What type of stress test is used to assess cardiac function?

The exercise stress test is utilized to evaluate cardiac function by monitoring the heart's performance during physical activity. This test typically involves having the patient walk on a treadmill or ride a stationary bike while gradually increasing the intensity of the exercise. As the patient exercises, continuous monitoring of heart rate, blood pressure, and ECG readings provides valuable insights into how well the heart copes with increased physical demands, which can help identify issues such as ischemia or irregular heart rhythms.

This method directly challenges the cardiovascular system in a controlled environment, allowing healthcare providers to observe how the heart responds to stress in real time. The results can aid in diagnosing conditions such as coronary artery disease, determining exercise capacity, and assessing the effectiveness of cardiac medications or interventions.

Other types of stress tests, such as pharmacologic stress tests, may also assess cardiac function, but they do so through medications that stimulate the heart's activity, rather than physical exercise. Imaging stress tests combine stress testing with imaging techniques to visualize the heart’s blood flow and function, which gives additional layers of information but is not solely focused on exercise. An EEG stress test, on the other hand, primarily evaluates brain activity and is not relevant for assessing cardiac function.