Stress is the root cause of most health conditions. This is why we can always hear our doctor gave us the advice to reduce the stress in our lives. But how will you know if your stress levels are alarming? Maybe it is already affecting your health? Thankfully we do not have to guess. There are now Stress check up in Cranbourne North that can help us determine our cardiovascular capacity.
What Is A Stress Test?
Stress test or also called ‘exercise stress test’ will show how your heart works while doing physical activities. Your heart will make your heart pump harder and faster and because of this, an exercise stress test would be able to reveal any problems associated with blood flow within your heart.
The tests usually require you to walk on a treadmill, or maybe ride a stationary bike. This is when your heart rhythm, your blood pressure, as well as your breathing, are closely monitored. In some cases, patients will receive a drug that can mimic the effects of exercise. The stress tests offered at Cranbourne Medical Centre are usually recommended to patients with the following issues:
- Diagnose Coronary Artery Disease. This disease develops when your arteries are damaged or diseased usually because of the deposit buildup which contains cholesterol and other plaques.
- Diagnose Arrhythmias. This commonly occurs when your electrical impulses that would coordinate your heart rhythm is not functioning properly. In turn, it will cause your heart to beat too fast or too slow.
- Guide For Heart Disorder Treatment. If you already have a diagnosed heart condition, the stress test can help your doctor identify whether the treatment is working or not. Your doctor can also use the stress test results to establish a treatment plan for you.
Preparing For A Stress Test
If your doctor suspects the above health conditions, he or she might schedule you for a stress test. This may seem like an intimidating test, but it should not scare you at all. To help you prepare, here are some helpful tips that you should know before stepping on that treadmill.
- Skip Your Meal. Your doctor might also advise you this before you step on the treadmill. Remember that you will be exercising and you should go into this with an empty stomach. If you do the stress test with a full stomach, there is a huge difference with the results.
- Know Your Medications. Before the test, make sure that you know which medications do you need to take. These are designed to help evaluate our heart during the activity. Some of the medications will slow down your heart rate. Remember that during the exercise, your heart rate would go up so you should consult with your doctor if which medications should you avoid.
- No Coffee. Caffeine is a stimulant and it can raise your blood pressure as well as your heart rate. If your doctor suggests a chemical or nuclear stress test, you should not drink coffee for at least 24 hours before your stress test. You should also make sure that you do not take over the counter medication that contains caffeine – diet pills and headache medications.
Stress tests can usually take an hour to complete including the prep time. The actual test will just be around 15 minutes or so. All of the information gathered will show how your heart functions, whether it is normal or not. This is why you have to ensure that you are following your doctors’ order on what to do and what not to do before, during, and after your stress test.
