I'm Nervous About My Upcoming Exercise Stress Test: What Can I Expect?

During a stress test, your doctor monitors your heart rate while you exercise to increase it. The examination is not to test your athleticism, but, instead, the health of your heart. An exercise stress test is a simple process, and it might save your life. 

At West Houston Heart Center in Houston, Texas, Dr. Humayun Naqvi and his team can put you through an exercise stress test to help identify if your heart is having issues performing under stress. You might be concerned about this stress test, but there’s really nothing to be nervous about. Here’s what you need to know.

Why exercise stress tests are necessary

Many cardiac conditions only become evident when your heart rate increases, which puts you at risk during moments of physical or emotional stress. You can’t always predict moments like these, but a stress test mimics those situations in a controlled environment. 

This allows your doctor to evaluate your heart and check for things like heart valve problems, atherosclerosis, and arrhythmia. Dr. Naqvi might recommend a stress test for the following reasons: 

• You recently experienced a heart attack
• You’re beginning a new exercise program 
• You’re struggling with decreased exercise tolerance 
• You’ve shown symptoms of a heart condition 
• You have a family history of cardiac disease 

Stress tests can determine how well your current treatment plan is working, or serve as the baseline for a completely new approach to preserving your heart health.

What to expect from your stress test

Before your stress test, Dr. Naqvi performs a comprehensive exam to get a better idea of your condition and lifestyle. This helps him set the parameters for your test and clear everything with you before scheduling it. 

Traditional stress tests use exercise to increase the heart rate. Typically, this means the use of a treadmill or stationary bike. However, if you suffer from a disability or physical deconditioning that makes this impossible, we can use medication to increase your heart rate. 

You’ll be hooked up to an EKG and blood pressure monitor during the entire test. This allows your doctor to collect data like your heart rate and rhythm.  

We recommend that you bring a water bottle, gym towel, and a change of clothes. Choose athletic clothing and shoes, and be sure to give yourself some free time in your schedule following the stress test to recover from the activity. 

At West Houston Heart Center, Dr. Naqvi also offers more advanced heart health exams. One of the most valuable is a nuclear stress test, which provides 3D imagery of blood moving through your coronary arteries, heart chambers, and valves so he can identify areas of potential blockage.

To learn more and schedule your stress test, call us at 832-400-3957, or request an appointment online.