Exercise Test

In the unit, conventional treadmill exercise test is practiced.

What is the aim of exercise test?

• It can be determined that whether the patient has coronary artery disease.

• Valve diseases can be evaluated and their effects on heart functions can be defined.

• By defining the exercise performance of heart, treatment of the cardiac disease can be planned or the anxiety of the patient can be removed if the heart is normal.

• With the exercise, it can be determined whether a rhythm abnormality has occurred.

• While several heart diseases do not indicate symptoms during rest, they indicate during exercise. To give an example, mild or moderate aortic valve stenoses or cardiomyopathies (cardiac muscle diseases) can be types of such pathologies.

How does exercise test detect heart diseases?

Cardiac muscle need more blood during exercise to meet increased work load. Adequate blood flow to heart muscle cannot be supplied due to a coronary artery stenosis and specific changes reveal in ECG. These changes can be revealed with ECG records acquired before, during and after the exercise. In addition, for patients with aortic valve stenosis or cardiac muscle contraction, heavy exercises cannot be tolerated as adequate blood cannot be pumped.

What are the considerations before the test?

As the patient will quickstep and run and also will sweat during the test, it is suggested to bring comfortable trainers and extra clothing.

How is the test performed?
During the exercise test, the ECG and blood pressure are recorded periodically while the patient is on a treadmill of which speed and slope are increased periodically.

While the patient is resting the blood pressure is measured and ECG is recorded and the treadmill is switched on once more and the patient is asked to walk on it. The speed and slope of the treadmill is increased in every 3 minutes. ECG and blood pressure are followed up continuously. If the patient gets tired as much as not to continue the test, if severe chest pain occurs at the moment and if ECG and blood pressure shows any evidence of pathological findings, the test is terminated.

Is exercise test reliable?

The test results may be normal for patients with coronary artery diseases sometimes, and abnormal for healthy patients. During the exercise, cardiac muscle perfusion scintigraphy may be performed with a radioactive material (Thallium or Technetium). Stress echocardiography can be performed.

What are the risks and disadvantages of exercise test?

It is the safest and most common one of cardiologic tests. Death risk is extremely low. However, it may seldom cause cardiac rhythm problems and heart attacks. The physician that performs the exercise test and the substructure of the department have features to cope with the potential problems.

When is exercise test performed?

It is performed every day of the week. As the test takes approximately 15 minutes, appointments are scheduled for a specific number of patients every day.