Awareness about the explanation of any malady before going for curing it is very important. This behavior will help you in determining what type of results will be good for you. This article will give you a detailed treadmill stress test interpretation.
Are you going to get a treadmill stress test? In order to get good results, you need to be aware of the prerequisites of this test. That’s how and why it is performed, what are the precautions you need to consider before going for it.
What is a treadmill stress test?
A stress test is performed to diagnose various heart problems. It could be any problem whether how much pressure a person’s heart is capable of bearing during physical activity or pumping or beating action of the heart.
When you need a stress test?
A person needs a stress test if he is facing any of the following problems during hard exercise.
- Breathing difficulty
- Increased blood pressure
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
If a person is facing all such symptoms while undergoing any hard activity(exercising). Doctors would recommend him to give a treadmill stress test.
How a treadmill stress test is done?
In order to perform a stress test doctor/medical assistant conducts the test by keeping in view the below-mentioned points.
- Electrodes on the chest
- A blood pressure cuff around the arm
- An ECG(electrocardiogram) monitor showing a heartbeat.
- A stationary cycle or a treadmill
The person running on the treadmill will have sticky patches attached to his/her chest connected to the monitor.
While performing a treadmill stress test it is observed that none of the following show abnormal results.
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue by exercise
- Increased heartbeat
- Blood pressure
Ways to perform a stress test
1. By exercise
During a stress test, the doctor will determine the person’s heart rate, breathing, and how tired they feel during different physical activity levels.
Here is a step-by-step interpretation of a treadmill stress test:
Initially, treadmill speed is low which speeds up gradually which might cause some change in a person’s body.
The doctor attaches the sticky patches to the patient’s chest. The monitor will show a reading of the heartbeat rate.
Breathing rate is also a key factor in deducing a stress test. Then the person is laid down and the doctor will take a measurement of blood pressure. If any unusual change appears on the screen doctor will stop the test.
2. Nuclear stress test
A nuclear stress test is another type of stress test which gives more precise values about working of your heart when doing exercise.
During a nuclear stress test, rays are passed through your heart to check the functioning of the heart. If these rays pass through your heart it means that you are well. But if they reflect after striking your heart walls it means that you have clogged arteries.
The blocking of arteries might be due to the high cholesterol level. In this way, it increases your heartbeat rate and blood pressure.
This test is not suitable for pregnant women, as radiation may harm the fetus.
Related: How to pass a treadmill stress test
Precautions
Do not eat anything before 2-4 hours of the stress test.
If you use an inhaler for asthma or other breathing problems. Make sure your doctor knows that you use an inhaler.
A doctor may also recommend a stress test if a person is undergoing heart treatment or surgeries. Or also if you want to do hard exercise program(making abs) but you feel stress while doing any hard work then you might consult your doctor.
Hello,
This is Safeer Ahmad founder of FitnessGearsHub. I’m an aspirant fitness freak, I commenced my career as a blogger and I opted for “gym and fitness” as my primary domain. As all fitness gears fancy me, I spend considerable time on research before buying one, I believe a health fanatic should be mindful of the product before making buying decision so I’ll try my level best to provide you ample information to buy one or maintain your gym equipment.
