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Patient Education: Diseases Conditions Treatments & Procedures

Exercise Stress Echocardiogram

Our Service

Sunnybrook's Schulich Heart Centre conducts Excercise Stress Echocardiograms.

  • Requires 30-45 minutes of your time.
  • If you have a morning appointment, please do not eat or drink in the morning. If you have an afternoon appointment, you may have a light breakfast but you should fast for six hours prior to the test. If you are diabetic, consult with your physician on how to manage your diabetic medicines.
  • Wear comfortable shoes (running shoes or closed toe walking shoes). You will be walking briskly on the treadmill. No flip-flops, slippers, sandals or heeled shoes.
  • If you are taking cardiac medications, please consult with your physician if you are to take these pills on the morning of the test. Exercise treadmill testing is performed by not taking drugs that slow the heart rate down (such as beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers) the evening before and the morning of the test. However, in some cases, this is not desirable. Please consult with your physician.
  • Please bring your medications with you. If you have been instructed not to take certain pills, you will be able to take them immediately following the test.
  • If you have difficulty understanding English/ French please bring someone with you to help translate if possible.