Understanding Your Stress Echocardiogram

At Mandalay Heart Care, we use Exercise Stress Echocardiography to assess how well your heart works when it’s under load. It’s a safe, non‑invasive test that helps us understand the cause of symptoms like chest pain, breathlessness, or reduced fitness.

💡 Why we may recommend a Stress Echo

• 🩺 Check for blocked or narrowed heart arteries

• 💪 Assess heart muscle strength

• 😮‍💨 Investigate chest discomfort or shortness of breath

• 🏥 Evaluate your heart before surgery

• 📊 Guide personalised, evidence‑based treatment

🧪 What happens during the test

• 📌 ECG stickers placed on your chest

• 🖥️ A resting heart ultrasound

• 🏃‍♂️ Walking on a treadmill (gradually faster/steeper)

• ⚡ A quick ultrasound immediately after exercise ⏱️ Total time: around 30–40 minutes

🧍‍♂️ How to prepare

• 👟 Wear comfortable clothing and walking shoes

• 🍽️ Avoid heavy meals for 2 hours beforehand

• 💊 Take your usual medications unless advised otherwise

🛡️ Is it safe?

Yes — Stress Echo is very safe. Rare side effects include:

• 😵 Dizziness

• ❤️ Irregular heartbeat

• 😣 Chest discomfort

You are monitored closely throughout.

📄 After your test

• 👍 You can return to normal activities

• 🫀 Your cardiologist reviews the images

• 📤 A clear, timely report is sent to your GP

📍 Mandalay Heart Care

Lutwyche HomeCo 📞 07 2139 8399 📧 admin@mandalayheart.com 🌐 www.mandalayheart.com