How to Prepare for Your First Stress Test

Your heart works harder in certain circumstances. Whether you’re walking up a flight of stairs, carrying a heavy load of groceries, exercising, or otherwise exerting yourself, your heart has to function at a higher level.

As a result, looking at how your heart performs under stress can tell doctors a lot about its overall health. With that in mind, David Bolon, MD, might order a stress test as a diagnostic tool. The best part? He can perform this painless test right here at Manhattan Integrative Cardiovascular in Midtown East Manhattan, New York City. 

What to expect at your stress test

Dr. Bolon tailors your stress test to you. Usually, it means walking on a treadmill or riding a stationary bike to get your heart rate up to a certain level. 

Depending on what Dr. Bolon wants to learn about your heart, he may order a specific type of stress test that includes imaging studies paired with the test. With a nuclear stress test, for example, he uses advanced cardiac imaging to evaluate your heart before and after you exercise. 

Don’t worry about having to expend marathon amounts of energy. Usually, the actual exertion part of the stress test — when you’re on the treadmill or stationary bike — doesn’t last longer than 15 minutes. 

That said, with any associated imaging, the entire appointment can take an hour or longer. Our team lets you know how much time to block out of your day for your specific stress test. 

Prepping for your stress test

Now that you know what your stress test will entail, let’s look at how to get ready. 

Don’t eat anything for at least a couple of hours before your test. Our team tells you how long to fast depending on your specific test. 

To give us the clearest possible idea of your heart function, avoid caffeine for at least 24 hours before your stress test. Dr. Bolon may also have you stop taking certain medications before your test to see how your heart functions without them. He gives you specific directions there. Don’t stop taking any medications until Dr. Bolon tells you to. 

Wear clothes you can exercise in for your stress test. We generally recommend comfortable, lightweight clothing and good walking shoes. 

If you have any other questions about what to expect or how to prepare, our team is here. For all of the guidance you need to feel comfortable heading to your stress test, call (716) 303-4738 or book your appointment online today.