An exercise stress echo test is used to check:
- How well your heart works when you are active.
- How well your heart and heart valves work.
- Your risk of coronary artery disease.
- How well your cardiac treatment plan is working.
Important information to prepare for your test
Please follow these instructions so we do not need to reschedule your test.
If you have a pacemaker or defibrillator, you must have it checked before your test. Call the Device Clinic or your doctor to schedule a device check.
Information About Medicine
Do not stop taking any type of medicine without first talking to your healthcare provider.
48 hours before your test
- Stop taking these types of medicine: dipyridamole (Persantine, etc), theophylline (Theo-Dur, Norphyl, Quibron, etc.), Aggrenox.
24 hours before your test
- Do not take medicine that contains caffeine (Excederin, Anacin, diet pills, NoDoz, etc.). If you aren’t sure if something contains caffeine, read the label or ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider.
- Stop taking these types of medicine: Isosorbide mononitrate (Imdur, Ismo, etc.), isosorbide dinitrate (Dilatrate, Isordil, etc.), beta blockers (metoprolol, carvedilol/Coreg, atenolol, etc), nitroglycerin (Nitrostat, Nitro-Dur, Deponit, Minitran, nitro patch, etc.).
- If you have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HOCM), do not stop taking your beta-blocker.
Day of your test
- Bring your medicine with you. This is in case there is a delay and you need to take your medicine.
- If you use an inhaler, bring it with you.
If you have diabetes
- If you take insulin, ask the healthcare provider who manages your diabetes how much insulin you should take the day of the test. You may need to take half of your usual morning dose and eat a light meal 4 hours before the test. If you take pills to control your blood sugar, do not take them until after the test. Do not take your diabetes medicine and skip a meal before the test.
- If you own a glucose monitor, bring it with you to check your blood sugar levels before and after your test. Tell us right away if you think your blood sugar is low. Plan to eat and take your medicine after your test.
Eating, Drinking and Other Information
24 hours before your test
- Do not drink or eat anything that contains caffeine or is labeled "decaffeinated" or "caffeine-free" (coffee and tea, cola; energy drinks, Mountain Dew, anything that contains chocolate).
Day of your test
- Do not eat or drink anything except water for 4 hours before your test.
- Do not smoke.
What should I wear?
Please wear comfortable clothes and shoes. Do not bring valuables with you.
How long does the test take?
The appointment takes about an hour. The actual exercise time is usually between 7 and 12 minutes.
What happens during the test?
- Your test will take place in the Echo Lab. The testing area is supervised by a doctor.
- You will be connected to an electrocardiograph (EKG) monitor. Small sticky patches (electrodes) are placed on your skin. The electrodes are connected to the monitor with wires. The EKG records your heart’s electrical activity.
- We will check your heart rate and blood pressure before, during and after the test.
- You will have an echocardiogram (echo). This test uses ultrasound to check your heart’s movement.
- After the echo is done, you will exercise on a treadmill or stationary bike. The intensity of the exercise will gradually increase, and you will exercise until you are exhausted.
- We will watch the EKG monitor for any signs that the test should be stopped. Please tell us right away if you have chest, arm or jaw pain or discomfort; or if you are short of breath, dizzy, lightheaded or have any unusual symptoms during or after the test.
- It is normal to sweat, breathe faster than normal, and have a higher-than-normal blood pressure and heart rate during the test.
- You will exercise slowly at the end of the test to cool down and lower your heart rate and blood pressure.
- It is normal to feel a little unsteady when you get off the treadmill.
What happens after the test?
- We will do an EKG and echo and make sure your pulse and blood pressure are normal.
- You may need to wait until the cardiologist is done looking at the test results.
- We will send the results to your healthcare provider, who will share them with you.
