Treadmill Exercise Test.
A Treadmill Exercise Test ('Stress Test', and 'Graded Exercise Treadmill (GXT)' are other common names) is a test of the heart's response when under 'stress' (exercise). The test is performed on a treadmill exercise machine supervised by a highly-skilled nurse and/or a doctor. This test is commonly performed in conjunction with an ultrasound exam (Stress Echocardiogram) or a nuclear imaging study (Cardiac SPECT Test).
What To Expect.
For your test you will be asked to remove all garments from the waist up. Ladies (and gentlemen, upon request) will be given a gown with which to cover-up. Electrodes (sticky patches) are initially placed in several locations on your chest. Wires are clipped to the electrodes to record your heartbeat (ECG) before and continuously during the test. You will then be asked to exercise on a treadmill. The object of the treadmill exercise is to learn how your heart reacts to maximal-effort. The treadmill exercise will begin at a slow pace with the speed and incline increased in stages while your blood pressure and oxygen saturation are checked at regular intervals. When your heart rate is fast enough for the test to be accurate (or if you reach a point when you can not continue with the exercise), the treadmill speed will be lowered and you will walk slowly until your heart rate and blood pressure return to normal.
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