Why You Should Never Ignore Chest Pain
Chest pain may be a warning sign of a serious health issue, including a heart attack. Learn why you should never ignore it, what symptoms to watch for, and when to seek medical help.
Who Should Have a Stress Test and How Often?
Cardiovascular disease causes more deaths globally than any other condition, around 30% every year. Diagnosing heart problems early is therefore vital, but they sometimes don’t show up on standard tests like an electrocardiogram (EKG). That’s where a stress test comes in.
A stress test analyzes how your heart responds to physical activity. The goal is to assess how well blood flows to your heart when it beats faster. This helps detect blockages, irregular rhythms, or other issues that may not appear when you’re resting.
At Healing Hearts Clinic, we may recommend stress tests to help evaluate heart function and detect issues early. But who really needs stress testing, and how often should you undergo this procedure?
Stress test basics
A stress test is a safe, noninvasive procedure that usually takes 30-60 minutes from start to finish.
Before the test begins, a nurse or technician places small sticky patches (electrodes) on your chest. These connect to an EKG machine, which records your heart’s electrical activity. You also wear a blood pressure cuff, enabling us to monitor your circulation throughout the test.
You start by walking on a treadmill (or pedaling a stationary bike in some cases) at a slow, comfortable pace. Every few minutes, the treadmill’s speed and incline gradually increase, which makes your heart work harder — similar to briskly walking uphill.
As your heart rate and breathing rise, the EKG records how your heart responds, and we carefully watch for changes in rhythm, blood pressure, or oxygen levels.
If you’re unable to exercise due to joint pain, breathing problems, or other health concerns, we may conduct a pharmacologic stress test instead. In this version, we give you medication that safely stimulates your heart to mimic the effects of exercise.
Throughout the test, we monitor you closely. If you feel chest pain, dizziness, shortness of breath, or unusual fatigue, you should let the team know immediately — they can stop the test at any time if you’re uncomfortable.
Once the exercise portion ends, you cool down by walking slowly as your heart rate returns to normal. The electrodes and blood pressure cuff remain in place so we can track your recovery.
After the test, we review the results to assess how well your heart responded to the stress. The information may indicate whether you have reduced blood flow to certain areas of the heart, irregular heart rhythms, or other signs that suggest further testing or treatment could be beneficial.
Who should consider a stress test
There are several proven uses for stress tests. These include:
Patients with symptoms of heart disease
Symptoms might include chest pain, shortness of breath, unexplained fatigue, dizziness, and/or palpitations.
Those with risk factors for heart disease
Common cardiovascular disease risk factors include hypertension (high blood pressure), high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking history, and a significant family history of heart disease.
Patients with known heart conditions
People with coronary artery disease or arrhythmias may need periodic testing to monitor changes.
Pre-surgery evaluation
You may need a stress test before an operation if your heart health is uncertain because surgery puts extra strain on your body.
Exercise clearance
Individuals beginning a vigorous exercise program, especially those over 40 with risk factors, might benefit from a screening stress test.
How often you should have a stress test
The frequency at which you should undergo stress testing depends on your health status and risk factors. Most people don’t need regular stress tests; in fact, the American Heart Association doesn’t recommend them as routine screenings for healthy adults with no symptoms and low risk.
If you have risk factors but no symptoms, we may recommend stress testing to provide baseline results. We can then repeat the test if your risk changes or symptoms appear. If you have heart disease, you might require a stress test every 1-2 years to monitor your condition and guide treatment.
The benefits of a stress test
Stress testing has several significant benefits:
Early detection
A stress test identifies heart problems before they become emergencies.
Treatment guidance
Stress testing helps us determine whether the most effective treatment is lifestyle changes, medication, or procedures like angioplasty and stenting.
Exercise safety
Undergoing a stress test ensures you can safely participate in physical activities that strain your heart.
Progress tracking
We can monitor how well treatments or lifestyle changes are working.
A stress test can be a powerful tool in protecting your heart health, but it isn’t for everyone. We provide personalized recommendations tailored to your specific risk factors, symptoms, and medical history.
If you’re concerned about your heart or wonder whether you should have a stress test, contact Healing Hearts Clinic. Call your nearest office or message us using the online form.
You Might Also Enjoy...
Do You Have One of These Three Risk Factors for Heart Disease?
Nearly half of American adults have at least one of the three most significant risk factors for heart disease. Do you know what those risk factors are? Knowing this information could be life-saving.