If you get extremely tired or show any other signs of coronary artery disease, the physician will stop the exam immediately. As a further safeguard, a person trained in cardiac life support will be in the room at all times. But with the proper screening beforehand, there should be little chance of a problem. Some people aren't healthy enough to withstand a stress test. You may also be unable to take the test if you have severe physical disabilities or if you're extremely heavy.
Some cases call for extra caution.
Patients with advanced diabetes, Parkinson's disease, mitral valve prolapse, frequent arrhythmia, thyroid problems, or certain other illnesses may have trouble enduring the test. If you have one of these conditions, your physician will give you a thorough checkup before ordering the test. Alternative methods to assess your heart are available if for some reason the treadmill test can't be done. In addition, many medications can make the stress test hard to interpret. He has a master's degree in biology from Montana State University.