Treadmill Stress Test

Your heart health is paramount. At HealthHub Clinics in Dubai, we offer cutting-edge tests to keep your heart in check. One such essential screening is the Treadmill Stress Test, also known as an exercise ECG or exercise stress test. This non-invasive test monitors how well your heart performs under physical stress (by having you walk on a treadmill), helping to detect potential cardiac issues early. Whether you have symptoms or simply want to proactively assess your heart, our cardiology team uses treadmill stress testing to guide your care and keep your heart strong.

Whether you’ve recently been diagnosed or have been living with hypertension for years, we tailor our approach to your needs. From accurate diagnosis and personalized treatment plans to ongoing follow-up and support services, we are with you every step of the way on your journey to better blood pressure and overall health.

Why is the Treadmill Stress Test Done?

The treadmill stress test plays a vital role in cardiovascular diagnosis and prevention. Doctors primarily use it to detect coronary artery disease – blockages in the heart’s arteries that reduce blood flow to the heart muscle. By examining your ECG and symptoms while you exercise, we can see if any part of the heart isn’t getting enough blood (a sign of narrowed arteries). The test can also uncover exercise-induced arrhythmias – irregular heartbeats that only happen during exertion – which might not show up on a resting ECG. Additionally, if you have symptoms like chest pain or shortness of breath that occur with activity, a stress test helps determine if a heart problem is the cause.

Even without symptoms, this test is useful as a heart screening tool for people with risk factors or a family history of heart disease. It provides a baseline of your cardiovascular fitness and can prompt early intervention if something is abnormal. That’s why doctors often recommend this test for people with exercise-related symptoms or multiple risk factors. It’s also used to monitor some heart patients (to check how treatments are working) and to assess fitness before starting a high-intensity exercise program.

What to Expect During a Treadmill Stress Test

We strive to make the experience as smooth as possible. Here’s how the test works:

Preparation: We place adhesive electrodes on your chest to connect you to an ECG monitor, and a blood pressure cuff on your arm. We’ll record your heart rhythm and blood pressure at rest before you start.
Exercise & Monitoring: You then walk on the treadmill, starting at an easy pace. Every few minutes, the treadmill’s speed and incline increase to make your heart work harder. Throughout this exercise, our team continuously monitors your heart rate, heart rhythm, and blood pressure and will ask how you’re feeling. If you feel any chest pain, dizziness, or other discomfort, let us know right away – we can stop the test at any time if needed. Otherwise, the test continues until you reach a target heart rate or we have gathered enough information.
Recovery: After the treadmill stops, you’ll rest for a few minutes. We continue to monitor your heart as it recovers, checking that your heart rate and blood pressure return toward normal. Once everything looks stable and you’re feeling okay, the test is complete. Our doctor will discuss the preliminary results with you.

The active exercise part usually lasts around 10 minutes, but plan on about 30–45 minutes total for the whole appointment (including preparation and recovery).