Heart disease is a leading cause of death in the United States. According to the American Heart Association’s recent 2025 Statistical Update, one person dies from heart disease or stroke in the United States every 34 seconds.
The most common type of heart disease is coronary artery disease, which affects blood flow to the heart and can lead to heart attacks. One of the most effective ways to determine heart health is through a cardiac stress test. The most common stress test – an exercise stress test – helps determine how well your heart works when it’s pumping hard and fast. As your body works harder during the test, it requires more fuel and your heart has to pump more blood. The test can show if there’s a lack of blood supply to the heart. It’s a valuable diagnostic tool, as it can reveal issues that might not be apparent when the heart is at rest.
RiverView Health offers nuclear cardiac stress tests in its state-of-the-art Cardiac Stress Lab in Crookston. With the expertise of Internal Medicine provider Dr. Bosun Fashoro and RiverView’s Cardiac Rehab Team, patients walk on a treadmill while wires, or electrodes, are attached to their chest and arms or shoulders. The wires are connected to an electrocardiography (EKG) machine that records heartbeat and heart rhythm in an electrocardiogram.
For patients with difficulty walking, the team conducts pharmaceutical stress tests where the patient receives a drug that mimics the effects of exercise. Pharmaceutical stress tests are performed with the patient lying down during the entire test.
Safety First
Monitoring your heart while you exercise is safe and can give your provider important information.
“A stress test is no different than walking in a gym,’’ Dr. Fashoro reported. “It’s even safer because we have EKG leads attached to you. We monitor your heart rate, and blood pressure, and breathing. It’s actually safer than just walking on your own because you are in a monitored environment.’’
According to Dr. Fashoro, depending on the patient’s fitness level, a stress test can range anywhere from just a few minutes to a maximum of 15 minutes. The patient starts out walking at a low speed, which is gradually increased to get to their calculated target rate, which is between 80 and 85 percent of their determined maximum heart rate. After the target rate is reached, observation is continued through the recovery stage.
Dr. Fashoro is present for every test and interprets EKG results from the treadmill or pharmaceutical portion of the test. Registered respiratory therapists, registered nurses, and certified nuclear medicine technologists also assist in the process. A radiologist interprets the image scans of the heart, with test results sent to the provider who ordered the test, who then shares the results with the patient.
Reasons to Test
According to the American Heart Association, there are several reasons why an individual may need a stress test, including:
- If you have an irregular heartbeat.
- If your symptoms, such as chest pain or difficulty breathing, are related to your heart.
- How hard you should exercise when you join a cardiac rehabilitation program or start an exercise program.
- If treatments you have received for heart disease are working.
- If you need other tests, such as a coronary angiogram, to detect narrowed arteries.
- If you are at risk of having a heart attack.
RiverView has been offering cardiac stress testing since the early 1990s, according to Wanda Sorum, coordinator of RiverView’s Cardiopulmonary Rehab, who said about 180 tests are performed at the Crookston facility every year.
“The equipment and personnel have changed over the years, but the attention to personalized patient care has remained a focus,’’ Sorum shared. “With the advent of electronic medical records, a cardiac stress test can be performed locally and transferred electronically, essentially anywhere.
“It’s a safe test and convenient to have it done at our local hospital. All you have to do is ask to stay close to home.’’
It’s important to discuss any concerns or symptoms you may be experiencing with your primary care provider, who can determine if a stress test is appropriate for you. For more information on RiverView’s cardiac services, call Rehab Services at 218-281-9463.
Wanda Sorum, Cardiopulmonary Rehab coordinator, and Dr. Bosun Fashoro lead patients through stress tests at RiverView Health.