Exercise Stress Test

What Is an Exercise Stress Test?

An exercise stress test (treadmill test) monitors your heart while you walk or jog on a treadmill. As the speed and incline gradually increase, your doctor watches how your heart responds to physical effort. Your heart rate, blood pressure, and EKG are recorded throughout the test to see if your heart is getting enough blood flow during activity.

Why Is It Done?

Your doctor may recommend a stress test if you’re experiencing chest discomfort, shortness of breath during activity, or unexplained fatigue. It helps determine whether your symptoms are related to your heart and can uncover problems that don’t show up when you’re resting. It’s also used to evaluate exercise tolerance, guide treatment decisions, or clear you for surgery or a new exercise program.

What to Expect

You’ll be connected to an EKG machine with small electrode patches on your chest, and a blood pressure cuff will be placed on your arm. You’ll start walking slowly on a treadmill, and every few minutes the speed and incline will increase. The goal is to raise your heart rate to a target level. Most people exercise for 7 to 12 minutes. If you feel dizzy, have chest pain, or become too tired, the test will be stopped immediately. You’ll be monitored for several minutes afterward while your heart rate recovers.

How to Prepare

Avoid eating a heavy meal for 2 to 3 hours before the test. Avoid caffeine for 24 hours prior. Wear comfortable walking or running shoes and loose-fitting clothes. Ask your doctor whether you should take your usual medications that morning, as some heart medications may need to be temporarily held.