Exercise stress echo

Exercise stress echo: This test involves exercising on a treadmill or stationary cycle and is used to evaluate heart and valve function.

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To prepare:

• Do not eat or drink anything except water for four hours before the test. Do not drink or eat caffeine products (cola, Mountain Dew, chocolate, coffee, or tea) for 24 hours before the test. Caffeine will interfere with the results of the test.
• Ask your doctor what medications should be taken on the day of your test. Your physician may ask you to stop taking some heart medications on the day of the test. He or she will give you specific instructions. If you have questions about your medications, ask your physician. Do not stop any medication without first talking with your doctor.

Since many over-the counter medications contain caffeine (such as diet pills, NoDoz, Excedrin, and Anacin), do not take any over-the-counter medication that contains caffeine for 24 hours before the test. Ask your physician, pharmacist, or nurse if you have questions about other mediations that may contain caffeine.

What to expect:

An EKG monitor will be hooked to your chest through sticky electrodes. A resting EKG will be performed and your resting blood pressure taken.

You then will be asked to lie on your left side on an exam table so that a resting echo can be performed. The sonographer will place a wand (called a sound-wave transducer) on several areas of your chest. The wand will have a small amount of cool gel on the end to help get clearer pictures.

Next, you will be asked to exercise on a treadmill or stationary bicycle at a gradually increasing rate until the point of exhaustion. The lab personnel will watch for changes on the EKG monitor that suggest the test should be stopped.

When you cannot exercise any longer, you will get off the treadmill, quickly return to the exam table and lie on your left side for another echocardiogram. It is normal to feel a little unsteady when getting off the treadmill and onto the exam table for the echo as you stop exercising suddenly. If you were exercising on a bike, the sonographer may perform the echo test while you are still pedaling. You may be asked to quickly return to the exam table for another echocardiogram after exercising.

Your heart rate, blood pressure, and EKG will continue to be monitored after exercise until the levels begin returning to normal.

The appointment takes about 60 minutes. Actual exercise time is usually between seven and 12 minutes.