What Is an Effort Test? Why Is It Performed?

It is increasing the workload of the heart by making the person exercise in accordance with certain criteria and the continuous monitoring of the ECG and recording at certain intervals in order to investigate whether there is a cardiovascular disease that may cause insufficiency in the feeding of the heart muscle during this loading.

Who Needs Effort Test?

• It is applied to patients when it is needed to determine effort capacity,
• To investigate the relationship between heart rhythm disorders and effort,
• To determine whether the patient's current complaint is due to heart disease.

What Should You Do Before the Effort Test?

• Before the procedure, light foods should be consumed and the person should not be hungry.
• Smoking should be avoided during this period.
• If there is an ECG taken before, the patient should bring it with him/her.
• If the following medications are used, the physician should be notified, and they should be discontinued at least 48 hours before the test. Beta Blocking Agents (dilatrend, arlec, beloc, nortan, concor, nexivol, vasoxen, dideral, tensinor, tenoretic, saneloc, calbicor, darob), Calcium Channel Blockers (diltizem, isoptin).
• The doctor should be consulted about whether to take continuously used drugs.
• Male patients must have a chest shave.
• Comfortable clothes must be worn.
• He/she should bring tracksuits or shorts and sports shoes on the test day. Female patients are required to wear 2 pieces of clothing.
• If an effort test is required with your daily outfit, it would be appropriate to wear low-heeled shoes with rubber soles and comfortable trousers.
• If you suspect pregnancy, please inform your physicians in advance.

How to Perform the Effort Test?

In our hospital, the Effort Test is performed on a motorized treadmill under the supervision of a cardiologist and nurse.
For ECG recording, electrodes are attached to the patient's chest and an ECG is taken while the person is at rest, and the blood pressure is measured.
At the start of the test, the treadmill moves slowly and with little incline. Then, every three minutes, there is an increase in speed and incline according to the exercise protocol applied.
While it is sufficient to walk at a certain pace at the beginning, the person needs to run in advanced stages. In the meantime, ECG monitoring and recordings and blood pressure measurements are made at regular intervals.
The duration of exercise in the effort test varies according to the age and effort capacity of the person. The average time is usually between 6-12 minutes.
Heart rhythm is monitored throughout the test and blood pressure is measured every 3 minutes.
 
People must be examined by a doctor and especially their resting ECG is evaluated before the effort test is performed. The test cannot be interpreted correctly in patients with some ECG changes. These patients should be directed to the appropriate tests for them.

What Should Be Done During the Effort Test?

Support arms on the sides of the treadmill should not be released until the end of the test. If any complaints (chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, palpitations, leg pain, fatigue, etc.) occur during exercise, the team performing the test should be informed. The exercise part of the test is terminated if the target heart rate is reached, if you are tired or if you have complaints that will prevent you from continuing, or for medical reasons that the doctor will decide. During this period, rhythm monitoring, ECG, and blood pressure are recorded for a minimum of five minutes and the process is terminated.

Take care to come to your test appointment with a relative to help you after the procedure.

Note: For the questions that you want to ask, you can contact us by calling the phone numbers written below.

For YTU Kozyatağı Hospital;

Physician: 0216 578 42 50
Nurse: 0216 578 49 98 - 4791

For YTU Koşuyolu Hospital;

Physician: 0216 578 51 47
Nurse: 0216 578 52 60