Many people who experience chest pain might not seek medical attention immediately. They might only go for a check-up after their symptoms have already disappeared, leading to abnormalities not being discovered during an electrocardiogram. However, an exercise stress test (EST) can make it possible to render an accurate disease diagnosis and differentiation to facilitate more effective treatment and recovery of heart performance.
What is an exercise stress test?
EST or an exercise stress test is an electrocardiogram administered while exercising by walking on a treadmill or while pedaling a bicycle. The test allows doctors to detect various abnormalities like breathing difficulty, chest pain and tightness, abnormal heartbeat and changes in the electrical waves of the heart in order to diagnose ischemic cardiomyopathy during exercise. If a patient is suffering from ischemic cardiomyopathy or coronary arterial disease, there will be insufficient blood supply during exercise, thus causing the electrical waves of the heart to change. Some cases experience pain and potentially-dangerous chest tightness, if they are unaware that it is caused by a heart disease.
Have confidence in safety with close care from an expert.
After interviewing the person undergoing the test to learn the person’s history, with emphasis on current symptoms and family history of heart disease, both the doctor and nurses during the test will closely monitor the patient. If there is any symptom of tightness or pain in the chest, the patient can notify the doctor or a nurse right away. During the exercise, a device will measure the patient’s blood pressure, pulse and electrical waves of the heart, with results periodically recorded every 3 minutes, depending on the test plan. The nurse will ask the patient about symptoms of chest pain, fatigue, tiredness, heart palpitations and dizziness during the test in order to understand whether the blood supply to the brain is abnormal or if there are factors contributing to ischemic cardiomyopathy. If the patient experiences chest pain, the doctor will observe the electrical waves to determine whether there are changes in pulse and blood pressure under safely controlled conditions. If an abnormality is discovered, the test will be terminated, then an assessment will be performed to identify the disease and specify a treatment guideline.
The test is easy to perform and prepare for.
When preparing for the test, the patient should fast from food and water and stop smoking for 3-4 hours. During the patient’s last meal before the test, the patient should avoid fatty food, tea and coffee and should wear comfortable clothing that is suitable for exercise and wear shoes that allow the patient to walk or run flexibly. In addition, the patient needs to temporarily halt use of drugs that slow down heartrate such as beta-blockers. If the patient is regularly taking medications, the patient should inform the doctor in order to receive appropriate recommendations what to do on the test date. The patient should also arrive with a close acquaintance such as a relative or friend to help with care and consultation. After the test is over, the patient can eat, take medications and perform other activities normally, except in some cases prohibited by the doctor.
