Prior to the exercise test, we record an ECG at rest. Then the patient starts exercising by walking on a treadmill. Every three minutes the workload is increased to a higher level (speed and incline of the treadmill). During the test we constantly monitor the ECG and measure the blood pressure at every stage. Both variables continue to be measured for approximately 6 minutes after the end of the test.
We abandon the test if any of the following occurs:
- changes in the ECG graph or a heart rhythm disorder,
- characteristic chest pain (angina pectoris)
- an excessive elevation of blood pressure,
- drop in blood pressure during the exercise,
- difficulty breathing, dizziness,
- muscular fatigue,
- maximal heart rate regardless of age.
The purpose of the stress test is to achieve maximum heart rate and the estimated workload depending on the age, weight and gender of the tested subject, because only in this case we can conclude in a relatively reliable manner that no serious heart disease is present.