There are many types of stress tests and they are:
1. Treadmill stress test:
Patients walk on the treadmill which is programmed to increase in speed and incline every 2 or 3 minutes. During this period EKG and blood pressure are monitored. The results of the test do not only depend on the duration of walk/run but other parameters such as heart rate, changes in the EKG and symptoms experienced.
2. Stress echocardiogram: In this case the patient has echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart) done before and after the treadmill test to evaluate the motion of the heart muscle. It gives added information.
3.Cardiolite: This is the type of stress test that relies on the radionuclide uptake by the heart at rest and at exertion. Patients are scanned with the gamma camera to detect the radionulide uptake by the heart. EKG monitoring is done continuously.
Patients do not eat or drink for 12 hours prior to any of the stress tests. It is also advisable to hold beta blockers (medications whose name ends in " ....olol" )