I keep reading of people taking a stress test and I havent got a clue what one is , can someone please explain

Thanks :)

Well, it's a treadmill test to see how your heart reacts to strenous exercise. There are several different ones. If you google stress tests you can read about them. Basically they hook you up to an EKG and monitor your blood pressure and oxygen levels and what your heart does when you exercise. They have you start out by walking normally and slowly increase the speed and incline until you're pretty much running. They want you to get up to your target heart rate. If at any time during the test you feel you need to stop then they stop. I'm actually thinking of having a Thallium stress test rather than a Cardiac CT Scan as I've researched them and the thallium test seems more accurate at detecting heart problems. Try a google search to get more info :)

Hope that helps! You could also visit the heart disorders board they have a lot of info over there too!

Take Care,
Tori

Thanks for that , when ive been to the hospital and had ecgs and they have come back normal i keep saying to the doctor 'they wouldent be normal if I was exercising'

I am getting the feeling we all have the same paranoid thoughts here :)

I had a Thallium stress test a few years ago. I was given a large injection of a nuclear dye. The dye made it to my heart as I exercised on the treadmill until I hit the target rate. On a screen they were able to see my heart. Mainly what they were looking for was clogged arteries. Luckily my arteries were healthy and clear. Another trip to the ER, leading to a night in the hospital worrying about the heart attack I thought I had. Just to be released after my stress test was fine with directions on my release papers to “follow up with psychiatrist.”

If you feel strongly that you may have a heart problem insist on the right test. Better safe then sorry