Exercise Stress Test

What it is

An exercise stress test (GXT) looks at how your heart handles work. Electrodes record your ECG and a cuff tracks blood pressure while you walk on a treadmill that gets a little faster and steeper every three minutes. We watch for symptoms, ECG changes, and blood-pressure response, and we stop if anything concerning appears — or when you reach your target heart rate.

Why it is ordered

• Investigate chest pain, unexplained breathlessness, or reduced exercise tolerance
• Look for signs of coronary artery disease
• Evaluate known arrhythmias during effort
• Establish a safe exercise prescription after a cardiac event

Before your visit

1. 01Wear comfortable walking shoes and loose clothing
2. 02Avoid caffeine for 24 hours before the test
3. 03Do not eat a heavy meal in the two hours beforehand; a light snack is fine
4. 04Your physician will tell you if any heart medications should be held
5. 05Bring inhalers if you use them, plus your health card and requisition

During the test

1. 01We review your history and calculate a target heart rate
2. 02Electrodes are placed on the chest; a blood-pressure cuff stays on one arm
3. 03You start walking at a gentle pace; speed and incline rise every 3 minutes
4. 04Tell us immediately about chest pain, dizziness, or unusual shortness of breath
5. 05You may stop the test at any time; we also stop for safety criteria

After

1. 01You recover in a chair while we continue to monitor ECG and blood pressure
2. 02Most people go home and resume usual activity the same day
3. 03A cardiologist interprets the tracing; results go to your referring doctor

Questions we hear often