Preparing For A Stress Test? Here Is What You Need

For patients with an increased risk of developing Type II diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart disease, a heart stress test can give board-certified physician Dr. Avi Ishaaya helpful information about your health before you experience any worrisome symptoms. At Dr. Avi Ishaaya Centers in Beverly Hills, CA, we help patients monitor their risks with an echocardiogram. Many of our patients are at risk for metabolic syndrome, which can be diagnosed after a heart stress test. A treadmill stress test and echo stress test are two ways we can gain insight into both your current and future health.

Who should have a stress test?

Patients in Beverly Hills, CA who should consider having a stress test include anyone:

• With a family history of Type II diabetes, stroke, or heart disease

• Who has a poor diet and/or lives a sedentary life

• Who smokes

• Who is overweight or obese

• Who is over the age of 45

• Who was diagnosed with high blood pressure, hypothyroidism, polycystic ovary syndrome, sleep apnea, or has hormone imbalances

Dr. Ishaaya can evaluate each patient’s health to determine which cardiometabolic test is best.

What are some differences between EKG and echo stress tests?

Dr. Ishaaya can help patients understand the differences when they ask, “What is an echocardiogram and what is a stress test?” An EKG stress test is a common heart test for anyone being evaluated for a heart problem. At our Beverly Hills, CA testing center, we place nodes on the chest wall to track the heart’s rhythm. This test will give us helpful information about the heart rate and rhythm, which can help diagnose abnormal heart tracings, such as low or fast heart rate, an irregular heartbeat (atrial fibrillation), or a heart blockage. An EKG gives Dr. Ishaaya clues about possible abnormalities in your heart muscle or enlargement of a heart chamber.

An echo stress test is used for those with signs of heart disease. During this stress test, the heart is imaged with echocardiography while a patient is at rest and after exercise. This heart ultrasound uses vibrations to create a picture of a patient’s heart in motion. First, you will walk on a treadmill or ride a stationary bike until your target heart rate is reached. Next, an echocardiogram is taken. After that, you will do different exercises where we monitor your heart and evaluate your heart chambers and valves while they’re under stress to see if blood flow is good, if you have any dead heart muscle tissue, or if you are experiencing any abnormal muscle contractions.

What does a stress test show?

A stress test can help us learn about:

1. Blockages: A blockage can occur in one or many chambers of the heart and can cause a heart attack.

2. Coronary artery disease: This is when you have a heart problem that is caused by narrowed arteries that supply blood to the heart.

3. Heart failure: This occurs when the heart muscles don’t pump blood well.

4. Heart valve disease: This is when one or more of your heart valves don’t open or close properly.

5. Ischemic heart disease (Coronary heart disease): This means that the heart isn’t getting enough oxygen and/or blood.

These are five of the most common things that can be diagnosed during a stress test at Dr. Avi Ishaaya Centers in Beverly Hills, CA. After your stress test, Dr. Ishaaya can make health recommendations based on if you received an abnormal result. Some possible treatment suggestions include:

• Diet or nutrition counseling and weight loss

• Exercise

• Medication

• Quit smoking

Ultimately, stress tests can detect problems before anything serious happens with your health.

Learn how a stress test can save your life

When you want to learn if your heart is working its best, Dr. Avi Ishaaya Centers in Beverly Hills, CA, offers different stress tests, including an echocardiogram. This testing helps Dr. Avi Ishaaya to treat illnesses, such as heart disease or pre-diabetes, in the early stages before they become more serious and life-threatening. Preventive medicine and lifestyle changes help patients maintain the same quality of life after a diagnosis.