EXERCISE BIKE ECG or CARDIAC STRESS TEST or PHYSICAL LOAD TEST

Cardiac stress tests are performed for assessing a body’s capability during physical exercise.
The reserves of cardiac activity, blood pressure and general muscle performance will be measured.

When is the test indicated?

A cardiac stress test is necessary if at-rest data are not sufficient for diagnosing the existence or absence of a disease or for estimating the capability of a body or the results of medical treatment.

How should you prepare for the test?

It is advisable not to drink alcohol a day prior to the test and to go to bed at regular hours.

It is advisable not to smoke or drink coffee or tea two hours before the test.

It is not advisable to take the test with a full stomach or without eating at all.

You should inform the doctor if you have a temperature or signs of a viral infection.

The interim period between the previous and/or succeeding procedure should be at least one hour.

Wear sports clothes and sports shoes. Bring along a towel.

How is a cardiac stress test performed?

A cycle ergometer is used for performing cardiac stress tests. At first, the load applied on you is low, but it will steadily increase in the course of the test. A doctor will monitor your general condition, cardiac activity and blood pressure.

The cardiac stress test will be stopped after you have reached the necessary pulse rate (it depends on your age) or dangerous changes in your cardiac activity or blood pressure occur or you have serious complaints that give the doctor a basis for stopping the test.

After the cardiac stress test you will have to stay under observation for some time, so that the recovery speed of your body could be assessed.

What are the possible dangers of a cardiac stress test?

The dangers of a cardiac stress test are similar to doing daily physical work.
• Excessive rise or drop of blood pressure might occur;
• Arrhythmia or lack of oxygen in the cardiac muscle might occur;
• Thrombi in foot veins might start to move and cause blockage in the vascular system;
• People may feel dizzy or short of breath.

However, the occurrence of dangerous complications is very rare.

Informing of the results of a test

After the test, you will get a record of the course of the test and its results.

We recommend taking a cardiac stress test:

• if you have two or more risk factors of cardiac diseases: you smoke, are overweight, do not exercise enough, have high blood pressure and the cholesterol content of your blood is over the norm, you have diabetes;
• if you have had or have symptoms that indicate cardiac diseases: chest pain, arrhythmia, trouble in breathing, dizziness and collapses, interruptions in walking and an extraordinarily strong feeling of tiredness during physical stress;
• if you plan to start with a more intensive physical activity programme or have more physical stress;
• if you want to learn more about your physical condition, about the stress your heart can take or your suitable exercise intensity.