Stress Test

Once you have been called into the testing room, this is what you can expect to happen:

1. A technologist or sonographer will give you a consent form to sign and will explain the test to you. They will be happy to answer any questions you may have about the procedure. However, once the test begins, they will not be able to discuss the results of the test or what they see on the screen, as per Ontario law.
2. You will be given privacy to change into a gown that will be provided to you. You will be asked to remove all upper body clothing and fasten the gown in the front.
3. Make sure that you have running shoes or sneakers on and they are laced up.
4. When the technologist returns, they will apply adhesive electrodes to your chest to set up for ECG monitoring. The electrode sites will be cleaned with alcohol and possibly shaven to ensure a continuous ECG recording can be maintained without any interference.
5. A blood pressure cuff will also be placed on your arm so that periodic measurements can be taken during the test.
6. Next, as a safety precaution, you will be asked to mount the treadmill by straddling both sides of the machine rather than standing directly on the belt.
7. The technologist will indicate when it is time to stand on the belt and begin walking. Beginning with a slow introductory pace, the intensity of the exercise will increase every 3 minutes until the target heart rate is reached.
8. As the test progresses and exercise becomes more difficult, patients may use the railing on the treadmill to assist their balance, if necessary. Try to keep your head up and looking straight ahead as looking down at the belt sometimes makes people feel dizzy.
9. You will be monitored throughout the test. If a problem occurs, the technologist will stop the test right away. It is important for you to tell the technologist if you experience any symptoms, such as chest pain, dizziness, unusual shortness of breath, or extreme fatigue.
10. Your blood pressure, heart rate, and ECG will continue to be monitored as you rest on the exam table for a few minutes after the treadmill exercise is complete. Your blood oxygen saturation and, in some cases, a quick breathing test (spirometry test) may also be done before and after the treadmill portion of the test.
11. Data from the test will be reviewed by a cardiologist in a timely fashion and a report will then be sent to your healthcare provider.
12. Following the test, you may resume your regular activities.

Determining how the heart reacts under various levels of strain can offer an important piece of the puzzle when trying to determine a diagnosis and treatment plan. The stress test is usually used to help:

• Diagnose coronary artery disease (CAD).
• Diagnose the possible cause of symptoms such as chest pain (angina), exercise-induced shortness of breath, exercise-induced lightheadedness or exercise-induced palpitations.
• Predict the risk of future cardiac events including possible heart attack along with other heart-related conditions.
• Determine a safe level of exercise for cardiovascular condition and cardiac rehabilitation requirements.

The stress test is meant to diagnose and prevent cardiac events from happening, not induce them. Complications during a stress test are extremely rare. Nevertheless, experienced medical staff who are trained to handle emergency situations are in attendance at all times. Patients are under constant cardiac monitoring during the test which means that it will be halted and appropriate medical attention will be received at the earliest sign.

Yes. OHIP covers your stress test, provided it has been ordered for medical, diagnostic purposes. On some occasions, patients require a stress test for insurance or ministry of transportation assessment in which case, OHIP does not cover the test and the cost of the test is charged to the patient or their insurance directly.