A “stress echo” is a combination of an ultrasound and exercise test. It compares how your heart muscle is pumping before and after exercise.


The examination will be performed by a Cardiac Sonographer under the supervision of a Cardiologist and the test will then be interpreted by a Cardiologist trained in reading exercise heart ultrasound.

You will be shown into the Ultrasound Scanning room and asked to remove all garments above the waist. You will be wired up for a 12 lead Electrocardiogram which allows the Cardiologist to monitor your heart rate and ECG changes in response to exercise.

You will then be asked to lie down on a couch on your left side. The Sonographer will acquire a series of images according to a strict protocol to provide a baseline comparison with the Stress Echo images. You may be asked to hold your breath to stabilise the heart position and reduce the lung field to allow the Sonographer to get a clearer view.

The exercise stress test is performed on the treadmill. The exercise heart ultrasound is most useful if your target heart rate is reached before exercise is stopped so your doctor will want you to exercise for as long as you can. Exercise will usually continue until your target heart rate is reached unless you experience difficulty breathing, show other symptoms or ECG changes, at which time the test will be immediately stopped.

During the exercise portion of the examination the Cardiologist will supervise and there is usually a second person assisting.

Following the stress test, you will have to transfer as quickly as possible back to the examination couch to record post stress phase images, which are recorded as quickly as possible using the same protocol as before. This is so that images can be recorded before the heart starts to recover from the exercise.

You will be asked to remain on the bed until your heart rate has slowed. If you experience any symptoms during this time, or at any other time, you should report them immediately to staff. After a few minutes recovery is complete when the resting heart rate has returned to normal. You will then be allowed to leave the examination room.

Your Stress Echocardiogram scan will be read and reported by a Cardiologist. The report will then be sent to the Doctor who referred you. The Cardiologist may give some immediate feedback of the results of the test. Because the images are digital (just like a digital camera), we will keep them in our computers.