ECG, Stress Test

An electrocardiogram (ECG) stress test monitors a person's heartbeat at rest and during exercise, most commonly while a person walks on a treadmill. A physician observes the person, monitors the exercise level, and makes recordings until the person's heart nears a maximum predicted heart rate. The heart also is monitored during the period of cool-down or recovery that immediately follows exercise. The recordings made before, during, and immediately after an ECG stress test can show subtle changes in heart electrical activity that can help a physician:

• Determine physical fitness;
• Locate areas of the heart that receive an insufficient blood and oxygen supply;
• Reveal heart rhythm abnormalities;
• Evaluate a person's prognosis after a heart attack;
• Verify the effectiveness of medical and surgical therapies; and
• Determine an appropriate exercise program for people with known heart disease.