Question:
Do all Dr's require a stress test and what is involved?

I have read several referrences to the stress test. What does that mean exactly? I did a treadmill test in my PCP's office 3 years ago and had to have a breathing treatment afterwards (i was 100#'s lighter)I am afraid I can't pass it.    — bbjnay (posted on September 7, 2001)

September 7, 2001
I don't know if all dr's require a stress test, however, I have had two done and can tell you what's involved. A stress test is a test given to test the stress level of your heart. It measures your heart rate versus your oxygen absorption, and sees how well your heart does under stressful conditions. Stressful, in this case, meaning as your heart would act if you had exercised. Some dr's will do this using a treadmill, and others will do this using a drug induced through an IV, which will cause your heart to speed up as if exercising. They will put EKG leads on you and monitor you the whole time you're being tested. The test lasts for 6 minutes, and when it's done and the IV stopped, your heart will return to normal within just a few seconds. They also inject a dye at the same time. After the test, they will have you eat or drink something with a high fat content. This part of the test will show the dr if there are possible blockages in any of the arteries in and around your heart. In about an hour, you will be put in an MRI type of machine, and pictures will be taken of your heart and how the blood moves through it. Most times, the dr will have you come back the next day to inject more dye and repeat the MRI type of xray when your heart is at a resting state. There are risks involved, of course, since this is putting stress on your heart, but the test is normally done in a hospital will well qualified drs and technicians there to watch and attend closely. Both times I had the test done, I had it done by having an IV with the drug to speed up my heart induced.
   — Barbara V.