The Progression Of The Treadmill Stress Test

The treadmill stress test is the most often used method of assessing the human cardiovascular system.  By studying the heart’s performance and reaction under various levels of physical exertion, doctors are able to gage a starting point for either ruling out a cardiovascular concern or developing a diagnosis.  Its reliability and/or validity are perhaps the most significant reasons why the treadmill stress test is so commonly part of a regular cardiovascular workup prescribed for a patient.

Test Checks Heart Rate and Blood Pressure During Exercise

The treadmill stress test initially began as the simple process of checking heart rate and blood pressure during exercise.  Heart rate and blood pressure were each checked before the test as the patient rested.  Typically, it began with the patient beginning to walk on the treadmill at a slow pace, with those vitals being monitored as the walk progressed to higher paces.

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If the patient’s vital statistics changed dramatically, causing the patient uncomfortable levels of stress the treadmill test indicated at what level of activity that stress began.  An indication of no increased stress on the cardiovascular system during the patient’s treadmill workout test was generally interpreted as a sign of a healthy heart.

EKG Testing & Cardiovascular Disease

As research lead to advances in both medicine and technology progressed, those advances increased the effectiveness of treadmill stress testing in the diagnosis of cardiovascular disease.  In the early 1970’s, physicians began using machines that performed EKG testing simultaneously while the patient walked the machine.

Instead of only being able to monitor heart rate and blood pressure, the advanced stress test allowed doctors to actually view feedback of the heart’s activity as the patient walked on the treadmill.  This capacity opened a previously closed door to preventive cardiovascular care.

Nuclear Medicine Employs Treadmills to Monitor Cardiovascular System

With health and fitness research at a premium in recent years, stress tests using treadmills have become even more effective as diagnostic tools.  Nuclear medicine now stands center stage with this method of monitoring a patient’s cardiovascular system.

When a stress test is prescribed for a patient, he or she typically enters a hospital or clinic for an outpatient process.  Upon arriving for the treadmill test, the patient’s vitals are checked first.  He or she is then given an intravenous injection of a medication such as thallium, which is a metallic dye. 

During the treadmill stress test, the thallium or other medication used can be viewed as it is pumped through the heart, brain or other specific area of the body.  This allows physicians to actually see areas of the heart, brain and/or other arteries in which blood flow is restricted.

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