Exercise Electrocardiogram

What to Expect

During the Procedure

• Description of IV, the room, monitoring devices, positions, and equipment that will be used - The procedure is performed in a room large enough to hold an EKG machine, a treadmill, and a blood pressure monitor. The equipment used includes an EKG machine, skin electrodes, and lead wires that attach to the skin electrodes. A blood pressure cuff attached to an electronic monitoring machine is used. A treadmill is used for exercise. You will have initial, or "baseline," EKG and blood pressure readings done while you are sitting and standing prior to exercising. You will walk on the treadmill or pedal the bicycle during the exercise portion of the procedure. You will sit after exercising while your EKG and blood pressure are monitored for another 10 to 15 minutes or so.
  
  
• Anesthesia - None required.
  
  
• Basic description of the procedure:
  
  
  • The technician will ask you to remove your shirt or blouse, and will ensure your privacy by covering you with a gown and exposing only the necessary skin.
    
    
  • If your chest is very hairy, the technician may shave very small patches, as needed, so that the electrodes will stick closely to the skin. The technician will clean and prepare your skin prior to attaching the electrodes.
    
    
  • Ten electrodes will be attached to your chest. The lead wires will be attached to the skin electrodes.
    
    
  • Once the leads are attached to the skin electrodes, the technician may key in identifying information about you into the machine's computer.
    
    
  • A blood pressure cuff is attached to your arm while you are sitting down.
    
    
  • Baseline EKG and blood pressure readings are taken.
    
    
  • You will be asked to stand up while another set of readings are taken.
    
    
  • You will be instructed on how to walk on the treadmill. You will be told to let the technician, physician, or nurse know if you begin to have any chest pain, dizziness, lightheadedness, extreme shortness of breath, nausea, headache, leg pains, or other symptoms during exercise.
    
    
  • You will begin to exercise at a minimal level. The intensity of the exercise is gradually increased on the treadmill by increasing the incline and speed of the treadmill every 3 minutes.
    
    
  • EKG and blood pressure readings are taken periodically during the exercise to measure how well your heart and body are responding to the exercise.
    
    
  • The exercise will end once you have reached a target heart rate (determined by the physician based on your age and physical condition). The test may also be stopped if you develop severe symptoms such as chest pain, dizziness, nausea, severe shortness of breath, severe fatigue, if the EKG shows signs of adverse effects of the exercise on your heart, or if your blood pressure becomes too high.
    
    
  • Once you have reached your target heart rate, the rate of exercise will be slowed for a "cool down" period to help avoid any nausea or cramping from sudden stopping of exercise.
    
    
  • You will sit in a chair and your EKG and blood pressure will be monitored until they return to normal or near-normal. This may take 10 to 20 minutes.
    
    
  • Once your EKG and blood pressure readings are acceptable to the physician, the EKG electrodes and blood pressure cuff will be removed. You may then put on your shirt or blouse.
    
    
  • After you are dressed, you may leave, unless your physician instructs you differently.
    
    
• Procedure time - The procedure will take approximately one hour, including check-in, preparation, and the actual procedure. However, events such as schedule delays, emergencies, and other factors may delay the start of your procedure, or prolong the length of it.

After the Procedure

• Recovery - No recovery process (other than the one described above) is usually required.
  
  
• Length of stay - A hospital stay is not necessary, unless your physician determines that your condition requires further observation or hospital admission.
  
  
• Recuperation time - You may feel tired for several hours or longer after the procedure, particularly if you do not normally exercise. Otherwise, you should feel normal within a few hours after the procedure, if not sooner.
  
  
• Outcome - Depending on the results of the exercise EKG, additional tests or procedures may be scheduled for further diagnostic information.
  

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