Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Purpose
Limitations
Risks
Before the Test
During the Test
After the Test
Interpreting Results
An exercise tolerance test (also called astress test) shows how well yourhearthandles physical activity. While exercising on a treadmill or stationary bike, a healthcare provider will measure your heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing while monitoring anelectrocardiogram(ECG), a test that records your heart’s electrical signals.
Exercise tolerance tests are generally used to detect certain heart conditions or determine safe levels of exercise for people with existing heart conditions.
This article provides an overview on what an exercise tolerance test entails and how to understand the test’s results.
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Purpose of an Exercise Tolerance Test
Exercise tolerance tests evaluate how hard your heart works when it’s under the stress of physical activity.
When we exercise, our hearts pump harder and faster to deliver blood and oxygen throughout the body.It’s often easier to detect certain heart conditions while your heart is working hard, since the heart may appear to be working normally while at rest.
After hooking a patient up to a blood pressure cuff and ECG during exercise on a treadmill or stationary bike, healthcare providers can monitor your:
Not everyone needs an exercise tolerance test. They’re mainly used to detect a heart condition or monitor a preexistingheart condition. For example, a healthcare provider may recommend this test:
RecapAn exercise tolerance test can demonstrate your heart’s ability to endure physical exercise. This in-office exam is often used to help detect heart conditions and determine appropriate treatments or exercise plans for existing heart patients.
Recap
An exercise tolerance test can demonstrate your heart’s ability to endure physical exercise. This in-office exam is often used to help detect heart conditions and determine appropriate treatments or exercise plans for existing heart patients.
Limitations of an Exercise Tolerance Test
As with any medical test, exercise tolerance tests have some limitations. For example:
With this in mind, your healthcare provider will typically use the results of an exercise tolerance test along with other information, like your symptoms, medical history, and results of other tests, to make a determination or diagnosis.
Recommendations for Exercise TestingThe U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendsagainstroutine exercise tolerance testing for people who don’t have any heart symptoms and are at low risk for developing heart disease. This is because the risk of false-positive findings can result in unnecessary further testing, treatment, or worry.
Recommendations for Exercise Testing
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendsagainstroutine exercise tolerance testing for people who don’t have any heart symptoms and are at low risk for developing heart disease. This is because the risk of false-positive findings can result in unnecessary further testing, treatment, or worry.
Risks of an Exercise Tolerance Test
An exercise tolerance test is a relatively safe test.
That said, sometimes increasing your heart rate through exercise can cause symptoms like dizziness, chest pain, or nausea.A healthcare provider will closely monitor you throughout the test to reduce the chances of this happening and quickly treat any issues that may come up.
In addition, people with certain preexisting heart disease can experience complications like an irregular heartbeat or even a heart attack. To be safe, your healthcare provider would likelynotrecommend an exercise tolerance test if you have any of the following heart conditions:
There’s not much preparation needed for an exercise tolerance test. Your healthcare provider will give you a set of guidelines to follow, which may include these instructions:
Here’s what you can expect:
Before, during, and after the test, your ECG, heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing will be monitored and recorded.
When the test is done, you’ll be able to sit or lie down for several minutes until your heart rate returns to its normal resting state. You may be offered a glass of water or towel while you cool down.
If your blood pressure substantially rose during the test, or if the healthcare provider noticed any other concerning symptoms, you may be monitored for a few additional minutes.
After getting clearance, you’ll be free to return home and await the test results, which usually come back within a couple of days.
Interpreting Results of an Exercise Tolerance Test
After the test is performed, your healthcare provider will look over the results. They’ll be evaluating factors like:
After summarizing these items, your provider will go over the results with you and offer a conclusion based on their interpretation. Possible results include:
RecapStress tests give your healthcare provider important information about the likelihood of a heart problem and to recommend next steps for you. Ultimately, your healthcare provider is the best source of information about interpreting your stress test results.
Stress tests give your healthcare provider important information about the likelihood of a heart problem and to recommend next steps for you. Ultimately, your healthcare provider is the best source of information about interpreting your stress test results.
Depending on the results, your healthcare provider may want to speak with you about further testing, alternative testing, or treatment options.
In some cases,more appointments or testingmay be necessary to:
Summary
An exercise tolerance test is one way to record your heart’s response to the stress of physical exercise. It measures the heart’s electrical activity, heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing while you’re on a treadmill or exercise bike.
Exercise tolerance tests may be used to diagnose certain heart conditions, monitor heart attack recovery, or form an appropriate fitness plan for heart disease or surgery patients. Your healthcare provider may recommend this test if you report symptoms of potential heart disease, such aschest painorshortness of breath. This test generally isn’t recommended for people at low risk of developing heart disease.
A Word From Verywell
An exercise tolerance test is one tool to help diagnose certain types of heart disease and monitor existing heart conditions, but it isn’t the only one available. If you’re experiencing symptoms that you think may be heart related, or if you’ve had an exercise tolerance test but don’t understand the results, reach out to a healthcare provider for help or a second opinion.
Check out theAmerican Heart Associationwebsite for a list of helpful questions to ask your healthcare provider, as well as other resources for patients seeking assistance.
11 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Physical activity and your heart.American Heart Association.Exercise stress test.American Heart Association.What is a stress test?.Brigham and Women’s Hospital.Exercise tolerance test.U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.Screening for cardiovascular disease risk with electrocardiography: US preventive services task force recommendation statement.Stanford Health Care.Risks of stress test.Garner KK, Pomeroy W, Arnold JJ.Exercise stress testing: indications and common questions.Am Fam Physician. 2017;96(5):293-299.Harvard Health Publishing.Exercise stress test.MedlinePlus.Exercise stress test.UCSF Health.Exercise stress test.MedlinePlus.Stress Tests.
11 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Physical activity and your heart.American Heart Association.Exercise stress test.American Heart Association.What is a stress test?.Brigham and Women’s Hospital.Exercise tolerance test.U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.Screening for cardiovascular disease risk with electrocardiography: US preventive services task force recommendation statement.Stanford Health Care.Risks of stress test.Garner KK, Pomeroy W, Arnold JJ.Exercise stress testing: indications and common questions.Am Fam Physician. 2017;96(5):293-299.Harvard Health Publishing.Exercise stress test.MedlinePlus.Exercise stress test.UCSF Health.Exercise stress test.MedlinePlus.Stress Tests.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Physical activity and your heart.American Heart Association.Exercise stress test.American Heart Association.What is a stress test?.Brigham and Women’s Hospital.Exercise tolerance test.U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.Screening for cardiovascular disease risk with electrocardiography: US preventive services task force recommendation statement.Stanford Health Care.Risks of stress test.Garner KK, Pomeroy W, Arnold JJ.Exercise stress testing: indications and common questions.Am Fam Physician. 2017;96(5):293-299.Harvard Health Publishing.Exercise stress test.MedlinePlus.Exercise stress test.UCSF Health.Exercise stress test.MedlinePlus.Stress Tests.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Physical activity and your heart.
American Heart Association.Exercise stress test.
American Heart Association.What is a stress test?.
Brigham and Women’s Hospital.Exercise tolerance test.
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.Screening for cardiovascular disease risk with electrocardiography: US preventive services task force recommendation statement.
Stanford Health Care.Risks of stress test.
Garner KK, Pomeroy W, Arnold JJ.Exercise stress testing: indications and common questions.Am Fam Physician. 2017;96(5):293-299.
Harvard Health Publishing.Exercise stress test.
MedlinePlus.Exercise stress test.
UCSF Health.Exercise stress test.
MedlinePlus.Stress Tests.
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