Stress Echocardiogram

A Stress Echocardiogram is a non-invasive test to detect ischaemic heart disease by comparing the ultrasound images of the heart at rest and after exertion on a treadmill.

By comparing your heart function before and after exercise using echocardiography, your cardiologist can determine whether enough blood is getting to your heart or if a narrowing is restricting this supply. The test involves has three steps.

1. A transthoracic echocardiogram is performed to assess the resting structure and function of your heart.
2. You will then be asked to perform exercise on a treadmill while being monitored.
3. After the exercise treadmill is complete another echocardiogram is performed to assess your hearts pump function after stress.

Most stress echo tests take about 30 minutes.