Week 2 Exercise Testing

Question 1

what are the indication for stress testing?

Answer 1

-screens for ex rx and entry into preventive and cardiac rehab ex programs
-determining severity of heart disease
-evaluates chest symptoms like pain
-uncovers abnormal blood pressure repsonses
-evaluates severity of arrythmias
-monitors effectiveness of therapeutic interventions
-quantifies and evaluates function aerobic capacity

Question 2

what is a symptom-limited graded exercise test?

Answer 2

maximal tests
uses pt’s max HR or terminate when pt is limited by symptoms
used to measure functional capacity and diagnose CAD

Question 3

what is the different between maximal and submax exercise testing?

Answer 3

termination point
submax is terminated on achievement of a predetermined end point

Question 4

what is low level testing?

Answer 4

2-6 METs
determines exercise tolerance and safety
screening for entry into cardiac rehab
detects arrythmias
used to predict subsequent course of MI

Question 5

what does a preparticipation screening do?

Answer 5

identifies those at risk for CV complications during exercise

Question 6

what is included in the criteria for termination of maximal testing?

Answer 6

-physical distress (nausea, dizziness, extreme SOB, pallor, diaphoresis, confusion, coordination loss)
-angina-like or claudication symptoms
-abnormal BP response
-equipment failure
-max HR achieved
-pt requests termination
-ECG indicated arrhythmias
-severe ST-segment depression
-PVCs
-rapid atrial arrhythmias
-development of 2nd or 3rd degree heart block

Question 7

what is ventricular tachycardia?

Answer 7

3 or more PVCs in a row

Question 8

what is atrial flutter?

Answer 8

sawtooth looking waves between normal QRS complexes of p-wave

Question 9

what is a heart block?

Answer 9

when the signal is not being transmitted normally from the atria to the ventricles

Question 10

what is the prognostic value of maximal exercise testing?

Answer 10

used as noninvasive screening method for detection of coronary disease
correlated with more severe disease (ischemia during early stages, time to recover from ischemia, chronotropic incompetence or failure of HR to rise

Question 11

what can symptom limited exercise testing assist with determining?

Answer 11

prognosis of condition, med surg treatment effectiveness, need for further treatment, and exercise tolerance prior to entry into cardiac rehab