Exercise stress testing is used to determine how well your heart handles its workload. It is primary used to determine if your heart receives enough oxygen and proper blood flow when it is under stress such as when you are exercising. The test usually employs the “Bruce” protocol, Exercise is started at a slower “warm-up” speed. The speed of the treadmill and its slope or inclination is increased every 3 minutes. The treadmill is usually stopped when the patient exceeds 85% of the target rate (based upon the patient’s age). An EKG is monitored continuously and recorded every minute during and for several minutes after the procedure. Immediately after stopping the treadmill, the patient moves directly to the examination table and lies on the left side. The Echo examination is immediately repeated. A video clip of multiple views of the resting and exercise study are compared side-by-side and analyzed by the physician.
