How to Pass the Cardiac Stress Test (Step-by-Step Progression)

[@everydaychristian8932]

There are so many unhelpful videos on this topic, but your video was actually very helpful! Thank you!

[@FitnessSolutionsPlus]

Awesome, thank you for the kind words :)

[@lindak6669]

I completed a stress test w/o any preparation while I was in the hospital. 4.5 minutes at 1 3/4 mph at a incline of 10. I was winded when I was done but I was very happy with myself. I’m a 71 year old grandma.

[@FitnessSolutionsPlus]

Good job

[@anthonysmith820]

Great, well done.

[@jamiallen3282]

LOL, I saw the Cardiologist last week and will be doing the test tomorrow, so no prep for me. Wish me luck!

[@FitnessSolutionsPlus]

@@jamiallen3282 good luck

[@alexisshadow6208]

I've been running laps on a flat track for a few weeks now, preparing for this test. I will start going on the treadmill and walking/Jogging with inclinations. Wish me luck 👍

[@gotemcoach2346]

How did you do on you're stress test treadmill?

[@FitnessSolutionsPlus]

I'd like to know as well

[@Leaves_of_the_Vines]

@@gotemcoach2346 @FitnessSolutionsPlus I passed! I needed to past this test for a scientific diving job, and I scored well, so I got to go diving 4 days a week for my summer job. Super awesome.

[@daglobe]

incredibly helpful! thank you!

[@akilapranathi]

This video should get at least a million viwes. In the entire youtube, this video is one of the most informative and impressive videos I've ever seen! Thank you so much!

[@FitnessSolutionsPlus]

Thank you!

[@GC-kw1gq]

I survived a nasty saddle pulmonary embolism in 4/23 and will be taking a stress test next month 9/24 to see if any lasting damage was done. Doing a CT scan before test and another CT scan after. For me it is not an issue of “passing” the stress test but instead collecting useful data/information from the test:)

[@FitnessSolutionsPlus]

I'm glad you survived

[@Chogogo717]

Thanks for very clear instructions. It was recommended to me to check myself to see if I can pass level 4 as a technical diver, but the person recommending the test to me couldn’t tell me if it was to be done to max heart rate or 85%.

[@FitnessSolutionsPlus]

Glad this cleared it up for you. Good luck with the test!

[@rolandlowe8945]

Great explanation vid thanks very much. One question about the stress test: Do we hold the rails of the treadmill or is it not allowed during the actual test?

[@FitnessSolutionsPlus]

You can hold the front rails

[@rolandlowe8945]

Awesome. I've been practicing without holding on. It's much more difficult. Probably a good way to prep for the test. Cheers. @@FitnessSolutionsPlus

[@FitnessSolutionsPlus]

@@rolandlowe8945 yeah, when training, I recommend not holding. This way, when the test comes, and you're allowed to hold, you do better

[@jamesccook]

Hello I enjoyed your video and really appreciated your completeness, I need some guidance if you would. I need to take the test to get my 3rd class medical back after a heart stent. I am 67, and have been training for a while and can get through the first two stages, 10% @ 1.7 & 12% @2.5, but struggle in third stage and have never yet gotten to 9 minutes, and my heart rate is around 150 after the second stage. If I can not do the 9 minutes, with my heart rate within the 85% then is that a complete failure??

[@FitnessSolutionsPlus]

Yes, unfortunately that's the case. Best of luck in your training

[@anthonysmith820]

What's the 3rd stage ? Speed and Incline info pls.

[@AshesFade]

I'm 28 and will be getting this next week

[@FitnessSolutionsPlus]

Good luck!

[@FrancescaCadhit]

Nice! Is tennis a good way to train for the stress test?

[@FitnessSolutionsPlus]

Tennis is a lot of fun, and if you play singles, in general is good cardiovascular exercise. But unfortunately it won't help you pass the stress test, since it's not a deliberate attempt to improve cardiovascular fitness. With tennis, people may (or may not) get improvements in cardiovascular fitness, but even if they do, it's really a side benefit of tennis.

[@rachelrenee79]

I just did this today; I could only do it for 13 minutes. 😢

[@edies7607]

How to train to get better result on this test?

[@FitnessSolutionsPlus]

Simply follow the instructions in this video

[@ludwig6332]

My Cardio told me NOT to train. If one has a heart attack out on the streets no one is there to help you. Besides , that is the whole point of takin g the test to see WHERE your heart/body/O2 supply is at ! IT IS NTO A FAIL PASS TEST.

[@physistry]

Hi, what if I'm at a stage where even with 0% I can't get my HR to get lower than 65% to carry on the next level? Do I go the stage before for the speed and incline at 0%?

[@FitnessSolutionsPlus]

You might simply have a genetically high maximal heart rate. In which case, yes, go to the stage before for the speed and incline at 0.

[@GC-kw1gq]

“220 minus age” has always been too low for me. Will the stress test be stopped when I reach 85% of the “220 minus age” even if I could go to higher?

[@FitnessSolutionsPlus]

Yeah, 220 minus age is a predictive formula. Not a direct measurement. Which does mean that it'll be wrong for a certain percent of the population. But yes, the stress test is stopped when you reach 85%

[@danc3746]

I have a right branch block, it shows up time to time on ECG, but not all the time, some ECGs are normal. I recently had a CT Calcium score of 209 (58 year old) and my cardiologist wants me to do a stress test. Is this safe for me to do having this right branch block condition?

[@FitnessSolutionsPlus]

Great question, but unfortunately I'm not able to answer it. You'd have to speak with a cardiologist.

[@rvdavda]

My CT calcium score was 4500😂

[@GC-kw1gq]

I watched the entire video but I might have missed it - but how do you fail a stress test?

[@FitnessSolutionsPlus]

In your situation, the stress test is just data gathering, and you can't fail. But some people need to reach a certain level to either get a job or keep their job (like pilots, probation officers, firefighters, etc.)

[@GC-kw1gq]

Thank you for reply - makes sense!

[@Juandiaz-gk7fu]

Stress test is not how faster you run . Is not for how in line you keel running .street test is not see if you tu run a Marathon . Is just find out if you heart pump enough blood to muscle is not is because you guy having blocking coronary arteries and please don confuse my people.

[@ludwig6332]

They told me NOT to practice, if one was to have a heart attack pushing yourself down the street, no one is around to help you.

[@FitnessSolutionsPlus]

@@ludwig6332 it depends why someone was sent for the stress test. Most people are sent just for information gathering, to check their health status. In their case, there is no pass or fail. For them, it's better not to practice it for the reason that you mentioned. But in certain professions (pilots, probation officers, etc.) you have to hit a certain level in order to pass. We know ahead of time that they are healthy to begin with, but we don't know if they are fit. For those folks, it makes sense to practice, because their career depends on it.

[@ludwig6332]

@@FitnessSolutionsPlus Well that makes sense, But when we talk about pass and fail, what exactly constitutes a "fail". Is it performance of the heart? Are we looking to see if the arteries may be blocked? I assume an artery/vein could have blockage but the heart appears to be working ok (scan) if blood supply is still getting to the heart. If that's the case, a cardio may not warrant further test ? ( and a person may still have plaque build up) ? Could you elaborate on that. I just took mine, it didn't take very lone I reached the 86 % probably within 5-10 minutes and back for more pictures. The certified tester said "my heart looks normal and ok but he wasn't the Dr.", I have to wait 4 weeks for a floor up with the Cardio. Im 69 1/2 and weigh 209.

[@FitnessSolutionsPlus]

@@ludwig6332 when the stress test is used as a fitness test, they're actually taking you to the max, not just to 85%, and you need to reach a certain level (speed and incline) in order to pass. When it's used as a health test, they're looking at the electrical activity of the heart. So yeah, it may not detect plaque buildup. If there's an abnormality in the cardiac stress test, they start looking for the reason for the abnormality (so they do additional testing).