Factors affecting results Certain medications such as antianginal drugs may alter the results by increasing your exercise tolerance. These drugs may be discontinued for a day or so beforehand, unless the test is meant to assess their effectiveness. Medications such as digitalis can produce a false-positive, or abnormal, result. Interpretation - A doctor studies the ECG tracings, and also assesses your performance and symptoms during the test. This test offers a simple, noninvasive method of assessing heart function during vigorous activity, and is generally safe when performed in the proper setting.
Women are more likely than men to have a false-positive exercise stress test.
Patients with an abnormal resting ECG usually shouldn't undergo an exercise stress test. The next step - Test results may be used to develop an exercise prescription as part of a cardiovascular conditioning or rehabilitation program. Abnormal results may point to a need for further tests, including an exercise stress test or myocardial perfusion scan, or cardiac catheterization and angiography.