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| Stress Testing | |
| Stress testing usually involves walking on a treadmill with continuous EKG monitoring until the subject reaches maximal exercise capacity. Stress tests are most often ordered to evaluate chest discomfort or exertional breathlessness in order to exclude the diagnosis of coronary artery disease. Other indications for stress testing include assessment of the prognosis in known coronary artery disease, exercise capacity evaluation prior to engaging in strenuous physical activity and assessment of heart rate response to exercise in patients with disorders of cardiac rhythm. Most stress tests done for evaluation of know or suspected coronary artery disease involve either an echocardiogram or nuclear scan. If a stress test is indicated but the patient is unable to walk on the treadmill due to a non-cardiac limitation, usually due to arthritis or other orthopedic issues, we are able to perform “chemical” stress tests with either adenosine or dobutamine. All ECA cardiologists supervise and interpret all forms of stress testing. | |