Stress Testing

Stress testing is a noninvasive procedure that provides vital information about your heart’s function and health. The office of Dr. Sandeep Singh, MD, uses stress testing to diagnose the causes of shortness of breath, chest pain, and other heart-related symptoms. Dr. Singh and the cardiology team also perform preventive stress testing for adults at increased risk of heart disease and other cardiac conditions. Call the Mesquite or Greenville, Texas, office to schedule a stress testing consultation or book an appointment online today. 

What is stress testing?

Stress testing shows how well your heart functions when it’s working hard to pump blood to the rest of your body. Certain heart conditions are easier to identify when the heart rate is increased.

The stress tests available at the office of Dr. Sandeep Singh, MD, help the team evaluate various functions of your heart, including:

• Blood pressure
• Heart rate
• Heart rhythm
• Blood flow throughout the heart
• Strength of the heart’s electrical signals

The team uses stress testing results to diagnose heart conditions like coronary artery disease (CAD), heart failure, and heart valve issues before you experience more serious complications.

When would I need stress testing?

Dr. Singh and the cardiology team may recommend stress testing if you have heart-related symptoms like:

• Chest pain
• Dizziness
• Lightheadedness
• Shortness of breath
• Rapid or irregular heartbeat

You may also need stress testing as part of your preventive health care plan if you’re at high risk of heart disease due to your health or family history.

If you’re receiving treatment for an existing heart condition, the team may schedule routine stress testing to ensure your treatment works.

What can I expect during my appointment for stress testing?

During stress testing, the cardiology team checks your blood pressure and other vital signs while you’re at rest and attaches electrodes to your skin to record the electrical activity of your heart.

If you’re physically able to exercise, you use a treadmill or stationary bike. Your provider gradually increases the speed to make your heart work harder so they can record the electrical activity.

Those who can’t exercise receive an intravenous (IV) medication that simulates a heart rate during physical activity.

Your provider may also perform a stress echocardiogram to take pictures of your heart structures before and after your exercise to evaluate how well blood flows through the organ.

The team also offers cardiac MRIs that use radio waves and magnets to create the most detailed pictures of your heart to identify serious heart issues.

When your stress testing is complete, your provider discusses additional testing or treatments you need.

Call the office of Dr. Sandeep Singh, MD, near you to learn more about the diagnostic benefits of stress testing, or book an appointment online today.