At Cardiac Associates of North Jersey, we’re proud to offer our patients a wide variety of ways to assess their overall cardiovascular health. A stress test can be an effective way to diagnose and evaluate the extent of artery blockage that if left untreated could lead to more severe cardiovascular conditions in the future.
Stress Testing
Sometimes symptoms of coronary artery blockages or other cardiovascular problems do not make themselves known until your heart rate increases; forcing the heart rate to accelerate in a controlled, clinical setting can be an excellent way to safely evaluate cardiovascular conditions. Stress testing is a technique that was specially designed to assess the amount of stress that the heart can handle before blood flow or the natural rhythm of the heart are disrupted.
Stress tests are an invaluable tool when it comes to assessing, diagnosing, and treating cardiovascular problems. A stress test can:
- Assess the functionality and effectiveness of the heart valves
- Check for abnormal heart rhythms
- Evaluate the progress of on-going cardiovascular treatments
Before beginning a stress test, a member of our medical staff will take the time to measure and assess your resting cardiovascular condition. This provides a baseline from which to compare the way your body responds to a stress test.
At Cardiac Associates of North Jersey, we offer our patients a variety of different ways to undergo a stress test. We use three separate methods:
- Treadmill Stress Test. This stress test utilizes the power of exercise to increase the patient’s heart rate. Before, during, and after exercise, the patient’s heart rate is monitored using an electrocardiogram, or EKG.
- Echo Stress Test. This method combines the treadmill stress test with an echocardiogram. During the stress test, patients walk on a treadmill while their heart is monitored with an electrocardiogram, or EKG. An echocardiogram is taken both before the patient begins exercising and after they’re done.
- Nuclear Stress Test. During this test, a small amount of a radioactive tracer is injected into the patient’s vein. A gamma camera detects the radiation released by the tracer, tracking its journey through the veins and heart.
If you’re concerned about the cardiovascular health of you or someone you love, a stress test can be an excellent way to pinpoint the cause of your health problems. If you’d like more information about our stress test procedures or are interested in scheduling one for yourself, contact Cardiac Associates of North Jersey today to schedule a stress test appointment.
