Stress Test in Sharjah
Medically reviewed by Dar Al Kamal Team
What is an ECG stress test?
An ECG stress test, also called an exercise ECG or treadmill test, records the electrical activity of your heart while it works harder. Sticky electrodes on your chest connect to an ECG machine, a cuff measures your blood pressure, and you walk on a treadmill that gradually becomes faster and steeper. The recording shows how your heart rhythm, heart rate and blood supply respond as the effort increases.
The test answers a different question from a resting ECG. A resting ECG, described on the ECG testing page, captures the heart for a few seconds while you lie still. Many heart problems, particularly narrowed coronary arteries, only affect the heart when it needs more blood, so symptoms that appear on exertion tend to show up on a test that provokes them. At Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah, stress tests are supervised by the cardiology team.
Who needs it
Your cardiologist may recommend an ECG stress test if you have:
- Chest pain, tightness or pressure that comes on with walking, stairs or exercise and eases with rest
- Breathlessness on exertion that feels out of proportion to your fitness
- Palpitations or dizziness that appear during activity
- Known coronary artery disease, to check how well treatment is working
- Several risk factors, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, smoking or a family history of early heart disease, before starting a new exercise programme
The test also shows how much exercise your heart can safely handle, which helps plan rehabilitation or a return to sport. Repeating the test later allows your cardiologist to compare results over time. Your cardiologist decides whether a stress test is the right first step, or whether another test, such as an echocardiogram or a Holter monitor, answers your question better.
What happens
The appointment starts with a short review of your symptoms, medicines and medical history, and a resting ECG and blood pressure reading. A small area of skin on the chest may be cleaned or shaved so the electrodes stick well.
You then walk on the treadmill. The test runs in stages, with the speed and incline rising every few minutes. The team watches your ECG and blood pressure continuously and asks how you feel. The aim is usually to reach a target heart rate set according to your age, or to exercise until you are too tired to continue.
The test stops early if you develop chest pain, marked breathlessness, dizziness, a significant change on the ECG or a fall or rise in blood pressure. Tell the team straight away about any symptom. After the exercise you rest while recordings continue for several minutes as your heart rate returns to normal. The whole visit usually takes under an hour, with the treadmill part lasting only a few minutes.
Preparing for it
Wear comfortable clothes and trainers or walking shoes, since you will be walking briskly. A two-piece outfit makes it easier to place the electrodes. Avoid a heavy meal for a few hours beforehand, and avoid caffeine and smoking on the day of the test, because they affect heart rate.
Some medicines, particularly those that slow the heart rate, can change the result. Your cardiologist tells you whether to take or pause any medicine before the test; follow that instruction exactly and continue everything else as usual. Bring a list of all your medicines, previous ECGs or heart test reports, and your inhaler if you use one.
Afterwards
You can return to your normal activities, including driving and work, straight after the test in most cases. The cardiologist reviews the recordings and explains the result, either on the day or at a follow-up appointment. Depending on the findings, the next step may be reassurance, a change in treatment, or further tests such as an echocardiogram.
Contact the hospital if you feel unwell in the hours after the test. Call emergency services or go to the emergency department immediately if you develop chest pain lasting more than a few minutes, chest pain spreading to the arm, jaw or back, or sudden severe breathlessness.
Cost and insurance
An ECG stress test requested by a cardiologist to investigate symptoms is covered by most UAE health insurance plans, sometimes with pre-approval. Tests requested only as part of a general health check are sometimes excluded or covered at a different level. Contact Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah on 06 599 7777 to confirm your cover before the test.
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Frequently asked questions
How long does an ECG stress test take?
An ECG stress test visit usually takes under an hour, including preparation, the exercise and the recovery recording. The treadmill part itself usually lasts only a few minutes, depending on your fitness and symptoms.
What are the risks and limitations of a stress test?
An ECG stress test carries a small risk of chest pain, dizziness or an abnormal heart rhythm during exercise, which is why the team monitors you throughout and stops the test if needed. The test shows significant narrowing that limits blood flow during exertion, not every plaque in the arteries, so a normal result can occasionally give false reassurance and an abnormal result can occasionally be a false alarm. Your cardiologist interprets the result alongside your symptoms and other tests.
What if I cannot walk on a treadmill?
If arthritis, a joint problem or another condition makes treadmill walking difficult, other forms of stress testing exist that do not rely on walking. Your cardiologist explains the options that suit you and arranges the most appropriate test.
Should I stop my heart medicines before a stress test?
Only if your cardiologist tells you to. Some heart medicines, particularly those that slow the heart rate, can affect the result, and your cardiologist tells you exactly which to pause and when. Never stop a heart medicine on your own.
What should I wear for a stress test?
Wear trainers or comfortable walking shoes and loose, comfortable clothes, ideally a separate top and trousers so the chest electrodes can be placed easily. Bring your inhaler if you use one.
Is a stress test the same as an ECG?
A resting ECG records the heart for a few seconds while you lie still, while an ECG stress test records it during exercise on a treadmill. The stress test can reveal problems that only appear when the heart is working harder.
Will I get my stress test result the same day?
The cardiologist often discusses the main findings of a stress test on the day, and a full report follows. If further tests are needed, your cardiologist explains why and what happens next.
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