Stress test

A cardiac stress test evaluates how well your heart functions during physical activity or when it is stimulated to work harder. Because the heart requires more oxygen during exertion, a stress test can help identify reduced blood flow, abnormal heart rhythms, or other signs of heart disease that may not be apparent while at rest. Depending on your symptoms, medical history, and your provider’s recommendations, different types of stress tests may be used to provide the most accurate assessment of your heart health.

Exercise Stress Test

An exercise stress test is the most common type of cardiac stress test. During the exam, you will walk on a treadmill while your heart rate, blood pressure, and electrocardiogram (ECG) are continuously monitored. At Affinity Hear Care, stress tests are performed by our medical professionals in order to obtain an assessment of the amount of physical stress your heart can handle before indicating evidence of irregular heart rhythm or ischemia (insufficient blood flow to the heart).

Exercise Stress Echocardiogram

An exercise stress echocardiogram combines a traditional exercise stress test with ultrasound imaging of the heart. Echocardiogram images are obtained before and immediately after exercise to evaluate how well the heart muscle and valves function under stress. This test can detect areas of reduced blood flow, assess heart muscle function, and provide additional information that may not be visible on an ECG alone.

Nuclear Stress Test

A nuclear stress test uses a small amount of safe radioactive tracer and specialized imaging to evaluate blood flow to the heart muscle both at rest and during stress. Stress may be achieved through exercise or medication if exercise is not possible. By comparing the images, your provider can identify areas of reduced blood flow, previous heart damage, or other conditions affecting the heart’s function, helping guide diagnosis and treatment decisions.