Exercise Treadmill Test (ETT)
In the Exercise Treadmill Test (ETT), patients exercise to their maximal physical effort in order to study the status of arteries feeding the heart and to evaluate the exercise effects on heart rate, rhythm and blood pressure.
The test is often done for patients admitted with chest pain. ETT assesses exercise-induced ischemia, showing effects of decreased blood flow to the heart during exercise. This is usually due to a problem in the artery.
If the ETT indicates a possible blockage:
- An Echo or echocardiogram looks at the contractility/squeeze function of heart muscle.
- Nuclear images measure blood flow to the heart muscle.
|