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Regular Treadmill Exercise Stress Test

A regular treadmill exercise stress test checks your heart's reaction to measured amounts of work. The test is performed by a cardiologist or an exercise physiologist (under the supervision of a cardiologist). The actual treadmill time varies with each patient, but your total time in the department is about 45 to 60 minutes. Your test results are sent to and evaluated by your own doctor.

Before the test

  • You may eat a light meal two hours prior to having your test.
  • Wear or bring comfortable clothing and good walking shoes

Day of the test

Arriving at the Hospital
Check in at the 8th floor reception desk (Galter Pavilion, 201 E. Huron) 15 minutes before your test time. Parking is available.

Be sure to bring:

  • Your doctor's written order for the test
  • Insurance card
  • Medicare Card (Medicare patients)

Preparing for the test

  • You will be asked to undress from the waist up and wear a hospital gown. This allows for electrodes to be placed on your chest. The electrodes measure the heart's electrical activity.
  • The electrode placement areas may be shaved if needed. Ten areas on your chest are very lightly rubbed with a soft, pumice gel. Then the area is cleaned with rubbing alcohol to remove normal skin oils and dirt. This is not painful, but may cause some skin redness that goes away within a few hours after the test.
  • Once the electrodes are in place, monitoring wires are attached to each electrode. These lead wires are connected to a box worn on a belt around your waist.

During the test

  • Before exercise begins, an electrocardiogram (ECG) is done while you are standing still. Then the exercise physiologist or cardiologist will:
    • Describe the test to you
    • Ask questions about your health history
    • Show you how to use the treadmill
  • You will also be asked to read and sign a hospital consent form. The exercise portion of the test begins with you slowly walking on the treadmill. The speed and treadmill slope will be increased every three minutes. Your heart rate and rhythm as well as your blood pressure will be checked constantly during the test. It is important for you to walk on the treadmill long enough to show the heart's reaction to varied amounts of work. This time will differ for each patient. You and the exercise physiologist or cardiologist doing the test will decide the correct amount of exercise and/or time needed.
  • Following this, you will sit and rest. This rest period is called your "recovery" time and will be at least five minutes or longer. Your heart rhythm and rate, as well as your blood pressure, will be checked during this time period. At the end of your recovery period, the electrodes are removed from your chest and the test is complete.
  • Your final test report will be faxed to your doctors within 24 hours.

Contact
For questions or scheduling of your regular treadmill exercise stress test, call the Cardiac Stress Testing Laboratory at (312) 926-8662, Monday through Friday, 7:30 am to 5 pm.

Review Date: 01/05