How to train for a treadmill stress test
How to Prepare for Your Stress Test Video
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[gentle guitar music plays] [writing sound effect]
Hi, I m Maxine, your virtual
nurse. If your doctor has
ordered a cardiac stress test,
it s important that you
understand what to expect and
how to prepare for your test.
First and foremost, always
follow your doctor s advice
about preparing for a stress
test. Tell your doctor about any
medicines you take, including
over-the-counter medicines,
herbs and vitamins. He or she
may ask you not to take them
before the test. However, don t
stop taking your medicine until
your doctor tells you to.
Your doctor may also ask you not
to eat certain foods and drinks
that contain caffeine for at
least 12 hours before your
stress test. You should not
consume coffee or tea, even if
decaffeinated, energy drinks or
energy bars, soda or pop, or
products containing chocolate
or cocoa like brownies,
chocolate milk and hot cocoa.
In addition to stopping all
caffeinated foods and drinks,
you should also stop taking any
dietary supplements and
medications that contain
aminophylline, theophylline,
or dipyridamole. Again, it s
important to speak to your
doctor about this and follow his
or her instructions.
The test may have to be
postponed or cancelled if you
did drink caffeine, so it s
important to stop all products
containing caffeine. If you
have questions about which
specific products you need to
stop before your test, ask your
doctor.
Here are some helpful tips for
the day of your stress test.
First, make sure you set aside
enough time for your
appointment, because there is
preparation time before the test
[clock ticking sound effect]
as well as monitoring time after
the test. A standard stress test
normally takes approximately 1
hour but the total time for some
imaging stress tests may take up
to 3 hours or more.
Don t eat, and drink only water
before your test, unless, of
course, your doctor tells you
otherwise.
Wear comfortable, loose-fitting
clothing and comfortable shoes
to exercise in.
You can visit the Stress Test
Coach website to sign up for a
series of e-mails and videos
that can help you prepare for
your test.
After your stress test, you will
likely be monitored for a period
[heart monitor sound effect]
to make sure you are stable and
okay to be released.
You can usually go back to your
normal activities right after
your monitoring is completed,
but talk to your doctor to make
sure that is the case. Be sure
to drink plenty of water to
flush the radioactive tracer
material from your body. And
remember to make an appointment
with your doctor to discuss the
test results and next steps.
If you have any questions about
preparing for your stress test
or what you can expect
afterward, ask your doctor. You
may also want to visit
www.MindYourHeartFacts.com for
more helpful information and
resources.
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