Specialized study of heart-related problems and abnormalities in the cardiovascular system, leading to their diagnosis and treatment, is referred to as cardiology. While studying cardiology, it must be added that it is a medical discipline, not surgical. That way, cardiologists provide the continuing care of patients with heart & blood vessel diseases performing basic studies of heart function. He also supervises all aspects of therapy in cardiology in Sydney, including the administration of drugs to modify heart functions.

Symptoms of Stress Test for Heart

If you got symptoms of limited blood flow to your heart, then you may need a stress test. The symptoms may include:
* A type of chest pain called Angina or discomfort caused by poor blood flow to the heart
* Low breathing
* Fast heartbeat
* Irregular heartbeat, referred to as arrhythmia. This may give you feel like flapping in your chest.
You may also need to go for cardiac stress test, if;
* In case you are planning to start an exercise program
* Have had recent cardiac surgery
* Are being treated for heart disease
* Have experienced a heart attack in the past
* Or due to health problems such as diabetes, family history of heart disease, you are at a higher risk for heart disease.
* Then, you may also be recommended to examine your cardiac health through this stress test. The test will determine how well your treatment is working.

How You Prepare for Test

Your primary health care will give you advice on how you have to prepare for a heart stress test

Food & Medications

a. Your cardiologist will ask you not to eat, drink, or smoke for a time span before a stress test. You may also be asked to avoid caffeine the day before and the day of the test.
b. You need to ask your doctor about the safety of continue taking all of your prescription and over-the-counter medications before the test for you, as they might inhibit certain stress tests.
c. Make sure your health care team providers who will be monitoring your stress test know that you use an inhaler. If you use an inhaler for asthma or other breathing problems, bring it to the test.

Clothing & Personal Items

a. Your cardiologist will also ask you to wear or bring relaxed clothes and walking shoes.
b. Don’t need to apply oil, lotion, or cream against your skin that day, in case you have a nuclear stress test,

What to Expect During and After Test

* Including your prep time and the time it takes to perform the actual test will take around an hour.
* The actual test is completed in only around 15 minutes.
* Your doctor will ask you to walk on a treadmill or pedal a stationary bicycle in order to have an exercise stress test.
* In case you cannot exercise, your cardiologist will provide you a drug through an IV that increases your blood flow to your heart by mimicking.

Prep for Stress Test

You will be asked some questions regarding your medical history and how often and energetically you perform physical activities. This will help your doctor in determining the amount of exercise that is suitable for you during the test. Your heart beat and lungs will also be heard for any anomalies that might affect your test results.

During a stress test

A nurse or technician will place electrodes against your chest, legs, and arms. Some areas may need to be hairless to help the sticky patches stick. To record the electrical signals that trigger your heartbeats, the electrodes have wires connected to an electrocardiogram machine. A manacle on your arm will check your blood pressure during the test. You will also be asked to breathe into a tube during the test in order to determine how well you can breathe during exercise.
If you are not able to exercise, you will be injected with the drug IV that mimics exercise by increasing blood flow to your heart. That way, you may feel flushed or short of breath, just as you would if you were exercising. You may also get a headache.
Your primary healthcare provider will ask you to exercise on a treadmill or stationary bike, starting slowly. As the test progresses, the exercise gets more difficult. You can use the railing on the treadmill for balance. Don’t hold on tightly, as this may slant the results.
You will continue exercising until you develop symptoms that don’t allow you to continue. These cyphers will include;
* Moderate to severe chest pain
* Severe shortness of breath
* Strangely high or low blood pressure
* An abnormal heart rhythm
* Dizziness
* Fatigue
* Certain changes in your electrocardiogram
When you feel too tired to continue exercising, you may stop the test.

Result

In a stress test for the heart, when you stop exercising, you will have to stand still for several seconds and then lie down for a period of time with the monitors in place. By doing this, your doctor will detect any abnormalities as your heart rate and breathing returns to normal.
When your exercise stress test is complete, you may return to your normal activities unless your doctor tells you anything else to do.