A stress test is a simple, noninvasive in-office evaluation that cardiologists perform to measure and evaluate your heart’s health. We first measure your heart at rest. We look at parameters such as:
We fit you with electrodes and then have you engage in some form of exercise. We measure those same variables again. The electrodes also send us information about the electrical activity in your heart and how efficiently your blood moves through your blood vessels.
The exercise portion of the test usually lasts about 10-15 minutes. If you can’t use a treadmill or stationary cycle, we may give you medication that raises your heart rate to mimic the stress of exercise.
At Laurelton Heart Specialists, our expert cardiologist, Dr. Ola Akinboboye, uses stress tests to find out how efficiently your heart pumps blood and to identify any problems in your cardiovascular system. We perform a variety of different stress tests at our office in Rosedale, Queens, New York, to ensure we catch any abnormalities as soon as possible.
Why might we recommend a stress test? Here are five reasons we need to see how your heart reacts when under stress.
Heart disease has been the top cause of death in the United States for the past 100 years. Even though nearly half of women and men in the U.S. have high blood pressure — a silent killer — only 38% have been diagnosed with the condition.
If you have any type of cardiac symptom or chest pain, you owe it to yourself and your loved ones to have it evaluated as soon as possible. We may order a stress test to see if your heart is healthy if you have symptoms such as:
We compare your measurements to other people of your same age and sex. If your heart works too hard during the stress test, or if the test shows blockages or other problems, we then devise a customized treatment plan to give your heart the support it needs.
If you have high cholesterol or high blood sugar, you may need a stress test to evaluate the health of your blood vessels and your heart, too. High cholesterol levels in your bloodstream can lead to the accumulation of plaque on the walls of your arteries.
The electrical activity we measure during your stress test lets us identify narrowed arteries or abnormalities in the way your heart’s valves function. If you already know you have cardiovascular disease, or know that you’re at risk for it due to your family history, you may benefit from a stress test.
If you already have heart disease, a stress test can help us choose the best medication for your needs. We also use it to evaluate the effects of medicines that you’re currently taking.
For instance, a stress test can let us know if a drug is helping to control your blood pressure or not. We may lower or raise the dose of a drug, or change a treatment plan, based on the results of your stress test.
Even though you’re not conscious and don’t move at all during surgery, you need to have a healthy heart. Surgery is traumatic, and so is undergoing general anesthesia.
To ensure that your heart can withstand the stress of surgery, your surgeon will recommend a stress test. If your stress test shows poor or abnormal results, you may need a treatment plan to resolve the issue before undergoing surgery, or you may be recommended for an alternative therapy.
If you’re in any kind of job that subjects you to tremendous physical or emotional stress, you’d benefit from a stress test. In fact, it may even be required in certain professions, such as:
All women over age 50 and all men over age 40 who plan to engage in a new, highly vigorous exercise program should also undergo a stress test, according to the American College of Sports Medicine. If you’re about to train for a marathon or triathlon, or plan to boost your sports and athletic regimen, first make sure your heart can withstand the additional stress.
Has your doctor recommended that you undergo a stress test? Contact our expert team at 718-208-4816 or use our online outreach form to book your stress test today.
