Stress Test

Stress Test Services at The Heartbeat Clinic

At The Heartbeat Clinic, we offer a range of advanced diagnostic tools, including stress tests, CPET and Stress Echo to assess your cardiovascular health and determine how your heart responds under stress. 

Stress testing is essential for diagnosing various heart conditions, including coronary artery disease, arrhythmias, and heart failure. By evaluating your heart’s performance during physical exertion, we can create best treatment plans to improve your heart health and quality of life.

What are the Different Types of Stress Tests?

At The Heartbeat Clinic, we provide three main types of stress tests, each designed to assess your health through varying levels of evaluation.

What are the Different Types of Stress Tests?

A stress test may be recommended by your health care provider for the following reasons:

What is a Stress Test?

A stress test is a diagnostic tool that measures how your heart works during physical activity. During the test, you’ll typically walk on a treadmill or pedal a stationary bike while being closely monitored. The test increases the workload on your heart, mimicking conditions where your heart needs more oxygen and nutrients, helping to reveal any issues with blood flow, heart rhythm, or lung function that may not be apparent at rest.

We offer various types of stress tests to provide the most comprehensive cardiovascular evaluation, each targeting specific aspects of your heart and lung performance.

A stress test typically lasts 30 to 60 minutes, including preparation time, though some tests like CPET may take longer.

Wear comfortable clothing, avoid food and caffeine for 3-24 hours before, and consult your doctor about medications.

People with severe heart failure, uncontrolled blood pressure, or recent heart events should opt for a Lexiscan Stress Test. It ensures the test is safe and effective, considering any underlying health issues.

Yes, manage your blood sugar levels, adjust medications, and bring snacks or glucose tablets.

You will walk on a treadmill or bike as your heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing are monitored.

We monitor your recovery, discuss results, and provide any necessary follow-up care.}

Results and Next Procedure

What Do Normal Stress Test Results Mean?

Normal stress test results indicate that your heart is functioning well under stress, with adequate blood flow and oxygen delivery during exercise. This usually means that your heart condition is stable, and no significant coronary artery blockages were detected.

What Happens if My Stress Test Results are Abnormal?

Abnormal stress test results could indicate a variety of issues, including restricted blood flow to the heart, heart rhythm abnormalities, or heart muscle damage. If your results are abnormal, we’ll discuss the next steps, which may include further testing, lifestyle changes, medications, or in some cases, procedures like angioplasty or stent placement. Our team will develop a personalized treatment plan based on your results.

Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing (CPET)

Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing (CPET) is a highly specialized test that measures how well your heart, lungs, and muscles work together during exercise. CPET is often considered the gold standard for evaluating exercise tolerance and can diagnose both heart and lung conditions, as well as determine the cause of unexplained shortness of breath.

What Happens During a CPET?

CPET is particularly useful for diagnosing unexplained fatigue, shortness of breath, and evaluating the severity of heart and lung conditions. It provides valuable data for managing heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, and other cardiovascular diseases.

Is Cardiac Stress Testing Safe?

Yes, cardiac stress testing is generally safe and is conducted under close medical supervision. The healthcare professionals at The Heartbeat Clinic are trained to monitor your heart and blood pressure throughout the test, ensuring your safety at every stage. While some people may experience temporary dizziness or fatigue, these symptoms usually resolve quickly after the test. In the rare event of complications, our team is fully prepared to respond immediately.

CPET tests usually last between 45 to 90 minutes, including preparation and recovery time.

Wear loose, comfortable clothing, avoid eating or drinking anything except water for at least 3 hours prior, and follow your doctor's guidance on medication.

Eligibility ensures that patients are physically able to undergo this intensive exercise test without risk.

Yes, it’s important to manage your blood sugar levels and consult with your doctor on insulin or medication adjustments.

You will perform graded physical activity on a treadmill or bike while your heart, lungs, and metabolism are closely monitored.

We’ll assess your recovery, review results, and provide recommendations based on your cardiovascular and respiratory performance.

Patients with severe heart or lung conditions may need alternative testing options instead of CPET.}

Results and Next Procedure

What Do Normal CPET Results Mean?

Normal Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing (CPET) results show that your heart, lungs, and muscles are functioning well during physical activity, indicating no significant issues with oxygen delivery or exercise capacity.

What Happens if My CPET Results are Abnormal?

Abnormal CPET results may indicate conditions such as heart or lung disease, poor exercise tolerance, or impaired muscle function. If your CPET results are abnormal, we’ll recommend further testing or treatments to address the underlying cause and work with you to improve your exercise capacity and overall health.

Lexiscan Stress Testing

For patients who are unable to exercise due to physical limitations, we offer Lexiscan Stress Testing. This is a pharmacological stress test that uses a medication called Lexiscan (regadenoson) to simulate the effects of exercise on your heart.

What Happens During a Lexiscan Stress Testing?

This test is especially beneficial for patients with mobility issues or those who cannot tolerate traditional exercise-based stress tests. Lexiscan provides a safe and effective way to evaluate coronary artery function and detect potential issues with heart health.

A Lexiscan stress test typically takes about 30 to 45 minutes, including preparation and recovery.

Avoid caffeine for 24 hours and follow specific instructions from your doctor regarding medications and diet.

Eligibility ensures the test is safe, especially for patients who cannot perform traditional exercise-based stress tests.

Yes, consult with your doctor regarding insulin or medications, and ensure you bring glucose tablets or snacks.

You’ll receive a medication called Lexiscan to simulate exercise, and your heart's response will be monitored without the need for physical exertion.

We’ll monitor your heart as it returns to normal, review the results, and provide any necessary follow-up care.

Patients with severe respiratory conditions or allergies to Lexiscan medication may require alternative tests.

Results and Next Procedure

What Do Normal Lexiscan Stress Test Results Mean?

Normal Lexiscan stress test results indicate that your heart has normal blood flow and there are no significant blockages in your coronary arteries. This suggests your heart is functioning well even under simulated stress.

What Happens if My Lexiscan Stress Test Results are Abnormal?

Abnormal Lexiscan stress test results could signal reduced blood flow to parts of the heart, which may indicate coronary artery disease or other heart conditions. Based on the results, we may recommend additional tests, lifestyle adjustments, medications, or procedures such as angioplasty or stent placement to improve blood flow and heart health.

Stress Echocardiography

Stress Echocardiography, or Stress Echo, combines traditional stress testing with an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). This test assesses how well your heart’s chambers and valves function under stress and evaluates your heart’s ability to pump blood.

Stress Echo is excellent for detecting heart disease, valvular heart issues, and identifying regions of the heart that may not be receiving adequate blood flow. It is non-invasive and provides real-time images of your heart’s function during stress.

What Happens During a Stress Echocardiogram?

A Stress Echo combines a traditional stress test with an echocardiogram (an ultrasound of the heart). First, an echocardiogram is taken while you’re at rest to capture baseline images of your heart. Then, you’ll undergo either an exercise or Lexiscan-induced stress test. Once your heart is stressed, another echocardiogram is performed to capture images of your heart’s function under strain, helping detect any blood flow issues or heart muscle damage.

A stress echo usually lasts around 45 to 60 minutes, including preparation and recovery time.

Wear comfortable clothing, avoid eating or drinking for 3 hours before, and consult your doctor about medication usage.

Eligibility ensures that the patient is fit to undergo physical exertion and that the test is appropriate for their condition.

Yes, manage your blood sugar levels carefully, and consult your doctor regarding insulin or medication adjustments.

You will either walk on a treadmill or be given medication while an echocardiogram is taken before and after to monitor heart function.

We will analyze your heart’s performance under stress and recommend any follow-up actions or treatment plans based on the results.

Patients with severe heart conditions, uncontrolled blood pressure, or recent heart events may require an alternative test.

Results and Next Procedure

What Do Normal Stress Echo Results Mean?

A normal stress echocardiogram (stress echo) result indicates that your heart muscle is functioning properly, with no signs of reduced blood flow or valve problems under stress conditions.

What Happens if My Stress Echo Results are Abnormal?

Abnormal stress echo results may suggest poor blood flow to the heart muscle, valve dysfunction, or other structural heart issues. If your results are abnormal, we will guide you through the necessary next steps, which may include further diagnostic tests, medications, or procedures to improve your heart’s performance.

Why Choose The Heartbeat Clinic for Stress Testing?

At The Heartbeat Clinic, we prioritize patient care, safety, and accurate diagnosis. Our state-of-the-art diagnostic tools and experienced team ensure that you receive the highest quality of care throughout your stress test. Whether you’re undergoing a CPET, Lexiscan Stress Test, or Stress Echo, our goal is to provide comprehensive results that allow for a personalized and effective treatment plan.

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Schedule Your Stress Test Today

If you’ve been experiencing symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, or fatigue, a stress test may be the next step in assessing your heart health. Contact The Heartbeat Clinic today to schedule a consultation and find out which stress test is right for you. We are committed to helping you improve your heart health and live life to the fullest.