A stress test is assesses the heart’s ability to work and identifies coronary artery disease. It also assesses the need for further treatments or tests. During the procedure, the heart is put under stress and its reaction is monitored. Before, during, and after, healthcare providers monitor both your EKG and your vital signs. Your heart is caused to stress in one of two ways:
- Exercise. Walk on a treadmill or ride a stationary bicycle. This introduces limited amounts of stress to your heart and assesses if it can handle minimal physical exercise.
- Medication. If for some reason you are unable to exercise, like arthritis or other medical problems, medication is used to stimulate your heart.
