Before you start the test, a member of your health care team places sticky patches (electrodes) on your chest, legs and arms. The electrodes are connected by wires to an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) machine. The electrocardiogram records the electrical signals that trigger your heartbeats. A blood pressure cuff is placed on your arm to check your blood pressure during the exercise stress test.

You then begin slowly walking on the treadmill or pedaling the stationary bike. As the test progresses, the speed and incline of the treadmill increases. A railing is provided on the treadmill that you can use for balance, but don’t hang on to it, as that may skew the results of the test. On a stationary bike, the resistance increases as the test progresses, making it harder to pedal. During the test, you may be asked to breathe into a tube to measure the gases in your breath as you exhale.