Can An Echo Stress Test Tell How Much Exercise You Can Handle?

When a patient is at an increased risk of developing Type II diabetes or heart disease, cardiometabolic testing gives helpful information before any symptoms are experienced. At Dr. Avi Ishaaya Centers in Los Angeles, CA, we help our patients monitor their risks for chronic medical conditions. Many are at risk for metabolic syndrome, which can be diagnosed by our board-certified physician, Dr. Avi Ishaaya. An echo stress test is a good way to get some insight into your current and future health.

Who should consider a stress test?

Patients in Los Angeles, CA who should consider stress testing:

• Have a family history of diabetes, stroke, or heart disease

• Have a poor diet or live a sedentary life

• Smoke or have in the past

• Are overweight or obese

• Are over 45

• Have high blood pressure, hypothyroidism, sleep apnea, or polycystic ovary syndrome

At Dr. Avi Ishaaya Centers, we evaluate our patients’ health to determine which cardiometabolic test will suit their health best.

Differences between EKG and echo stress tests

An EKG stress test is a common heart test. Anyone who is being evaluated for a heart problem gets an EKG stress test, a screening test. We place nodes on the chest wall to track the rhythm of your heart where we learn about the rate and rhythm. This information is helpful to help us diagnose abnormal heart tracings, including a low heart rate, a fast heart rate, an irregular heartbeat, or a heart block. An EKG can also give Dr. Ishaaya an idea about a possible abnormality in your heart muscle or an enlargement of the heart chambers.

An echo stress test is usually for patients with signs or symptoms of heart disease. Your heart is imaged with echocardiography while you’re at rest and after exercise. This heart ultrasound uses vibrations to create a picture of your heart in motion. First, you will start by walking on a treadmill or riding a stationary bike until you reach your target heart rate. An echocardiogram is taken once you reach your target heart rate. Next, you will do different exercises where we monitor your heart. We will evaluate your heart chambers and valves while they’re under stress to see if the blood flow is optimal, if there is any dead heart muscle tissue, or if you have any abnormal muscle contractions.

Ultimately, we will ask you questions about your medical history and how often you exercise to determine the proper exercise for you during your test. If you experience severe shortness of breath, dizziness, moderate to severe chest pain, or abnormally high or low blood pressure, we will stop your test. After you stop exercising, you may have to stand still for several seconds and then lie down for a while with the monitors in place. We will watch for any abnormalities as your heart rate and breathing both returns to normal.

Echo stress test results

After your test, Dr. Ishaaya makes professional recommendations after reviewing your stress test results. This depends on whether you received an abnormal result or not. Some suggestions for treatment include:

• Diet or nutrition counseling

• Medication management

• Quit smoking

• Weight loss

• Exercise

Together, we can come up with a game plan that works best for your health.

Learn more about your health with an echo stress test in Los Angeles, CA

When you want to know if your heart is working its best, consider an echo stress test at Dr. Avi Ishaaya Centers in Los Angeles, CA. We treat illnesses, such as heart disease or pre-diabetes, in their early stages with preventive medicine and lifestyle changes. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Avi Ishaaya today to learn more and if an echo stress test is vital to your heart health.