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Exercise Stress Test

An exercise stress test helps your doctor determine how your heart performs under stress (during exercise). Your heart’s electrical activity and your blood pressure are measured while you exercise on a treadmill. To learn more about an exercise stress test, read this article.

HOW DO I PREPARE FOR MY EXAM?

BEFORE YOUR APPOINTMENT

  • Please stop all Beta blocker and calcium channel blocker medications 48 hours before your appointment date. Please confirm with your referring physician prior to ceasing. If you haven’t already done so, please let us know if you are on any of the medications on this list prior to starting the study.
  • Please avoid any caffeine products (coffee, tea, pop, hot chocolate) for 24 hours prior your exam. This includes medications that contain caffeine or caffeine derivatives (Tylenol 3, Anacin, Excedrin, No-Doz, Darvon, Caffregot, or Fiorinal).

DAY OF YOUR APPOINTMENT

  • Four hours prior to your appointment, do not take anything by mouth – no smoking/vaping or use of Nitro spray, and don’t eat/drink/chew gum or tobacco.
  • You may take small sips of water with prescribed medications.
  • SPECIAL NOTE: If you take medication to manage your blood sugar, please do not take it on the morning of your test unless you have been given a late appointment time and are able to eat four hours before the test. If you cannot fast for four hours, eat a small meal and take your diabetes medication as prescribed, as long as there is at least two hours between eating and the time of your appointment. Remember to bring your insulin, oral medication, glucometer, and a snack.
  • Continue taking all medications unless otherwise instructed by your physician.
  • Please bring all medications, or a list of medications you are currently taking. If you are asthmatic, please ensure you bring your “puffer” medication with you.
  • Wear exercise clothing, such as a short-sleeved, loose shirt, shorts or sweatpants, and clean and dry running shoes. No one-piece dresses or one-piece undergarments please.
  • Please do not wear perfumes, colognes, or other scented products.
  • Please arrive 15 minutes before your appointment to allow enough time to check in with reception and fill out paperwork.
  • Bring photo identification, your provincial health card, and your requisition.

WHAT HAPPENS DURING MY EXAM?

  • A technologist will place electrodes (adhesive patches) on your chest. They will be attached to an electrocardiograph monitor (EKG) that charts your heart’s electrical activity during the test.
  • A physician specializing in internal medicine will consult with you prior to the test. If you have any medical questions concerning your test, this is an ideal time to discuss them.
  • Before you start the exercise portion of the study, the technologist will perform a resting EKG reading, measuring your resting heart rate and taking your blood pressure.
  • As you start to walk, the treadmill will start out very slow, then speed and incline will gradually increase. The majority of the program is a walking pace. Some may end up jogging.
  • The technologist will ask you how you are feeling throughout the test.
  • Please tell your technologist if you feel short of breath, dizzy, lightheaded, or experience chest, arm or jaw pain, or discomfort, or if you have any other unusual symptoms.
  • We will stop the test if you become too tired, experience chest pain, or when the technologist has enough information.
  • After the exercise portion is over, you will need to sit and relax. We will continue to monitor you as your heart rate and blood pressure return to normal.
  • The physician will briefly discuss your results with you and, if there are no concerns, you are free to leave.
  • If further testing is required, we will discuss this with you and may book additional testing or provide a referral.

WHEN WILL I GET MY RESULTS?

The physician will interpret the complete EKG analysis and we will do our best to forward the results, as well as a consultation report, to your doctor by the next business day. Please consult with your doctor regarding your results and any follow up exams or questions.

HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?

This exam is covered under your Alberta Health Care Plan. It is not currently offered at our Saskatchewan clinics.

PLEASE NOTE:

Please bring the following to your appointment: a valid government-issued ID, your provincial health card, and your exam requisition (if you have received one).

 

FOR YOUR APPOINTMENT

Please ensure that you bring your requisition with you to your appointment.

DURATION

1-2 hours

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Online Appointment Request

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We foster a supportive and collaborative culture designed to encourage positive patient experiences and build strong working relationships across the organization:

  • We recognize each other for our contributions – big and small.
  • We focus on teamwork and personal accountability to achieve our goals.
  • When we commit to deadlines, we complete the work as promised, by when we promised. If we realize we can’t keep our commitments, we collaborate to find new deadlines well in advance of the original ones.
  • We feel safe to speak up responsibly. That means we freely share what’s on our minds in a way that is respectful and supports the success of the organization.
  • We commit to our patients and their needs. We show up each day ready to live our vision, mission, and values.
  • We challenge each other to grow and develop our skills and we support each other to do so.
  • Above all, we go the extra mile to support our patients and colleagues. 

Our Values.

Our core values shape the way we work with patients, partners, and fellow employees. And, more than anything else, they’re what set Mayfair apart. In everything we do, this is what we strive for:

EXCELLENCE

We share a commitment to high quality and excellence in all that we do. This commitment calls on all of us to achieve the very best of our capabilities and exceed our own expectations.

CURIOSITY

We innovate in everything, from services to processes. We believe meaningful change and effective problem solving come only by looking at challenges and opportunities from new angles and by exercising our creativity and curiosity.

PASSION

We show pride, enthusiasm, and dedication in everything that we do. We are committed to producing and delivering high-quality results and services. We are passionate about our industry and about our company, services, partners, and patients.

COLLABORATION

Our team is supportive of each other’s efforts; we are loyal to one another; and we care for one another both personally and professionally. We promote and support a diverse, yet unified, team. We work together to meet our common goals across Mayfair clinics, locations, and geographies. Only through collaboration on ideas, technologies, and talents can we achieve our mission and vision.

SERVICE

We take pride in delivering exceptional service every day. We listen to every request with an open mind, always looking for opportunities to go above and beyond to create memorable, personalized experiences. We take responsibility to answer our referrers’ and patients’ requests and respect their time by always responding with a sense of urgency.

Start with us.

Start a career with Mayfair Diagnostics — one of Western Canada’s leading medical imaging teams.

Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, we’ve been helping people f ind clarity for their health for over 100 years. At our clinics in Calgary and area, Regina, and Saskatoon, our team of radiologists, technologists, and support staff work in a truly integrated way to provide exceptional experiences for our patients. Joining our team is more than a job. It’s an investment in your future — a plan for success.

OUR PEOPLE

Our people share our quest to make a difference in our patient’s lives. We’re a team of professionals, disciplined in our skills and compassionate with our patients, providing the care and attention they need. At our core, we are a trusted partner in our patients’ health care journey. Our patients, physicians, and other health care providers rely on us for quality imaging to help manage their patient’s health care decisions with certainty. But our business is about more than just imaging. It’s about building lasting relationships and making a meaningful difference in the lives of those we meet.

OUR VISION

A world in which every person has clarity about their health. We push the boundaries of what is possible and embrace change as an opportunity. We strive to be thought leaders and encourage creativity by providing a safe place for calculated risk taking. We learn from our mistakes. We share best practices across our operations and are recognized by our peers for our work. We engage the best to help propel us forward in achieving our goals.