Heart Tests at CAMC

Expert care from Bryan Heart doctors

You’ll receive expert care from board-certified Bryan Heart doctors. The regionally renowned Bryan Heart Cardiology team, led in Crete by Dr. Keith Miller, visit Crete Area Medical Center the first and fourth Monday of each month to see patients and provide the care and follow-up you need.

Stress Test

Cardiac stress testing is a very common test to determine your cardiac and pulmonary (heart and breathing) function and exercise capacity. The most common reason to do a stress test is to evaluate symptoms of chest discomfort to determine if the cause is narrowing of a heart artery.

During your test, you will have an electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG). This is a recording of your heart's electrical activity shown as a graph, or series of wave lines on a moving strip of paper. This test provides important information about your heart, including its rate and rhythm. It also can detect a decrease in blood flow and enlargement of the heart. EKGs are non-invasive, safe and painless tests done to help determine if a heart condition exists.

Additional Tests

In addition to the stress test, additional tests may be done including:

• Treadmill Stress Test
• Pharmacologic Stress Tests
• Stress Echocardiography
• Heart Imaging Tests
• Nuclear Perfusion Tests

Preparing for Your Stress Test

• Do not eat for at least three hours before the test. If you have diabetes, please ask for specific instructions
• Take all your medications at your prescribed times unless told to do otherwise
• Do not use creams or oils on your chest for at least 24 hours before the test
• Wear sneakers or comfortable shoes
• No smoking four hours or more before the test (preferably NEVER!)
• No caffeine-containing beverages 12 hours before the test