
Exercise stress testing is used to evaluate how well your heart copes with the extra demands placed on it during exercise. Patients with coronary artery blockages may have minimal symptoms and an unremarkable or unchanged ECG while at rest.
However, symptoms and signs of heart disease may become unmasked by exposing the heart to the stress of exercise. Exercise test can be used by your doctor to unmask underlying narrowed coronary artery, some form of exercise rhythm disturbances, heart rate response to exercise, your exercise tolerance.
It can also be used to assess your fitness following a heart attack.