What does a stress test actually test?
A stress test is usually performed on a treadmill, while the heart activity is being monitored. The main purpose of a stress test is to see if there is any evidence of blocked arteries. If there are blockages, and not enough blood gets through during exercise, changes occur in the EKG’s being recorded. Sometimes, a nuclear scan is done as well, to gather additional information about the blood flow. A stress test can also provide valuable information about fitness level, arrhythmias, and blood pressure response.
