What is a Stress Echocardiogram?
A stress echocardiogram, or stress echo in short, is a test that checks how well your heart works under stress. It uses ultrasound (sound waves) to take pictures of your heart before and after exercise or medication that makes your heart beat faster. This helps doctors see if your heart is getting enough blood and working as it should.
Why Do You Need a Stress Echo?
Doctors may recommend this test if you have symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, or dizziness, especially when you’re active. It helps to
- Find blocked heart arteries
- Check how well treatments like stents or bypass surgery are working
- Monitor heart valve problems
- Keep an eye on existing heart conditions
Types of Stress Echocardiograms
There are three types of stress echoes:
- Exercise Stress Echo – You walk / jog on a treadmill or ride a stationary bike while your heart is monitored.
- Pharmacological Stress Echo – If you can’t exercise, medicine is being injected to make your heart beat faster, mimicking exercise.
- Pacing Stress Test – Used for patients with a permanent pacemaker (battery). Your provider programs the device to raise your heart rate during the stress test.
How is the Test Done?
- Before Stress: You lie down, and a technician attaches small sticky sensors (electrodes) to your chest, which records electrocardiogram (ECG) of your heart’s electrical activity. Doctor/Technician also scans your heart to assess the function and structure as baseline.
- Stress Phase: You either exercise or get medication to speed up your heart rate.
- After Stress: More heart images are taken to compare with the baseline.
- Doctor’s Review: A heart specialist checks the images to see if your heart has any issues.
How to Prepare?
- Wear comfortable clothes and shoes if you’re doing the exercise test.
- Do not apply lotion, oil or powder to the chest.
- Ask your doctor if you should stop taking any medications beforehand.
- Tell your doctor about any medical conditions you have.
Are There Any Risks?
A stress echocardiogram is safe for most people, but there can be minor risks like:
- Feeling dizzy or tired after exercise
- Irregular heartbeat
- A drop in blood pressure, causing lightheadedness
- Rare allergic reactions to medication (for the pharmacological stress test)
Understanding Your Results
- Normal: Your heart structure and function are normal and works well under stress, and blood flow looks good.
- Abnormal: There may be blockages or other heart issues that need further investigations, like a CT/MRI scan or angiogram.
Final Thoughts
A stress echocardiogram is a simple and useful test to check how your heart handles stress. It helps doctors find heart problems early and decide on the best treatment suitable for you. If you have risk factors for heart disease, this test can help ensure your heart stays healthy.