Stress Test

COR Healthcare Medical Associates

Cardiology, Interventional Cardiology & Electrophysiology located in Torrance, CA, Manhattan Beach, CA, San Pedro, CA, Redondo Beach, CA & El Segundo, CA

When it comes to managing heart conditions, getting an accurate diagnosis is essential so you get the most effective treatment. COR Healthcare Medical Associates is a state-of-the-art cardiology group in the South Bay area of Los Angeles and offers many diagnostic tests, including stress testing, to find the underlying cause of your cardiac symptoms. To schedule a consultation with the cardiology specialists, call the offices in Torrance, San Pedro, Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach and El Segundo, California, or request an appointment online today.

Stress Testing Q & A

What is stress testing?

Stress testing is a diagnostic procedure done at COR Healthcare Medical Associates that assesses how well your heart works during activity. In many cases, it’s easier to diagnose a heart problem during exercise because your heart is forced to work harder.

COR Healthcare Medical Associates utilizes many tools to do stress testing, including the electrocardiogram, treadmill stress test, echocardiogram, and nuclear imaging.

When is stress testing needed?

The team at COR Healthcare Medical Associates will recommend stress testing to determine the underlying cause of your cardiac symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, or unexplained dizziness. The diagnostic test might be able to diagnose cardiac conditions like:

Ischemic heart disease
Heart valve disease
Congestive heart failure
Arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats)

Stress testing would also be recommended to assess the adequacy of your cardiac treatment or re-evaluate your heart to monitor for changes.

How do I prepare for a stress test?

The team at COR Healthcare Medical Associates provides specific instructions on how to prepare for your stress test. You may be asked to change your medication schedule and avoid caffeine-containing products on the day of your test.

Electrodes are often used to assess the electrical activity in your heart and are attached to your skin with sticky patches. To ensure the patches stick to your skin, the team will probably request that you not apply any lotion to your skin prior to your procedure. Other restrictions might be needed based on the type of stress testing you need.

What happens during stress testing?

Your stress test is tailored specifically to meet your diagnostic needs. The team reviews the details of your stress test prior to the procedure so you know what to expect.

The goal of the test is to force your heartbeat to reach a targeted rate. The team will stimulate your heart with exercise, medication, or both. In addition to monitoring the electrical activity in your heart, the team also closely monitors the effects the added stress has on your blood pressure.

After your test, the team reviews the preliminary results with you and could schedule a follow-up appointment to develop a treatment plan.

By pushing your heart to work harder, stress testing can find heart issues that have been missed during an electrocardiogram, a test that measures the heart’s electrical activity while you’re at rest.

For customized cardiac stress testing, contact COR Healthcare Medical Associates by phone or online today.

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