What is the purpose of an exercise stress test?

The purpose of an exercise stress test is primarily to assess how well the heart functions during physical activity, such as walking or running on a treadmill. This test evaluates the heart's ability to respond to stress and can help in diagnosing various heart conditions, determining the effectiveness of treatments, and assessing the overall cardiovascular fitness of a patient. During the test, healthcare providers monitor the patient’s heart rate, blood pressure, and ECG to observe how the heart copes with increased demands.

While measuring lung function or evaluating blood pressure while resting are important aspects of cardiovascular health, they are not the primary focus of an exercise stress test. Checking heart rate variability, although relevant in some contexts, does not capture the specific aim of understanding heart performance under exercise conditions. Therefore, assessing cardiac patient endurance on a treadmill directly aligns with the test’s primary goal, making it the correct response.