East Atlanta Cardiology

A stress test is primarily used to identify coronary artery disease. It requires patients to exercise on a treadmill or exercise bicycle while their heart rate, blood pressure, electrocardiogram (ECG), and symptoms are monitored.

The body requires more oxygen during exercise than at rest. To deliver more oxygen during exercise, the heart has to pump more oxygen-rich blood. Because of the increased stress on the heart, exercise can reveal coronary problems that are not apparent when the body is at rest. This is why the stress test, though not perfect, remains the best initial noninvasive practical coronary test.

The stress test is particularly useful for detecting ischemia (inadequate supply of blood to the heart muscle) caused by blocked coronary arteries. Less commonly, it is used to determine safe levels of exercise in people with existing coronary artery disease.

We perform two types of stress tests:

• Exercise Stress Test
• Nuclear Treadmill Test
  

Instructions to Patients Scheduled For Stress Test

1. Do not eat after midnight if you are scheduled for the test prior to 12 noon.   Otherwise you can have a light snack with no caffeine- coffee, soda, chocolate, tea before 7:00 AM.  You may have ice chips and water
2. No caffeine for 24 hours prior to examination – see list of caffeine containing substances
3. No smoking for 24 hours prior to examination
4. Do not take beta blocker or calcium channel blockers or digoxin (lanoxin)for 24 hours prior to the examination
5. Dress comfortably for the exercise part of the test and wear walking shoes or sneakers
6. Allow plenty of time for the examination 3- 4 hours
7. If you need to cancel please do so in advance otherwise you will be charged for the medication doses ordered for your examination
8. Please call if you have any questions  770 322 8881
9. An iv will be inserted for test
10. If you are diabetic bring a snack or lunch and insulin/meds with you if needed
11. Avoid lotion or body oils – to help EKG leads hold.
12. If you are over 300 lbs please let us know.  You may need a two day study for better results which needs to be planned in advance.

List of Beta blockers and Calcium Channel Blockers

Products Containing Caffeine

The following products contain caffeine and should be held 24 hours prior to stress testing:

•  Coffee- both caffeinated or (decaffeinated)
• Tea- both caffeinated or decaffeinated
• Cocoa
• Chocolate milk
• Milk chocolate, dark chocolate, and semi-sweet chocolate
• Baking chocolate
• Chocolate syrup
• Any dessert, ice cream, or any other food containing chocolate
• Any soft drinks- both caffeinated or decaffeinated
• Over the counter drugs- Anacin, Excedrin, or No-Doze
• Prescribed drugs- Cafergot, Darvon compounds, Fiorinal, Synalgos-DCM Wigraine

Forms and Documents

• Patient Consent For Adenosine, Dobutamine, and Exercise Cardiac Stress Testing form ( Microsoft Word Format | Adobe PDF Format )
•  Exercise Treadmill/Pharmacological Stress and Nuclear Imaging Informed Consent Acknowledgement form ( Microsoft Word Format | Adobe PDF Format )
• Instructions to Patients Scheduled For a Stress Test ( Microsoft Word Format | Adobe PDF Format )