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Q I recently turned 65, and I thought it might be a good idea to have a cardiac stress test. However, my doctor said I'm healthy and don't need one. Who should undergo this test?
A An exercise cardiac stress test, known clinically as an exercise electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG), is a method of determining how well your heart performs during the "stress" of exercising on a treadmill. In the test, physicians monitor your heart's electrical activity, blood pressure response and symptoms for signs that the heart muscle is receiving insufficient blood supply, a sign of coronary artery disease (CAD) due to blocked arteries in the heart.
--This text refers to an alternate Digital edition.
