And you may need these tests if you have diabetes or other risks. Your doctor may also want you to have an EKG before you begin an exercise program if you are at risk of heart disease. You may also need the tests if you have a history of heart disease. You should probably have an EKG and an exercise stress test if you have symptoms of heart disease, such as chest pain, shortness of breath, an irregular heartbeat, or heavy heartbeats. In some cases, it can be important to get these tests.
When are EKGs and exercise stress tests needed? Why waste money on tests you do not need? And if they lead to more tests and treatments, it can cost thousands of dollars. Angioplasty causes a heart attack in one to two out of every 100 patients.Īn EKG costs about $50, and an exercise stress test costs $175 or more. This can help some people, but for many, lifestyle changes and medicine are just as good. Or, you may have a procedure called angioplasty to force open the arteries in your heart. Radiation has effects that can add up, so it is best to avoid it when you can.ĮKGs and exercise stress tests can also lead to unnecessary treatments. This can expose you to as much radiation as 600 to 800 chest X-rays. This can lead to other tests and treatments that do have risks.įor example, if the results of your EKG are unclear, your doctor may order a coronary angiography. These tests can lead to follow-up tests and treatments that you do not need.ĮKGs and exercise stress tests will not harm you.
There are better and less costly ways to prevent heart disease than EKGs and exercise stress tests. And almost one out of ten had an exercise stress test. Yet almost half had had an EKG in the last five years. These people had no history or symptoms of heart disease. Yet, many people with no symptoms have an EKG as part of their routine checkups.įor example, 1,200 adults between the ages of 40 and 60 were surveyed. The tests are not useful for people who do not have symptoms of heart disease, like chest pain. Usually, you do not need these tests if you do not have any symptoms.
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These tests can help your doctor evaluate how your heart is working and decide how to treat any problems.īut in other cases, you should think twice about having these tests. Or you may need them if you already have heart disease or You may need these tests if you have symptoms of heart disease, like chest pain. In an exercise stress test, you have an EKG while you walk or jog on a treadmill. An EKG, or electrocardiogram, measures your heart’s activity. EKGs and stress tests are tests that can help your doctor see how well your heart is working.