Cardiac stress test

Please bring the referral form and resting ECG results no older than 1 month when reporting for the examination.

Necessary additional examinations
Referral for resting ECG examination performed prior to cardiac stress test is not necessary, since it is performed as the initial phase of the test. The physician performing the cardiac stress test evaluates the preliminary ECG record and makes the final decision on the test performance.

Preparation for the examination
Report 2 h prior to the examination, after a light meal.
Sports outfit is required: sports shoes with soft soles, tracksuit pants or shorts.

Drugs
Take all the recommended drugs on the day of examination. Occasionally, the physician may recommend discontinuance of certain drugs (beta blockers) 48 h prior to the examination. In such cases, the drug should be brought to the test in order to take it after the examination is finished.

Necessary information for the physician
The patient should present the resting ECG results no older than 1 month, and possibly, for inspection (if performed): echocardiography, Holter ECG and previous cardiac stress test results.

During the procedure
• Inform about sudden complaints.

Contraindications
• recent myocardial infarction
• advanced left ventricular failure
• unstable ischaemic heart disease
• atrial fibrillation, serious arrhythmia
• significant heart defect (aortic stenosis)
• mocarditis
• severe arterial hypertension
• pulmonary embolism
• left bundle branch block
• venous thrombosis
• acute infection
• lack of patient consent