.

What does stress testing involve?

Before you undergo stress testing, you should stop eating and drinking. The Cardiovascular Wellness Center team tells you how long and what other preparations you need to make. For instance, you might have to avoid taking certain medications or drinking anything containing caffeine.

The first step in stress testing is attaching the electrodes to your body. These thin wires with sticky pads on the ends send back electrical activity readings from your heart to the EKG machine. After fitting the electrodes, your provider asks you to begin exercising.

Once you reach the target heart rate your provider sets, you can start slowing down again. The electrodes keep transmitting until your heart rate returns to normal. Once they’ve analyzed your stress test results, your provider discusses the findings with you.

If you have symptoms of a heart condition but the cause isn’t clear, stress testing could pinpoint the underlying issue. Call Cardiovascular Wellness Center or request an appointment online today to learn more about stress testing and what it involves.