Mayo Clinic Minute: What is a cardiac stress test?

Stressing the heart might not sound like a safe thing for someone with a cardiovascular condition, but a cardiac stress test is an important tool for doctors.

If you’re not able to exercise, the other type of test is the use of medication to simulate the effects of exercise on the heart.

Your doctor may order a cardiac stress test to diagnose coronary artery disease and heart arrhythmias. It also can determine treatments if you’ve already been diagnosed with a heart condition.