The Cardiac Treadmill Test - Is It Really Needed

The cardiac treadmill test, invented by Dr. Bruce, has put millions of patients on a path to recovery from heart disease in the last decade. They all benefit of this health test as it evaluates the heart’s function while it is under “stress”. The heart is monitored while it is responding to the body’s need for increased oxygen during exercise on the cardiac treadmill.

  The test is usually conducted in a special hospital room with quality medical supervision. The patient should not eat anything in the morning before the treadmill test. It is advisable to wear comfortable clothes and shoes for walking. A technician will affix patches with EKG leads to patient’s chest. The treadmill will start slowly, with an increase in speed and a rise in elevation every three minutes until the patient reaches his/her target heart rate.

  The exertion is approximately like a brisk walk up a steep hill, and the total exercise time is typically between 9 and 12 minutes. This exercise on the treadmill should make the patient achieve a “target heart rate,” which is calculated according to a formula based on the resting heart rate and age. This effort pushes more energy in the cardiovascular system. During this activity, the heart is continuously monitored by an electrocardiogram (ECG), which records the heart rate and rhythm, blood pressure and electrical activity within the heart.

  The cardiologist that supervises the test is looking for certain patterns of electrical activity that are associated with a low oxygen supply to the heart muscle and are characteristic of coronary artery disease. The cardiac treadmill test results can reveal if there are blockages in one or more of the coronary arteries that supply oxygenated blood to the heart muscle.

  It can also detect latent problems that occur only during periods of peak physical activity, such as irregular heart rhythms. It is also an rewarding barometer of overall fitness, so that anyone interested in tips for buying a treadmill or compare exercise treadmills should find out which model is appropriate to his/her state of health. The benefits of taking the cardiac treadmill test for out weight the cost. It could save your or a loved ones life.

Cardiac treadmill - TOP