Exercise stress test

The exercise stress test involves recording the electrocardiogram, heart rate and blood pressure during physical exercise of progressive intensity, usually on a treadmill. Some cardiac abnormalities indeed only appear during exertion, when the heart is under demand. This examination is an essential tool in cardiology: it helps look for insufficient blood supply to the heart muscle, investigate chest pain or breathlessness on exertion, assess physical capacity, unmask certain rhythm disorders and guide the return to sporting activity. The procedure is simple: fitted with electrodes and a blood pressure cuff, the patient walks on a treadmill whose speed and incline increase in stages, under the constant supervision of a physician. The exertion is tailored to each person and stopped as soon as the necessary information has been gathered or at the patient's request. At Clinique Pasteur Tunis, the exercise stress test is performed in a secure environment, with continuous monitoring and the permanent presence of a trained medical team, with all treatment resources immediately available on site.