What is it?

A cardiac exercise stress test shows how well your heart handles exercise. This can take various forms including stress ECG and stress echocardiograms.

Why do I need it?

Your doctor may recommend a cardiac stress test to:

• Determine the cause of chest pain, as well as shortness of breath, dizziness, and light-headedness.

• Check for signs and symptoms of coronary artery disease.

• Evaluate the efficacy of certain procedures, such as coronary angioplasty and stenting or cardiac bypass surgery

• Assist in the development of a safe exercise programme if you have heart disease risk factors.

• Determine the likelihood that you will develop heart disease or other heart-related disorders.

What are the risks?

Cardiac exercise stress tests are non-invasive and safe. You’ll be accompanied by a nurse who monitors your health and checks for any concerns.

How do I prepare?

You can prepare for your cardiac exercise stress test by:

• Wearing loose, comfortable clothing

• Asking your doctor whether you may take your medicine prior

• Avoiding eating - as well as smoking and drinking alcohol - at least 3 hours before the test begins

• Avoiding caffeine (such as tea, coffee, cola and chocolate) for 24 hours before the test begins

What happens during?

You will walk on a treadmill or cycle on an exercise bike until you reach your "target heart rate," which is 85% of the maximum heart rate estimated for your age. The pace, inclination, and resistance of your treadmill or cycle will increase every 3 minutes for a total of 15 minutes.

One or more medical specialists will monitor your ECG, heart rate, blood pressure, and cardiac rhythm during the test. They will halt the test if:

• You develop chest pain

• Your blood pressure is becoming a concern

• The ECG shows your heart isn’t getting enough oxygen

• You become too tired

• You have another symptom that prevents you from exercising

The test takes less than one hour in total.

What happens after?

Following your cardiac exercise stress test, you will be monitored until your heart rate recovers to normal resting levels. Your test findings will be discussed, and your doctor may advise you on additional tests and treatments.

What is it?

Echocardiogram is also known as an ultrasound scan of the heart, an echo, or sonar of the heart. It shows moving pictures portraying the structure and function of the heart. EKG is also known as an ECG, or an electrocardiogram. The ECG is a heart tracing. It provides information on the rhythm and rate of the heart.

Why do I need it?

ECG’s are commonly ordered. Most patients attaining an evaluation for a heart-related issue or symptoms gets an ECG. Echocardiograms on the other hand, are specifically ordered in the context of signs and symptoms of heart disease.

What are the risks?

Both of these tests are considered non-invasive cardiac testing. Patients are not expected to feel any pain from either test.

How do I prepare?

No specific preparations are needed for either diagnostic service, however, chest hair may need to be shaved in order to ensure adequate contact and tracing.

What happens during?

ECG – 10 small adhesive pads are placed on the chest wall in various locations, and wires from the EKG machine are connected. These leads provide data that generates a trace by using the electrical activity of the heart. The actual test lasts roughly 5 minutes. The majority of that time is spent applying the leads; the tracing itself only takes seconds to create.

Echocardiogram – Patients are given a robe to wear and are asked to recline on a table. Patients are usually positioned on their left-side. After applying ultrasound gel to various locations of the chest wall, the ultrasound probe is placed on the chest, and images are captured. In most circumstances, the exam takes roughly 20 minutes to complete. 5 minutes will most likely be spent preparing, and the remaining 15 minutes will be spent taking images. The test may take longer in some circumstances based on the precise information necessary.

What happens after?

There are generally no specific care instructions post-echo or post-ECG.

What is it?

The Stress Echocardiogram (Stress Echo) is a test used to evaluate heart function under physical stress. It employs ultrasonic waves (inaudible sound waves) to picture and analyse the heart's function before to and shortly following exercise to determine how the heart muscle pump is operating, as well as to monitor other parameters.

Why do I need it?

This test is performed to see if there is a decreased blood flow to any area of the heart, which might indicate a narrowing/blockage in one of the coronary arteries delivering blood to that section of the heart muscle.

Your doctor may also suggest a Stress Echo for other reasons, such as assessing valve performance under stress, and measuring pressure changes in the heart during stress.

What are the risks?

Stress testing is thought to be quite safe, with a very low risk of heart attack or cardiac arrest. Before ordering the test, your doctor will have assessed these risks.

How do I prepare?

Points of preparation for a stress echo are as follows:

- Fasting is not required, but it is recommended to not consume a large meal prior to the test.

- Wear loose, comfortable, and light clothing.

- Wear walking shoes.

- Ensure your top can be easily removed.

What happens during?

The process of a stress echo is as follows:

1. After the skin has been prepared, ECG electrodes will be placed on your chest and back.

2. Your ECG electrodes will be connected to the monitor. The Echo Technician will then take initial ultrasound images of the heart, known as rest images.

3. You will then be asked to begin exercising on the treatmill, which incrementally increases in speed and incline depending on your age and fitness level.

4. Once the stress section is complete, the technician will take stress images.

The total process of a stress echo will take around 20-30 minutes.

What happens after?

After a few minutes, the ECG monitor will be unplugged, and the ECG electrodes will be removed. You will be provided tissue paper to wipe off your perspiration as well as the gel administered by the Echo Tech. At this point, a Cardiologist will review the photos and inform you of the results.

What is it?

This test measures your blood pressure over the course of a 24-hour period. For the full 24 hours, readings are taken at regular intervals. During the day, it will activate every 20-30 minutes; during the night, it will activate every hour. You will be wearing a cuff, similar to the one you use when your doctor checks your blood pressure. This is connected to a portable monitoring device, which is often worn on a belt or in a bag.

Why do I need it?

ABPM’s aid in predicting risk of cardiovascular disease, and in assessing the effectivity of a particular heart medication in controlling blood pressure.

What are the risks?

There are no serious risks from ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.

How do I prepare?

• As the monitor cannot get wet for the 24 hour period, ensure you have a method of bathing that protects the cuff.

• The cuff needs room to inflate, therefore wearing loose fitting and comfortable clothing is recommended.

What happens during?

After your cuff and monitor have been installed, you can resume your usual daily activities. This might involve sports, jobs, and so on. Please verify that you have followed ALL recommendations from your doctor before engaging in any activities, as well as instructions for any medications you may be taking.

What happens after?

Once the 24-hour period has lapsed, the readings are downloaded and analysed by your doctor. This analysis will be relayed to you.

What is it?

A HeartBug Monitor is a small device that records your heart rate and rhythm over a longer period than a Holter device or ECG. Your doctor may want to have a record of your heart symptoms for up to a month

Why do I need it?

A hearbug is required when a patient’s heart needs to be monitored for an extended period of time, up to a month.

What are the risks?

A HeartBug is a non-invasive monitoring device, and therefore does not come with serious risk. In terms of the device itself, the HeartBug cannot get wet, therefore it must be taken off for bathing.

How do I prepare?

It is easy to prepare for your appointment. Make certain that you are dressed comfortably and in loose-fitting clothing. To guarantee that the electrodes/tabs stick to your chest, males may need to shave a small portion of their chest. Use of talcum powder, creams, or body lotions before to your session may reduce the adherence of the tabs/electrodes.

What happens during?

You adhere the adhesive electrodes to your chest, and the cables are connected to the monitoring apparatus. The HeartBug will record your heart rate, rhythm, and other data, which will be communicated through a smartphone app or landline every morning and evening. The gadget also allows you to record symptoms via the app.

What happens after?

Your HeartBug will be removed once the monitoring period has lapsed, and the data will be analysed by your cardiologist.

What is it?

Holter Monitors record your heart beats for a 24-hour period, instead of blood pressure like Ambulant BP Monitoring.

Why do I need it?

It may be requested if you are experiencing irregular heart rhythms, palpitations, dizziness or blackouts

What are the risks?

A Halter Monitor is a non-invasive monitoring device, and therefore does not carry any significant risks.

How do I prepare?

While wearing this box you can perform normal daily activities but you cannot shower or get wet. You should complete a diary particularly noting if you have any of your symptoms (palpitations, dizziness etc).

What happens during?

Small sticky electrodes are placed on your chest and connected to a box which is attached to a belt, which is worn around your waist under your clothes.

What happens after?

The Holter is fitted one morning and removed the following morning, by our nurse. You will wear it for a total of 24 hours.