stress test

A stress test is a test in which a patient’s heart is stressed under medical supervision to see if it can tolerate the stressful condition. Once a physician refers a patient to a cardiology clinic, it’s up to the patient and physician to determine what type of test is most appropriate.

Two main factors determine whether a patient may get a stress test ordered by their primary care physician or cardiologist: (1) patient profile and (2) symptoms. A stress test is not meant for everybody, but rather the necessity is based on a combination of patient profile and symptoms.

What kind of patient profile may lead to a stress test referral?

People who have a higher risk of developing heart disease. That includes:

• A family history of heart disease.
• Ethnic minorities, elderly people, men and people of lower socio-economic status.
• Patients with risk factors including, but not limited to, high cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure (hypertension), obesity and tobacco use.