What is an exercise electrocardiogram?
An exercise ECG is performed to assess the heart’s response to stress or exercise. The ECG is monitored while a person is exercising on a treadmill or stationary bike. An ECG tracing will be taken at certain points during the test in order to compare the effects of increasing stress on the heart. Periodically, the incline and treadmill speed will be increased in order to make exercise more difficult for the person being tested. If the person is riding a bicycle, he/she will pedal faster against increased resistance. In either circumstance, the person will exercise until reaching a target heart rate (determined by the physician based on age and physical status) or until unable to continue due to fatigue, shortness of breath, chest pain, or other symptoms. Other related procedures that may be used to assess the heart include resting electrocardiogram (ECG), Holter monitor, signal-averaged ECG, cardiac catheterization, chest x-ray, computed tomography (CT scan) of the chest, echocardiogra
