Welcome to the Non-Invasive Cardiac Laboratory (NICL) at Hospital Sultan Idris Shah. We understand that undergoing a medical test can be daunting. This guide is designed to help you understand what a Treadmill Exercise Stress Test is, how to prepare, and what to expect on the day of your appointment.

What is a Treadmill Exercise Stress Test?

A Treadmill Exercise Stress Test is a common, non-invasive procedure used to evaluate how your heart functions during physical exertion. Because exercise makes your heart pump harder and faster, this test can help reveal problems with blood flow within your heart that might not be noticeable when you are resting.

During the test, you will walk on a treadmill while our specialized cardiac team closely monitors your heart rate, blood pressure, and electrical activity (ECG).

Why has my doctor recommended this test?

Your doctor may have requested this test to:

Diagnose coronary artery disease (CAD): To check if the arteries supplying blood to your heart are narrowed or blocked.
Identify abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias): To see if exercise triggers irregular heartbeats.
Evaluate chest pain: To determine the cause of unexplained chest pain or shortness of breath.
Assess exercise tolerance: To check your heart health before starting a new exercise program or after a heart procedure.

How to Prepare for Your Test

Proper preparation ensures we get the most accurate results and keeps you comfortable. Please follow these guidelines before coming to NICL:

1. Clothing and Footwear 👟

Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing suitable for exercise (e.g., a T-shirt and track pants).
Wear proper walking or running shoes (sneakers). Avoid sandals, slippers, or bare feet.
For Women: A two-piece outfit (separate top and bottom) is highly recommended, as the technician will need access to your chest to place the ECG patches.
For Men: If you have a hairy chest, we may need to shave small areas so the ECG patches can stick properly to your skin.

2. Food and Drink ☕

Do not eat a heavy meal for at least 2 to 3 hours before your test. A light snack is acceptable.
Avoid caffeine (coffee, tea, cola, chocolate) for at least 12 hours before the test, as it can affect your heart rate.
Avoid alcohol and smoking for at least 24 hours prior to the test.

3. Medications 💊

Bring a complete list of your current medications or the physical medication boxes with you.
Important: Ask your referring doctor if you need to stop any medications before the test. Certain heart medications (like beta-blockers) may need to be paused for 24-48 hours. Never stop your medication without your doctor’s specific instruction.

What to Expect During the Test

The entire appointment usually takes about 45 to 60 minutes, though the actual walking part only lasts about 10 to 15 minutes.

Preparation: Our friendly Assistant Medical Oficer will clean small areas of your chest and attach sticky sensors (electrodes). These are connected to an ECG monitor. A blood pressure cuff will also be placed on your arm.
Baseline Check: We will record your resting heart rate and blood pressure before you start exercising.
The Walk: You will step onto the treadmill. It will start at a very slow, flat walking pace.
Increasing Difficulty: Every 3 minutes, the speed and incline of the treadmill will gently increase. It will feel like you are walking up a steadily steepening hill.
Continuous Monitoring: We will be right beside you the whole time, monitoring your vitals.
Communication is Key: You can ask to stop the test at any time. You must tell the staff immediately if you feel:
- Chest pain or tightness
- Severe shortness of breath
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Extreme fatigue or leg cramps

What Happens After the Test?

Cool Down: Once the treadmill stops, you will be asked to sit or lie down. We will continue monitoring your heart rate and blood pressure for 5 to 10 minutes until they return to normal.
Clean Up: The patches will be removed. You can use your towel to wipe off any sweat and change back into your regular clothes.
Results: The data recorded during your test will be analyzed by our cardiologist. The final report will be sent to your primary doctor, who will discuss the results and next steps with you at your follow-up appointment.

Have Questions? Your comfort and safety are our top priorities. If you have any concerns regarding your upcoming Treadmill Exercise Stress Test, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our team.

📍 Location: Non-Invasive Cardiac Laboratory (NICL), Hospital Sultan Idris Shah, Jalan Puchong, 43000 Kajang, Selangor.📞 Phone: +603-8947 5555✉️ Email: admin@nicl.my

Memahami Ujian Senaman Treadmill (Treadmill Stress Test)

Selamat datang ke Makmal Kardiologi Non-Invasif (NICL), Hospital Sultan Idris Shah.

Kami memahami bahawa menjalani sebarang ujian perubatan boleh mendatangkan rasa bimbang. Panduan ini disediakan bagi membantu anda memahami prosedur Ujian Tekanan Senaman Treadmill, persediaan yang perlu dilakukan, serta apa yang boleh dijangkakan sepanjang pemeriksaan berlangsung.

Apakah itu Ujian Tekanan Senaman Treadmill?

Ujian Senaman Treadmill ialah prosedur bukan invasif (tanpa pembedahan atau suntikan) yang digunakan untuk menilai fungsi jantung anda semasa melakukan aktiviti fizikal. Semasa bersenam, jantung perlu mengepam darah dengan lebih laju dan kuat. Ujian ini membantu mengesan sebarang gangguan aliran darah ke otot jantung yang mungkin tidak kelihatan semasa anda berada dalam keadaan rehat.

Sepanjang ujian, anda akan berjalan di atas mesin treadmill sementara pasukan kardiologi memantau kadar denyutan jantung, tekanan darah, dan aktiviti elektrik jantung (ECG) anda secara berterusan.

Mengapa Doktor Menyarankan Ujian Ini?

Doktor anda mungkin mengesyorkan ujian ini untuk:

Mendiagnosis Penyakit Arteri Koronari (CAD): Memeriksa sama ada saluran darah yang membekalkan darah ke jantung anda mengalami penyempitan atau tersumbat.
Mengenal Pasti Gangguan Ritma Jantung (Aritmia): Menilai sama ada senaman fizikal mencetuskan degupan jantung yang tidak teratur.
Menilai Gejala Sakit Dada: Mengenal pasti punca sakit dada atau sesak nafas yang tidak jelas puncanya.
Menilai Tahap Ketahanan Jantung: Memeriksa keupayaan fizikal jantung sebelum anda memulakan program senaman baharu atau selepas menjalani rawatan jantung.

Persediaan Sebelum Menjalani Ujian

Persediaan yang betul memastikan ujian berjalan lancar, selamat, dan memberikan keputusan yang paling tepat. Sila patuhi panduan berikut:

1. Pakaian dan Kasut 👟

Pakai pakaian sukan yang longgar, selesa, dan menyerap peluh (contohnya kemeja-T dan seluar sukan/track pants).
Pakai kasut sukan bertutup yang sesuai untuk berjalan atau berlari (running shoes/sneakers). Pemakaian selipar atau sandal tidak dibenarkan.
Pesakit Wanita: Disarankan memakai pakaian dua helai (baju dan seluar berasingan) bagi memudahkan pelekat elektrod ECG dipasang pada dada.
Pesakit Lelaki: Bulu dada mungkin perlu dicukur sedikit di beberapa bahagian kecil agar pelekat elektrod dapat melekat dengan baik pada kulit.

2. Makanan dan Minuman ☕

Elakkan makan makanan berat sekurang-kurangnya 2 hingga 3 jam sebelum ujian. Snek ringan (seperti sekeping biskut atau roti) dibenarkan.
Elakkan kafein (kopi, teh, minuman berkarbonat, minuman bertenaga, coklat) sekurang-kurangnya 12 jam sebelum ujian kerana ia boleh mengganggu bacaan denyutan jantung.
Elakkan merokok dan pengambilan alkohol sekurang-kurangnya 24 jam sebelum ujian.

3. Pengambilan Ubat-ubatan 💊

Bawa senarai ubat terkini atau bawa bersama kotak/sampul ubat yang sedang anda ambil.
Penting: Rujuk doktor yang merawat anda sama ada anda perlu menghentikan sementara ubat tertentu. Sesetengah ubat jantung (seperti beta-blockers) perlu dihentikan 24 hingga 48 jam sebelum ujian. Jangan hentikan sebarang ubat tanpa nasihat doktor.

Apa yang Berlaku Semasa Ujian Dijalankan?

Keseluruhan sesi temujanji mengambil masa sekitar 45 hingga 60 minit, manakala tempoh berjalan di atas mesin treadmill biasanya hanya berlangsung antara 10 hingga 15 minit.

Penyediaan: Penolong Pegawai Perubatan akan membersihkan permukaan kulit dada anda dan menampal pelekat kecil (elektrod) yang disambungkan ke mesin ECG. Sarung pengukur tekanan darah juga dipasang pada lengan anda.
Bacaan Asas (Baseline): Kami akan merekodkan kadar denyutan jantung dan tekanan darah anda semasa berehat sebelum senaman bermula.
Mula Berjalan: Anda akan mula berjalan di atas treadmill pada kelajuan yang perlahan dan permukaan yang mendatar.
Peningkatan Tahap Kesukaran: Setiap 3 minit, kelajuan dan sudut kecondongan (incline) mesin akan meningkat secara beransur-ansur, seperti anda sedang berjalan mendaki bukit.
Pemantauan Rapi: Petugas kami akan berada di sisi anda sepanjang masa untuk memerhatikan bacaan monitor dan keadaan fizikal anda.
Keselamatan Anda Keutamaan Kami: Anda boleh meminta untuk memberhentikan ujian pada bila-bila masa. Maklumkan kepada petugas dengan segera sekiranya anda mengalami:
- Sakit dada, rasa ketat, atau rasa tertekan di bahagian dada
- Sesak nafas yang teruk
- Pening kepala atau rasa pitam
- Keletihan melampau atau kekejangan pada otot kaki

Apa yang Berlaku Selepas Ujian?

Fasa Penyejukan (Cool Down): Selepas treadmill dihentikan, anda akan diminta duduk atau berbaring. Kami akan terus memantau degupan jantung dan tekanan darah anda selama 5 hingga 10 minit sehingga kembali ke tahap normal.
Pembersihan: Pelekat elektrod akan ditanggalkan dan anda boleh mengelap peluh serta menukar pakaian semula jika perlu.
Keputusan Ujian: Semua data ECG dan bacaan tekanan darah akan dianalisis oleh Pakar Kardiologi. Laporan rasmi akan dihantar kepada doktor yang merujuk anda untuk dibincangkan semasa temujanji susulan di klinik.

Sebarang Pertanyaan?

Sekiranya anda mempunyai sebarang kemusykilan atau ingin menjadualkan semula temujanji Ujian Tekanan Senaman Treadmill anda, sila hubungi kami:

📍 Lokasi: Makmal Kardiologi Non-Invasif (NICL), Hospital Sultan Idris Shah, Jalan Puchong, 43000 Kajang, Selangor.

📞 Telefon: +603-8947 5555

✉️ Emel: admin@nicl.my