What happens at a cardiac stress test?
Last updated September 3, 2026.
Electrodes record your heart's electrical activity while you walk a treadmill or pedal a bike at rising intensity - or a medication stresses the heart chemically if you cannot exercise. Staff monitor your ECG, heart rate, and blood pressure for signs of blood-flow problems. The exercise portion runs 10 to 15 minutes inside an appointment of about an hour.
What to do
- Dress for exercise. Walking shoes and comfortable clothes - you will actually work up to effort.
- Follow the prep rules. Food, caffeine, and medication instructions beforehand are exact, not suggestions.
- Say everything you feel. Chest pain, dizziness, or real shortness of breath during the test is data - report it immediately.
- Ask about the medication version. If joints or fitness limit exercise, the chemical-stress option exists.
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