What an Exercise Stress Test Reveals About Your Heart Health

When it comes to evaluating your heart, a stress test offers something incredibly valuable. It shows how your heart performs under pressure. 

While EKGs, ultrasounds, and blood tests provide important data, stress testing often reveals how your heart truly handles work. That’s why it’s one of the most vital tools in cardiovascular care.

At Parkview Cardiology in Midtown West, New York, we provide stress testing in a comfortable, supportive setting. Here's how it works, what it can detect, and when you might need one.

The value of an exercise stress test

A stress test monitors how your heart responds to exertion. This helps uncover issues that might not show up when your heart is at rest.

When the heart is working harder, hidden problems like reduced blood flow, irregular rhythms, or weakened muscle function can become apparent. These insights are critical for early detection and effective treatment.

Conditions diagnosed through a stress test

Stress tests help pinpoint several common but potentially serious heart conditions:

Heart arrhythmias

These are irregular heart rhythms that can cause your heart to race, slow down, or beat unpredictably. Atrial fibrillation, the most common arrhythmia, feels like fluttering in your chest. A stress test can identify these rhythm changes under strain.

Coronary artery disease (CAD)

CAD occurs when cholesterol builds up inside the arteries that supply your heart, reducing blood flow. You might not feel symptoms until the blockage becomes severe or until a heart attack occurs. A stress test can catch CAD early.

Heart failure

Heart failure happens when your heart isn’t pumping blood effectively. This may be due to damage from high blood pressure, previous myocardial infarctions (AKA “heart attacks”), or valve problems. A stress test can reveal how well your heart keeps up with demand during activity.

Heart valve disease

When heart valves don’t open or close properly, it can lead to poor circulation and symptoms like shortness of breath, fatigue, and swelling. A stress test may uncover valve issues that aren't obvious when your heart is resting.

Candidates for a stress test

Our team may recommend a stress test if you:

• Have symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, or palpitations
• Need a diagnosis for an unexplained cardiovascular issue
• Want to evaluate how well your heart treatment is working
• Are planning to undergo surgery and need clearance
• Are recovering from a heart event and need exercise guidelines

Stress testing helps us better understand your heart’s capabilities and your risks.

Different types of stress testing

Not all stress tests are the same. Our team uses the method that best fits your health, physical ability, and the answers we’re looking for.

Exercise stress test

This is the most common type. You walk on a treadmill while we gradually increase the intensity. We track your heart rate, blood pressure, and EKG. If you're unable to exercise, medication can be used to simulate the effects of physical activity on your heart.

Stress echocardiogram

In this test, we use ultrasound imaging before and after exercise to assess your heart's structure, motion, and blood flow. This gives us real-time visuals of how your heart responds under stress.

Nuclear stress test

This test uses a safe radioactive tracer that highlights blood flow in your heart. A specialized camera captures images before and after exercise or medication to show how well different areas of your heart are being supplied with blood.

You deserve exceptional heart care

Stress testing provides an incredible understanding of how your heart behaves when it’s working hard. That makes it an essential part of diagnosing and managing heart disease.

If you’re experiencing heart-related symptoms — or if you just want to be proactive about your health — our team is here to help. Call Parkview Cardiology in New York, New York, or use our online form to request your appointment today.