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Last updated: 11/24/2009

Definition

A stress test is primarily used to identify coronary artery disease. It requires patients to exercise on a treadmill or exercise bicycle while their heart rate, blood pressure, electrocardiogram (ECG), and symptoms are monitored.


Next:  Purpose   

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A physician explains coronary artery disease or CAD in this video. He covers the main type of damage that can occur to the coronary artery, namely atherosclerosis. The video also covers some of the serious consequences of CAD such as myocardial infarction (heart attack) and heart failure.

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Doctors monitor a patient's vital signs during a stress test. (Photograph by Mug Shots. The Stock Market. Reproduced by  permission.) Doctors monitor a patient's vital signs during a stress test. (Photograph by Mug Shots. The Stock Market. Reproduced by permission.)




Other Information

A cardiac stress test is a medical test that indirectly reflects arterial blood flow to the heart during physical exercise. When compared to blood flow during rest, the test reflects imbalances of blood flow to the heart's left ventricular muscle tissue – the part of the heart that performs the greatest amount of work pumping blood.

The results may also be interpreted as a reflection on a person's overall physical fitness.


From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardiac_stress_test

Other Information

In 2006, 2,192 heart transplantations were performed in the United States. There are 257 transplant hospitals in the United States, 135 of which perform heart transplantations. (http://www.unos.org/)


From: Unos.org

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