Department of Diagnostic Imaging
Location: Suite 026
Director: Kurt Meehan, R.T.
Appointments: 216-382-2853
Hours: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Friday: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
General Description
What to Expect
How to Prepare
About the Department of Diagnostic Imaging
Registration Form
Notice of Privacy Practices and Patient Rights
General Description
The Exercise Stress Test, also known as the Treadmill Test or Exercise Tolerance Test, reveals whether or not your heart gets enough blood flow and oxygen when it's working its hardest, such as during exercise. The Exercise Stress Test is often given to a person with chest pain or other symptoms of coronary artery disease, based on a medical exam and an EKG. These tests are sometimes used for other purposes, from assessing the effectiveness of heart disease treatment to gauging the safety of a proposed exercise program. Exercise Stress Tests are among the best tools for diagnosing heart disease and some research suggests that they may also be useful in estimating the risk of disease in people who don't have symptoms but have risk factors such as high cholesterol. If you are over age 40 and are at risk for coronary artery disease because you smoke or have high blood pressure or other risk factors, then ask your doctor if you should have this test.
What to Expect
Electrodes will be placed on your chest and an ultrasound scan of your heart will be performed. Then, with the electrodes still in place, you will walk on a treadmill. The treadmill will begin slowly and will increase in speed and grade every three (3) minutes. You will walk on the treadmill until you are tired. Your heart rhythm and blood pressure will be monitored continuously. Your doctor will receive a written report approximately 48 hours after the test.
- No smoking, alcoholic beverages or caffeine after 6 p.m. the night before the test. Many soft drinks, cocoa and chocolate beverages and foods, as well as cold remedies, diuretics, and pain relievers contain caffeine, so please be sure to read all labels.
- Eat low-fat meals the day of the test. For example:
Breakfast: Fruit, fruit juice, cereal with milk or any bread product with a little margarine or butter and jam, jelly or honey.
Lunch: Fruit, fruit salad, tuna, chicken or turkey sandwich, lettuce, tomato, celery (any salad ingredients), beverage without caffeine. Do not eat anything heavy or greasy for either meal. - Wear comfortable clothes such as pants, shorts, jeans, warm-up pants, loose-fitting T-shirt or blouse and good walking or tennis shoes.
- Continue to take any medications you normally would, unless your physician has instructed you otherwise.
- Please bring a current list of medications that you are taking.
- Please arrive 10 minutes before your appointment and bring the requisition provided by your physician.