In medical practice there are many tools to accurately diagnose different types of diseases. Thus, like the stress test, it is used to verify how the heart responds to increased blood pumping. In fact, it can be carried out, completing the stipulated time of exercise on a treadmill or an exercise bike.
However, there are other modalities to perform this diagnostic test, since there are patients who cannot perform this type of physical activity. Therefore, under these circumstances, the doctor recommends a drug that speeds up the heart in a similar way to when exercising.1
In the same way, there is the nuclear stress test with a contrast material that is applied intravenously. Also, there is stress echocardiography, which uses a transducer to create images of the structure and function of the heart.1
The exercise stress test or ergometry shows how the heart responds to physical activity, revealing some type of abnormality.
Surely, the stress test is recommended if you suspect a reduction in blood flow in the heart. What can happen in the presence of severe chest pain or cardiac arrhythmias that take your breath and make it difficult to breathe. Even more so, when the patient has recently suffered a heart attack or is under treatment to control any pathology.2
In the same way, this type of examination is included in the periodic medical check-ups, in order to prevent and treat any cardiac alterations in time. Likewise, it is very useful when the patient wants to start an exercise program or is considered a patient with coronary risk due to a family history.
Record the electrical activity of the heart with electrodes or images; depending on the method used; it is very useful to evaluate the strength of this organ.
We can see that the stress test is considered a safe procedure. However, physical activity or medication; to increase blood pumping; it can generate chest pain in special cases. Also, contrast material can cause allergies, although statistics show that this rarely happens.2
Thus, we observe that the general practitioner, internist, athlete or cardiologist may recommend performing a stress test to rule out or corroborate a diagnosis of coronary artery disease. In addition to being able to visualize by this means, how the tissues have healed after a heart problem or how a treatment is evolving.
In summary
The stress test is necessary to diagnose possible heart failure. Both, when, some type of symptom occurs, as when there are hereditary factors or only want to prevent a possible anomaly. In addition, with this technique the behavior of blood pressure in hypertensive patients can be assessed in the same way. Hence, it becomes a very useful tool in medical work.
References:
- Lara Vargas Jorge, Ilarraza-Lomelí Hermes, García Saldivia Marianna, Bueno Ayala Leopoldo. Prognostic utility of the stress test in risk stratification of patients with heart failure. Arch. Cardiol. Mex. [revista en la Internet]. 2015 Sep [citado 2021 Sep. 29]; 85 (3): 201-206. Available in:
http://www.scielo.org.mx/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1405-99402015000300005&lng=es.
2, Cid-Juárez Silvia, Miguel-Reyes José Luis, Cortés-Télles Arturo, Gochicoa-Rangel Laura, Mora-Romero Uri de Jesús, Silva-Cerón Mónica et al. Cardiopulmonary exercise test: Recommendations and procedure. Neumol. cir. chest [revista en la Internet]. 2015 Sep [citado 2021 Sep 29]; 74 (3): 207-221. Available in:
http://www.scielo.org.mx/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0028-37462015000300008&lng=es.