Do I Need to Prepare for an Exercise Stress Test?

When doctors suspect heart disease, they order an exercise stress test to diagnose heart problems. This noninvasive test requires running on a treadmill or riding an exercise bike to see how your heart responds to stress.

Although it's less invasive than other cardiac tests, there are some ways you need to prepare for it to ensure the results are accurate. The Heart Clinic of Hammond team specializes in diagnostic heart procedures and treatments.

Dr. Ghiath Mikdadi and Dr. Farid Zayed are our cardiovascular experts. They offer tips on preparing for your exercise stress test and getting the results quickly and accurately.

What is an exercise stress test?

An exercise stress test is an exam we use to see how your heart responds to physical stress. It allows us to learn different things about your heart, including:

• How well the heart is pumping
• How your heart responds to physical activity
• If you're getting adequate blood to the heart
• If we can reproduce any symptoms during the test

Walking on a treadmill or riding a stationary bike to get your heart rate up gives us much information on cardiac health. During the test, we have you attached to an EKG machine to monitor cardiac activity.

An exercise stress test is crucial in determining if you have any valvular heart disease, issues with blood supply, and how stable your heart's electrical system is during physical activity.

Is preparation necessary before a stress test?

Although an exercise stress test isn't invasive, knowing how to prepare for it is essential. Preparation ensures you're ready to walk, run on a treadmill, or ride a bike.

Preparation before the test is essential to ensure accurate results. Certain medications and activities before the test may alter the results, changing your diagnosis and treatment plan.

Things to do before the stress test

Before the stress test, we go over how to prepare for the test ahead of time. Following the preparation tips is crucial to ensure your test goes smoothly. The "dos" before an exercise stress test include:

• Relax beforehand
• Wear comfortable clothes
• Bring sneakers
• Discuss all your medications
• Talk about any concerns you have
• Shower beforehand

Talking to us about your current medications is especially important because calcium channel blockers and beta-blockers may change the results. Stop taking them a day before the exercise stress test.

Is there anything I should avoid?

There are also a few things to avoid before the stress test. It's vital to follow these instructions, as they may change the results or cause us to cancel the stress test for another time.

At your initial appointment, we discuss what to avoid before the test to ensure you're ready for test day. Avoid the following on the day of the exercise stress test:

• Caffeine for at least 24 hours
• Tobacco products
• Drink or food for several hours beforehand
• Certain medications or supplements
• Restrictive clothing
• Open-toed shoes

Don't hesitate to contact our team if you have any questions leading up to the exercise stress test. We can answer anything you need about preparing for the test to ensure you get a proper diagnosis and treatment.

Call the Heart Clinic of Hammond team today to schedule an exercise stress test with Dr. Mikdadi or Dr. Zayed. You can also request a consultation on our website.