As an example, this past month I did an exercise test on a woman who felt that she had always had less exercise endurance then others her own age. Pushing her harder on the treadmill (in the presence of a trained physician so that she could be pushed safely) than she would have pushed herself resulted in a perfectly normal stress test. Given this information, she joined a gym and participated in a program that she had previously felt would be “too much for her.” After less than a month she assures me that the stress test “did her a world of good.”

If your doctor feels that you should have a stress test, for any reason, do not be afraid of this test that is very safe in experienced hands. But do discuss your medications and whether they should be taken with the doctor beforehand, as some will want you to hold your medicines for 24 hours before the test.