An exercise stress echocardiogram is an ultrasound of your heart taken before and after exercise. It produces moving images that show how well your heart functions under stress. Providers use this test to diagnose or monitor heart conditions and ensure you get the treatment you need.
Advertisement
Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
An echocardiogram, or echo, is a test that shows how well your heart is working. It uses sound waves (ultrasound) to produce moving images of your heart. These images allow your provider to see the shape, size and motion of your heart and valves.
Advertisement
Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
An exercise stress echo assesses your heart’s function when it’s beating fast. You create this “stress” by exercising on a treadmill or bicycle.
This test is also commonly called stress echo or echo stress test.
Other types of exercise stress tests include:
For people who can’t exercise, there are two alternate ways to create stress on the heart. Providers use these methods for stress echocardiograms, EKGs and nuclear tests:
Advertisement
Healthcare providers use exercise stress echocardiograms most often to diagnose coronary artery disease. This condition occurs when the blood vessels that carry blood to your heart muscle become blocked.
Stress echo can help diagnose or monitor the status of other conditions, such as:
You may receive this test if you have symptoms of heart disease, especially if they get worse with activity. These symptoms include:
Other people who might have an exercise stress echocardiogram include:
A stress echo might be unsafe if you have certain heart conditions, such as:
Usually, a cardiac sonographer performs this test under the supervision of a physician. It may take place at your provider’s office or a medical center.
An echocardiogram uses an ultrasound transducer to send out sound waves. The waves bounce, or echo, off solid tissues but move through softer tissues. The transducer captures the echoes and converts them into moving images.
An echo stress test shows how your heart responds to hard work. For example, if you have a blocked coronary artery, the muscle tissue that receives blood from that artery may not function well under stress. By comparing echocardiogram images under stress with those at rest, your provider can see this change in muscle function.
Your provider will give you specific instructions on how to prepare. Substances such as caffeine, medications, food and nicotine can interfere with the test. In general, you should:
An exercise stress echo typically follows this process:
Advertisement
After the final echocardiogram, you return to the treadmill or bike and walk or pedal slowly to cool down. Once your blood pressure and heart rate return to normal, you can go home.
Exercise stress echocardiography is safe and has few side effects. The main risks are due to your underlying heart condition. By stressing your heart, you may experience symptoms such as an abnormal heart rate (arrhythmia) or chest pain and pressure (angina). Your provider will monitor you closely for signs of distress throughout the procedure and stop the procedure if necessary.
The results tell you if your heart is functioning as it should or if you have heart disease. Your provider will explain the findings and discuss your next steps, which may include additional testing or treatment.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
An exercise stress echocardiogram is one of many tests providers use to diagnose and monitor heart-related diseases. It assesses your heart function under stress and can show problems that aren’t visible when your heart is resting. Your provider may recommend an echo stress test if you have symptoms of heart disease or an existing heart condition. A stress echo is a safe, quick test that provides important information about your heart health.
Advertisement
Last reviewed on 07/08/2022.
Learn more about the Health Library and our editorial process.