clog arteries

  i recently had a stress test.i'm 40 year old male.will a stress test show any blockage of arteries?I went 200beats per minute.during the test my heart skip a beat and the doctor said that was normal and usualy every time I have palpatations I have to burp?For some reason i think i do have blocked arteries and i worry about this which makes me feel worse.i have spider veins on both legs and they burn.I have ringing in one ear.thanks for your help
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Dear  randy,
Topic Area: Stress Test
Thank you for your question.  A stress test, also called an exercise treadmill test, measures ECG heart tracings during exercise.  If the heart has a decrease of blood flow during exercise caused by blockages there are typical changes on the tracings.  Thus an exercise treadmill test can give an indication that there are blockages present.  It is not 100% accurate and may miss blockages or may falsely say that blockages are present.  To increase the accuracy of treadmill testing doctors will often obtain pictures of the heart using either echocardiogram or nuclear studies.  If there is still a question cardiac catheterization  can be done.
Information provided here is for general educational purposes only. Only your doctor can provide specific diagnoses and treatments. If you would like to be seen at the Cleveland Clinic, please Call 1 - 800 - CCF - CARE for an appointment at Desk F15 with a cardiologist.