Cardio stress testing is the most powerful tool physicians have when it comes to uncovering artery blockages without using an invasive method. Cardio stress tests are safe for the patient and can be completed in a short doctor’s visit. From the perspective of a physician, the medical devices involved in performing a stress test are relatively inexpensive, meaning it’s possible for most practices to do the testing on site.
Why Do Physicians Perform Cardio Stress Tests?
The main reason physicians perform cardio stress tests is to see if a patient has artery blockages. Often, a patient will have symptoms of heart disease, but nothing shows up when doctors exam the patient or give an ECG. The reason for this is often because the blockage is not yet bad enough to stress the heart under normal circumstances. A stress test reveals how the heart works during physical exertion, so it may point to a blockage that might not otherwise be detected before the situation becomes severe.
Doctors also rely on stress tests because they are non-invasive. Any invasive procedure on a heart patient is risky, especially when a doctor is not confident about the exact extent of the heart damage.
How Do Physicians Conduct Cardio Stress Tests?
The medical products needed for a cardio test are relatively simple. First, patients are given an ECG while resting to get a base for their normal heart rate. Then, while still attached to the ECG machine, patients start walking on a treadmill so doctors can monitor what is happening with their hearts during exercise. The level of exercise is gradually increased until the patient cannot keep up any more or until the ECG machine warns of a major heart problem. The results of the test are then compared to the baseline rate to determine whether there is a blockage.
The ECG machine is supplied by medical device manufacturers, but the treadmill is not a special medical model. Most physicians purchase this “medical supply” from a workout equipment store.
Cardio stress tests are considered a safe diagnostic method for heart patients, as long as they are carefully monitored.
