Stress Echocardiogram
The test determines how well your heart tolerates activity and how well your heart and valves function as well as if you may have coronary artery disease and the effectiveness of your cardiac treatment plan, if you have one.
There are high rates of flu and other respiratory viruses in our region. To help keep everyone safe, Penn Medicine suggests that all patients and visitors wear masks in our hospitals and practices. Patients with a cough, runny nose, or other respiratory symptoms will be asked to wear a mask during their visit, and visitors with symptoms will be asked not to visit.
Patients, visitors, and staff must continue to wear masks in areas where patients with weakened immune systems receive care. This includes:
Staff will also wear masks while directly caring for all patients.
Some Doylestown Health locations will be closed or offer limited services on Sunday, Jan. 25, and Monday, Jan. 26. Check back here for updates.
Doylestown Health Urgent Care, 4259 West Swamp Road, Doylestown, is closed Sunday, Jan. 25.
Health & Wellness Center, 847 Easton Road, Warrington: Radiology, x-ray, lab, CAT scan, vein center, echocardiogram, women’s diagnostics, ultrasound, and DEXA scan services are closed Monday, Jan. 26.
The test determines how well your heart tolerates activity and how well your heart and valves function as well as if you may have coronary artery disease and the effectiveness of your cardiac treatment plan, if you have one.
During a stress echocardiogram, you wear small patches (electrodes) on your chest which are attached to an electrocardiogram (EKG) monitor and measure your heart's electrical activity during the test. A sonographer measures your resting heart rate and blood pressure; this is called a resting EKG.
Next you will have an echocardiogram (echo) which uses sound waves to create a moving picture of your heart, showing the size and shape of your heart.
A device called a transducer is moved back and forth over your chest, sending special sound waves through your chest wall to your heart. The sound waves bounce off the structures of your heart and a computer converts these sound waves into pictures on a screen.
After the echo, you exercise on a treadmill or a stationary cycle, called an exercise stress test. Your lab technician will have you gradually increase your intensity of exercise and you exercise until you are exhausted. Your lab technician watches for any changes on the EKG monitor. When you cannot exercise any longer, you will lie down and have another echo.
The test shows the size and shape of your heart as well as well your heart chambers and valves are working. It is mainly used to identify areas of poor blood flow to your heart caused by a narrowing of your coronary arteries.
Your doctor will talk with you about the results and answer any questions you may have.
During a stress echocardiogram, you wear small patches (electrodes) on your chest which are attached to an electrocardiogram (EKG) monitor and measure your heart's electrical activity during the test. A sonographer measures your resting heart rate and blood pressure; this is called a resting EKG.
Next you will have an echocardiogram (echo) which uses sound waves to create a moving picture of your heart, showing the size and shape of your heart.
A device called a transducer is moved back and forth over your chest, sending special sound waves through your chest wall to your heart. The sound waves bounce off the structures of your heart and a computer converts these sound waves into pictures on a screen.
After the echo, you exercise on a treadmill or a stationary cycle, called an exercise stress test. Your lab technician will have you gradually increase your intensity of exercise and you exercise until you are exhausted. Your lab technician watches for any changes on the EKG monitor. When you cannot exercise any longer, you will lie down and have another echo.
The test shows the size and shape of your heart as well as well your heart chambers and valves are working. It is mainly used to identify areas of poor blood flow to your heart caused by a narrowing of your coronary arteries.
Your doctor will talk with you about the results and answer any questions you may have.