Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
11849443 tn?1441302841

Echo-Stress test

I have a stress test in a week or so and wanted to know a few questions if you guys don't mind.

I have read they use the Bruce protocol, is this correct?
Also I'm so confused about the grade% I want to see how I can do this same test at my gym but
I can not find each grade/incline difference.
http://www.topendsports.com/testing/tests/bruce.htm

Is the test pretty tough, how long did you last?

I like to try my own that way I won't be surprised and raise any anxiety when I have this test, this kinda crap
makes me nervous.

49 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
11849443 tn?1441302841
I did that test myself, the one were you get you heart to 85% then sit down for 1 min and test it then test again at 2 mins.
Mine came out a little lower then my age group.

Lately at the gym, I have actually been taking it easy, I'm also on beta blockers so there is almost no damn way to hit my target heart rate without over doing it.

I'm still freaking out about the test daily, I had a echo-cardiogram about 10 years ago and it came out perfect but a lot can change in 10 years.

I'm also suppose to stop taking my beta blocker before my stress test and that is kinda making me worried also, I thought I was suppose to wean off the beta blocker if I stopped taking it.

The pills are helping a ton and I really don't want to feel this SVT again.
Helpful - 0
15439126 tn?1444443163
yes, 10% better than 'normal' people my age (I'd rather they described it as my heart's biological age but when I get a copy of the test results it will have 'metabolic equivalents' and I can refer to charts as to what's expected for what age).  Else, I could hope they're referring to healthy normal people (and not the 2/3rds of North Americans who are overweight or obese).

I'm clueless as to what "number 8" on your gym's treadmill would mean, a lot of commercial treadmills go from 0 to 10 or 15 degrees (0 can be really hard on the knees, at least 1 or 2 degrees is safer).  There's no handy conversion chart for that machine?  You could bring along a tape measure and use some simple high school geometry to get the angle that the treadmill's inclined.

Pushing yourself really hard in a gym setting might be risky (though, general training ought to lead to your being able to put our more 'metabolic equivalents' which is seen as a general health indicator but mostly I think the test is to reveal any heart defects while being stressed).  I've read of another useful indicator (of the risk level for sudden cardiac death) is the heart recovery rate (at the two and one minute point just after the exertion finishes, along with the difference in those two numbers).

I think the clinical setting (vs a gym) for treadmill testing ought to minimally have:  a supervising clinician, who can competently administer a jumpstart gadget (defribillator) if need be, since the point of the test is to challenge you (to 90% of your expected heart rate capability for your age?  or at least until you signal that you've had enough).  Without high confidence in my heart's condition, I'd not like to tackle more than 70% of my 'maxium heart rate' and do see that as my upper limit in a non-supervised setting.

During my two tests the clinician was periodically also (manually) checking my blood pressure.
Helpful - 0
11849443 tn?1441302841
I get the stress-echo on the 15th.

My anxiety was under control pretty well for the last 6-7 months, I seem to have episodes that set me off and I will have severe anxiety for a few weeks at a time, its now 24/7/365.

Did they tell you that you did 10% better then normal people your age?
Its not so much the test I'm worried about, its more like the results that are freaking me out.

As for attempting to replicate the Bruce stress test, I been going to the gym for a little longer then 1 year now, I run on the treadmill with it inclined to number 8 and some times I keep it on incline number 2 at 4-5 MPH for 30 mins 5-7 days a week.

I like to think I'm in good condition, I'm not overweight at all and eat healthy most of the time, I do slip up and eat bad here and there.

Also I have the bruce stress test from google but I can not figure out what grade% is compared to incline number.


Helpful - 0
15439126 tn?1444443163
So, have you had your treadmill stress test?  

I've had two, the latest was just over a week ago, and one two years ago.  I did Much better on the second one (10% better for my age, versus earlier 10% worse than expected for my age), even though with the hot weather I'd become somewhat deconditioned and I attribute that to being 30 pounds lighter -- less body mass to lug around for my heart to cope with, and, less fatty tissue mass for my heart to pump blood through.

You clearly have anxiety issues -- I urge you to try rationing the amount of time you put into worrying about your health concerns (perhaps choose a set day & time of the week, and the rest of the time, merely jot down thoughts that you want to dwell on during a set worry/contemplation time).  Else I think the aspect of your health being an ever active concern (24/7/365) could become incredibly oppressive and anxiety provoking.

You could phone the clinic to confirm the method (yes, likely the Bruce protocol), it should then be easy enough to google the specifics.  But you mention trying to duplicate it (without medical supervision) which sounds ill-advised imo.
Helpful - 0
1807132 tn?1318743597
It would definitely say nsvt if it was ventricular tachycardia so it is a tachycardia in the atria that they saw.  While doing all your research have you found anything that truly matched up with your symptoms?  If you only have one of any of the major symptoms that is a good bet that you would not have the illness so do try to keep your research in perspective and use it to gain knowledge as opposed to scare yourself more.  As for exercising, if your heart is not use to exercise, 30 minutes may be tough for anyone.  There would likely be pressure and even some pain depending on how hard you pushed but it would subside pretty quickly once you stopped.  It would not linger and the heart rate would drop back to normal after a certain amount of time.  If a person spends consistent time exercising eventually they will notice their stamina and how hard they can push themselves before they feel it get longer and longer.  But in general if there was heart disease of some sort heavy exercise would likely be very difficult.  I will also say that getting my tachycardia fixed seemed to help me tolerate exercise better though I was never at a point where I couldn't do it at all.
Helpful - 0
11849443 tn?1441302841
Sorry I wish I could edit my comment.
On the hospitals website I can look up my test, diagnoses, health concerns ect.

It says PSVT-paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia

If it was NSVT it would say that right?
Right now its easy to send my head in another direction so I just went to be clear.
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Heart Rhythm Community

Top Arrhythmias Answerers
1807132 tn?1318743597
Chicago, IL
1423357 tn?1511085442
Central, MA
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Are there grounds to recommend coffee consumption? Recent studies perk interest.
Salt in food can hurt your heart.
Get answers to your top questions about this common — but scary — symptom
How to know when chest pain may be a sign of something else
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.