TREADMILL STRESS TESTING

A cardiac treadmill stress test is a medical test that indirectly reflects arterial blood flow to the heart during physical exercise. When compared to blood flow during rest, the test reflects imbalances of blood flow to the heart’s left ventricular muscle tissue – the part of the heart that performs the greatest amount of work pumping blood. The results may also be interpreted as a reflection on a person’s overall physical fitness.The patient walks ona treadmill connected with the standard 10 electrodes

used to record a 12-lead ECG. The level of exercise is increased in 3-minute stages of progressively increased grade (% incline) and speed (mph, km/h, etc.). The patient’s symptoms and blood pressure response are repeatedly checked. The American Heart Association recommends ECG treadmill testing as the first choice for patients with medium risk of coronary heart disease based on the risk factors of smoking, family history of coronary stenosis, hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol.