Stress Echocardiography

What is a stress echocardiogram?
A stress echocardiogram, or stress echo, is a procedure that indicates how well your heart pumps when you exercise. During this exam, harmless sound waves are bounced (echoed) off of the heart and translated into pictures. The pictures that are produced from these sound waves show the structure and movement of your heart chambers and valves before and immediately after exercise. By comparing the images taken before and after exercise, your physician can evaluate how effectively your heart muscle works under the stress of exercise and whether your heart is receiving enough blood to meet its increased demand for oxygen.

How do I prepare?

• Please wear a two-piece outfit and comfortable shoes for exercising.
• Do not eat for three to four hours before your procedure to prevent nausea, which can result from vigorous exercise after eating.
• Check with your doctor about taking your usual medications on the day of the procedure. It may be necessary to stop certain medications a day or two before the test to produce more accurate results.
• Do not use nicotine products or consume caffeine for four hours prior to the exam.
• Be sure to bring your physician's order with you.

What can I expect during stress echocardiography?
A stress echocardiogram takes approximately one hour to complete. Before your procedure begins, you will be informed about possible risks and asked to sign a consent form. Risks associated with this procedure may include abnormal blood pressure response, irregular heart beat, and in very rare instances a heart attack.

You will be offered a hospital gown and asked to undress from the waist up. Your blood pressure will be monitored and electrodes will be attached to your chest for an electrocardiogram (EKG). An EKG is a test that records the pattern and rate of your heartbeat.

A technologist will place transducers at various locations on the left side of your chest to enable images of your heart at rest to be recorded on videotape. The cardiologist and technologist will then ask you to walk on a treadmill until your heart is beating rapidly. (If you have a medical condition that prevents you from exercising, your heart rate can be increased with medication instead of exercise. This kind of Stress Echo is called a Dobutamine Stress Echo.)

Following the exercise portion of your procedure, a technologist will record a second set of video images of your heart. The cardiologist can then display the two sets of images side-by-side to compare the way your heart functions at rest and after exercise.

In some cases, the cardiologist who is present during the procedure may be able to discuss the results with you before you leave. In all cases, the results of your test will be available to your physician within 5-7 work days. The information gained from the stress echo will enable your physician to plan your treatment and decide whether any additional tests are necessary. Please follow-up with your physician to discuss the results.

Unless otherwise advised, you can resume your normal activities following this procedure.