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Cardiopulmonary Exercise Stress Test
The Cardiopulmonary Exercise Stress Test looks at your heart, lungs, and muscle response to exercise. It provides important information about what limits your ability to exercise.
- How do you compare to other people of your same age and gender?
- Are you efficient in your exercise?
- Do your heart and lungs respond normally to exercise?
With this data, your doctor may be better able to diagnose and treat your symptoms. As needed, it can also assist in setting exercise guidelines.
Day of the test
Preparing for the test
- Take all of your medications unless told otherwise
- If you wear glasses, hearing aids or dentures please have them for the test
- Eat a light meal no later than two hours prior to your test
- No coffee, tea or caffeinated beverages the day of your test
- Wear or bring comfortable clothing and shoes for walking on the treadmill
- Patient lockers and showers are available for your use
Arriving at the hospital
Check in at the 8th floor reception desk (Galter Pavilion, 251 East Huron) 15 minutes before your scheduled test. Parking is available.
Be sure to bring:
- your doctor's written order for the test
- insurance card
- Medicare card (Medicare patients only)
During the Test
- You will first have pulmonary function testing done. Pulmonary function testing (PFT) is a group of tests that checks lung function such as how easily the air moves in and out of the lungs, the amount of air your lungs can hold and how much oxygen the lungs send to the heart. These tests will last about 30 to 60 minutes.
- Once the PFT is done, the exercise portion of the test begins. This portion of the test will take 45 to 60 minutes. An electrocardiogram (ECG) will be used to monitor your heart rate and rhythm. You will be asked to undress from the waist up and wear either a hospital gown or your own t-shirt. This allows for electrodes to be placed on your chest. The electrode placement areas may be shaved if needed. These ten areas on your chest are rubbed with a soft, pumice gel and then cleaned with rubbing alcohol to remove normal skin oils and dirt. This procedure is not painful, but may cause some skin redness that goes away within a few hours after the test. Once the electrodes are in place, monitoring wires are attached to each electrode. These lead wires are connected to a box worn on a belt around your waist.
- You will also be asked to breathe into a plastic mouthpiece. It is used to collect the air that you exhale to check lung function during exercise. A small clip is placed on your finger and/or ear to measure the blood oxygen level.
- If blood tests are needed, samples are drawn from the artery near your wrist. A small flexible catheter (tube) may be inserted into the artery and left in place during the stress test
- Exercise begins slowly, at a low level, and will increase to higher levels of exertion. During the test, your blood pressure, heart rate and ECG will be closely monitored.
After the Test
When the test is completed, you are free to leave. You may resume your normal diet. There are no other diet or activity restrictions. The test results will then be sent to your doctor.
When to seek medical attention
If any bleeding it noted at the puncture site, apply firm pressure right away. Go to the nearest hospital emergency room if you note any of the following in the affected arm:
- Prolonged bleeding after pressure has been applied
- Swelling or change in color
- Pain, numbness or tingling
Contact
If you have questions about this test, call the cardiopulmonary clinical nurse specialist, at (312) 926-1583.
