The treadmill test is a method for diagnosing coronary disease. This study is used in cardiology.
Study Description
Now we will talk about the treadmill test. What is it and what is it for? The advantage of this test is that it can be used to determine the presence of coronary disease in the body at an early stage.
Doctors advise taking it once a year for preventive purposes. Men are recommended to do starting from 45 years old, and women - from 50 years old. Do not wait until any ailments begin. After all, some diseases appear already at a later stage. Early diagnosis of ailments will help return the human body to a healthy state much faster.
Also, a treadmill test is prescribed by a doctor if the patient complains of chest pain. In order to make a diagnosis, the doctor needs to assign a person an examination, according to its results it becomes possible to determine a particular disease. For example, chest pain can be associated with heart disease, changes in the spine or impaired functioning of the nervous system.
Doctors prescribe the treadmill test to patients who are already diagnosed with coronary artery disease. It is necessary in order to see how the body reacts to the prescribed treatment. Through the treadmill test, it is possible to determine the patency of the arteries after stenting and bypass surgery.
Complications and contraindications
What can be the complications of those who have passed the treadmill test? Contraindications to the procedure will be discussed below.
This test is safe. It practically does not cause complications after it. But they are possible mainly due to the fact that the patient had contraindications to its conduct or was instructed incorrectly. Contraindications include diseases and pathologies such as:
- pericarditis;
- unstable angina pectoris ;
- myocarditis;
- cardiomegaly;
- severe circulatory failure;
- acute endocarditis;
- arterial hypertension;
- pulmonary hypertension;
- rhythm disturbance;
- post-infarction aneurysm of the left ventricle;
- severe aortic stenosis;
- blood clots in the ventricles of the heart and others.
How is it carried out?
We found out what there are indications for the treadmill test to be prescribed, what it is, we have already figured it out. Now let's talk about the procedure itself. In order to pass the test, the patient needs to walk on a treadmill. Special sensors are attached to the person. You also need to attach a special cuff for measuring blood pressure. The doctor must monitor the patient's condition.
At the beginning of the test, a person is invited to simply walk the path without any load. Then, every three minutes, a load is placed on the body of the subject. Namely, the walking speed increases and the slope of the track is made.
Unfinished study
Now we will talk about the unfinished treadmill test. What it is? The test can be stopped if asked by the patient. The reasons for stopping walking may be the following reasons:
- The patient may begin to feel dizzy.
- Presence of pain in the head.
- The appearance of shortness of breath.
- Pain in the thoracic region.
- Weakness.
- Great tiredness.
What does the doctor pay attention to after the study?
If the test is passed to the end, then the doctor pays attention to the following indicators:
- Electrocardiogram. It shows ischemic indicators of the heart.
- Arrhythmia or heart block.
- With an increase in load, the norm is considered to be an increase in a person's pulse. If the heart rate decreases and blood pressure drops, then this is an indicator of any pathology.
- Also, too frequent pulse and high blood pressure indicate pathological changes in the body.
Treadmill test. Doctor Result and Conclusions
Based on the results of the test, the doctor makes a conclusion, it can be of several types.
- Negative test score. This means that no abnormalities in the work of the human heart system were detected and there is no coronary disease . If a person received such a doctor’s opinion after passing the test, then he has nothing to worry about. Now he can pass the test in a year for preventive purposes.
- A positive indicator. This result means that the blood supply to the heart is impaired. The cause of it, as a rule, is atherosclerosis. If the test result is positive and during the course of the test the person did not feel very comfortable, then he will be given coronary angiography.
- A positive test score with the postscript "clinically." This conclusion means that there are no deviations from the norm, but patient complaints indicate the indirect presence of coronary heart disease in the body. In this case, atherosclerosis is possible, but also this disease may not be detected.
- Doubtful test score. This result suggests that the patient has any prerequisites for pathology in his body. For example, during testing, a person may complain of chest pain. The indicator of this test is regarded by the doctor as 50 to 50.
- Incomplete test score. This result is recorded when the patient refuses to conduct the study to the end. The test result cannot be determined. Since the heart rate did not reach the desired level. Therefore, the doctor fixes this result.
Treadmill test is necessary for the diagnosis of coronary heart disease at an early stage. This is a very important point. Since the treatment of coronary heart disease at an early stage avoids myocardial infarction.
Prevention of heart disease is necessary. Since the heart is one of the most important organs. Therefore, do not be lazy and undergo all possible studies to prevent any diseases associated with his work.
Bicycle ergometry, treadmill test. Differences
These two examinations are similar in that they accelerate the heart rate to a certain frequency. The difference is that when examining a person with a treadmill test, he walks along the path. And with bicycle ergometry, the patient uses a bicycle-type simulator.
Someone prefers to go along the path, therefore, uses tests on the treadmill. Someone prefer a bicycle, because of which he chooses bicycle ergometry. Also, the doctor may advise the patient to undergo a certain examination.
Conclusion
Now you know a lot about the study of the treadmill test, what it is, we have described in detail. They also indicated what indications and contraindications there are for such a procedure.