Definition:
A stress test is a medical procedure designed to assess the health, efficiency, and overall function of the heart.
In its most commonly administered form -- the exercise stress test -- a patient is connected to a series of monitors that record heart and cardiovascular function at rest, and during a series of moderate periods of work (typically walking on a treadmill).
Stress tests analyze the flow of blood and oxygen in the heart and observe the action of the heart walls as activity level increases.
Other non-exercise stress tests are available and used for special cases where an exercise stress test is not appropriate.
