How to prepare for a stress test
Preparations for doing a stress test are simple. Because you will be exercising, it is recommended that you not eat for two hours before the test. Also, wear loose and comfortable clothing, particularly your shoes, since you will be walking or running on a treadmill. Women should wear a comfortable bra.
You may be asked to bring a towel so that you can wash up or freshen up after the test.
Taking a stress test
A stress test is painless. Several small, flat electrodes will be taped or stuck on to your chest (see Figure 1). The wire from each electrode sends the electric signal to the ECG machine. For men with hairy chests, small areas will need to be shaved to ensure a good connection between the skin and the electrode.
Once you are connected to the ECG, a recording will be made briefly while you are at rest. Then, the ECG will be recording throughout the time that you are exercising. During this period, your blood pressure will also be monitored (see Figure 2). A technician or doctor will observe how you look, and will ask you how you are feeling (see Figure 3).
Getting a meaningful result
To get a meaningful result on the test, it is important to give a good exercise performance. For example, if you are taking the test to evaluate the cause of chest or neck pain, you need to duplicate the situation in which the chest pain may typically occur, in other words, when the heart rate and blood pressure are increased. It is only at this stage, when the heart requires more oxygen from the blood, that a narrowing or blockage of a coronary artery will become apparent, causing chest pain and changes on the ECG.
Stopping the exercise
You will be asked to stop exercising as soon as you have any discomfort or symptom that prevents you from continuing.
The discomfort may be any of the following:
- tiredness or fatigue
- shortness of breath
- leg discomfort or fatigue
- dizziness or lightheadedness
- chest pain
- shortness of breath
Sometimes you will be asked to stop exercising if there are abnormalities on the ECG, or if you have passed the goal for a person of your age or in your medical condition.
Then, in the last part of the test, the ECG will continue to record while you lie down and rest.
After the test
Once the test is completed, it is highly recommended that you lie down and rest for 3 to 5 minutes. Once you get up you should sit or rest in the waiting room for a few minutes.
Don't just rush off. It's important that you feel very comfortable and back to normal before you leave the stress test laboratory and head home.