Designed to gauge blood flow to the heart during physical activity, an exercise stress test gives your physician a good idea how well your heart handles work. Also called a cardiac stress test, treadmill test or exercise test, an exercise stress test is often interpreted as a reflection on an individual’s overall physical fitness.

When compared with the blood flow to your heart during periods of rest, an exercise stress test can reveal imbalances or reductions in blood flow to the heart’s left ventricular muscle tissue during periods of physical exertion. It is also useful in determining the type and level of exercise that is appropriate for a patient.