Stress Echocardiogram

What is a Stress Echocardiogram?

A stress echocardiogram (echo) can also be called an exercise stress echo. This test combines an echocardiogram with an exercise stress test. It allows the doctor to see how well the heart works when it is made to beat faster and harder with exercise. 

For a stress echocardiogram, ultrasound images of your heart are taken before and immediately after walking on a treadmill. If you are not able to exercise, a medication can be injected into your bloodstream to make your heart work as hard as if you were exercising. Some heart problems, particularly those involving the coronary (heart) arteries that feed your heart muscle, occur only during exercise.

Stress echo is done to:

• Measure the severity of coronary heart disease
• Assess the results of coronary procedures
• Diagnose certain types of heart muscle or heart valve disease