Exercise Treadmill/Bike Testing (ETT)

Although the resting Electrocardiogram (ECG) can detect and demonstrate to the cardiologist a number of abnormalities, the presence of a normal resting ECG does not rule out the possibility of significant coronary artery disease. A much more appropriate way to look at this is with dynamic or Exercise Treadmill/Bike Testing. The Stress Test is conducted in a closely supervised situation. You will be attached to the ECG recording monitor just as you were for the resting electrocardiogram.

However, you will then sit on a bike or stand on a treadmill, which will begin to move very slowly. Progressively, as you become accustomed to the pace, the workload will be incremented. All the time, the technicians will be monitoring your heart rate, blood pressure and looking carefully at the ECG for any changes. Typically, in an individual who has Coronary Artery Disease, as the workload increases and their hearts oxygen consumption increases, certain changes begin to appear on the ECG. These changes correlate closely with hardening of the arteries. During the exercise test, you should report any chest tightness, discomfort or breathlessness to the technicians, who may stop the test at that point.

You will be allowed to recover whilst we monitor the ECG and when your heart rate and blood pressure have returned to normal, the test is completed. At this point, you can take a shower and you will be able to return to work immediately afterwards. The cardiologist will review and analyse your exercise test and if the characteristic features of changing within the ECG are present, this is a strong indication of Coronary Artery Disease. The effect of exercise on the blood pressure is also useful to monitor and can guide therapy.

If the indication is that you have coronary disease, you may need a coronary angiogram.