A cardiac stress test is an excellent diagnostic tool which may be necessary for several different reasons. In general terms, this is a test to see how healthy the heart is and if it is functioning properly. By exercising the heart, or stressing, it forces the organ to work harder and more efficiently than when at rest. This test monitors both the heart and blood pressure.
These tests are often ordered after cardiac surgery, or when a person states they have heart issues while exercising in some manner.
You have described a cardiac stress test.
A cardiac stress test is a test which is used to measure the heart's ability to handle stress. It is usually done by having the patient walk on a treadmill. The doctor will gradually increase the speed and incline and measure the heart's response.
This is a type of cardiac stress test for detecting cardiovascular disease.
A cardiac stress test is always done under the monitored supervision of a professional doctor. That way, if there is an emergency, you are already in the hospital and it runs a lower risk of something happening to you.
Troponin is a cardiac enzyme that your heart releases under stress.
Nuclear cardiac stress test
In cardiac stress test, you have to walk on moving belt. Gradually the speed of walking in increased and soon you may find yourself in running position. At the same time you are under observation of the cardiac specialist and you are monitored on cardiac monitor and your ECG is recorded at different intervals. This gives very good idea about your cardiac status.
Thallium is the most common radiopharmaceutical used in nuclear medicine cardiac stress tests. Thallium shows how well blood travels through the heart in an active or stressful environment.
No changes in diet or medication are necessary. An ECG will probably be done before the test.
A stress test is one of the most commonly used tests to measure and assess cardiac fitness, as is an EKG (electrocardiogram).
There is a very slight risk of myocardial infarction (a heart attack) from the exercise, as well as cardiac arrhythmia (irregular heart beats), angina, or cardiac arrest (about one in 100,000).
Treadmill test- Exercise electrocardiography that is done to determine if the heart is receiving enough blood during exercise; also called cardiac stress test.