Stress Echocardiography

The most common reason to have a stress test is to screen for narrowing in the arteries to the heart (coronary artery disease or CAD). This can be done with a standard stress EKG treadmill test. However your doctor may order a stress or exercise echocardiogram.

The stress portion is the same as a standard stress test. Before walking on the treadmill the technician will perform an echocardiogram of the heart at rest. This allows for evaluation of the valves and heart muscle function. After walking on the treadmill a second echocardiogram is performed and compared to the resting echocardiogram.

The key to performing this test is obtaining good quality images and computer processing of these images.

If there is a prior heart attack or poor blood supply to the heart the echocardiogram will show weakened heart muscle function.

If there is an abnormality your doctor may recommend medication or may recommend a cardiac catheterization.

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