Treadmill Stress Test

A treadmill stress test records the electrical activity of the heart during physical exertion, while the patient walks on a treadmill. In addition, breathing and blood pressure rates are measured. This test can determine whether or not the heart is getting sufficient blood flow and oxygen when it is under an increased workload. The treadmill stress test can indicate coronary artery disease or abnormal heart rhythm during exercise.
The patient is connected to an ECG machine and a blood pressure cuff is placed on the arm. A sensor may be attached to the finger to measure the level of oxygen in the blood. The patient starts out walking at a low level. The pace of the treadmill increases and the incline is raised during the course of the exercise, which lasts about 10 minutes.