STRESS ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY EXPLAINED

Stress echocardiography is a non-invasive procedure used to identify whether there is a problem with the arteries supplying the heart or the valves.   During this test the patient’s heart rate will be steadily increased to check the heart’s response to exercise either by asking them to exercise, or by giving the patient  gently increasing doses of a medication.

Why does a patient need a stress echocardiogram?

A stress echocardiogram is a good test to investigate whether chest pain is likely to be due to narrowings in the arteries of the heart or not.  It is also used in patients that have had an angiogram or CT coronary angiogram showing a narrowing to help decide whether any treatment is required.

What Does Stress Echocardiography Involve?

For this procedure, a resting echocardiogram (ultrasound) is performed so that the function and movement of the heart during exercise can be compared. 

The the patient is then asked to exercise on a treadmill or bike, or receive a drug (typically dobutamine) through a small plastic tube in your arm.   The aim is to simulate exercise and increase the heart rate.  The patient’s heart rate and rhythm and blood pressure are monitored during exercise.  If there is concern about the patient’s rhythm or blood pressure, or the patient feels unwell, the test will be stopped.

Once exercise is being performed at a target heart rate, more echocardiogram (ultrasound) pictures will be taken to compare to the resting images.  If there is a problem with one of the arteries supplying the heart, it may be able to supply enough blood to the heart muscle at rest but not on exercise, and this will show up as the movement of the heart being normal at rest (when it has a good blood supply) but becoming abnormal on stress (when the blood supply is not good enough).

What happens after the test?

After the test is over, you will be monitored whilst your heart rate and blood pressure return to normal levels.  If you have received medications to increase the heart rate, the plastic tube in your arm will be removed before you leave. 

Schedule An Appointment

Stress echocardiography is a very useful test to work out whether chest pain is likely to be due to a narrowed artery, or whether a narrowed artery is causing a problem with the blood supply to the heart.  Our expert Consultant Cardiologists are skilled in stress echocardiography and  are available for consultation on any day of the week and weekends as well.