Stress Test: Evaluating Your Heart's Response to Physical Activity

At Subang Jaya Medical Centre's Heart, Vascular, and Thoracic Department, we understand the importance of evaluating your heart's performance under stress. One of the key diagnostic tools we utilise for this purpose is the Stress Test, also known as an Exercise Stress Test or Treadmill Test. This non-invasive procedure helps assess your heart's response to physical activity and provides valuable insights into cardiovascular health.

During a Stress Test, you will be asked to walk on a treadmill or pedal on a stationary bicycle while connected to an ECG machine. The level of exercise intensity gradually increases, simulating the demands placed on your heart during physical exertion. Throughout the test, our healthcare professionals monitor your heart rate, blood pressure, and ECG readings to evaluate your heart's performance.

1. Assessing Exercise Capacity: The Stress Test measures cardiovascular fitness and exercise tolerance. It helps determine your ability to perform physical activities without experiencing symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, or abnormal heart rhythms.

2. Detecting Heart Disease: The Stress Test can help identify underlying coronary artery disease or other heart-related conditions by monitoring your heart's response to exercise. It can reveal abnormal changes in your heart's electrical activity, blood pressure, or ECG patterns that may indicate reduced blood flow to the heart.

For detecting coronary blockage, the predictive value of a stress ECG range between 60% in women and 70-80% in men. The predictive value of a CT coronary angiogram is higher (95-98%).