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Exercise Electrocardiogram
About this test
An exercise electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) is a test that checks for changes in your heart while you exercise. Sometimes EKG abnormalities can be seen only during exercise or while symptoms are present. This test is sometimes called a "stress test" or a "treadmill test." During an exercise EKG, you may either walk on a motor-driven treadmill or pedal a stationary bicycle.
The
heart 
is a muscular pump made up of
four chambers . The two upper chambers are called atria, and the two lower
chambers are called ventricles. A natural electrical system causes the heart
muscle to contract and pump blood through the heart to the lungs and the rest
of the body. See a picture of the
heart and its electrical system .
An exercise EKG translates the
heart's electrical activity into line tracings on paper. The spikes and dips in
the line tracings are called waves. See a picture of the
EKG components and intervals .
A resting EKG is always done before an exercise EKG test, and results of the resting EKG are compared to the results of the exercise EKG. A resting EKG may also show a heart problem that would make an exercise EKG unsafe.
| By: | Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: March 18, 2010 |
| Medical Review: | E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine Stephen Fort, MD, MRCP, FRCPC - Interventional Cardiology | |
© 1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
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