Final answer:
Stress echocardiography is a test that evaluates how well the heart functions under physical stress, and is used to diagnose conditions like coronary artery disease or heart valve problems. It involves taking an ultrasound of the heart at rest and after exercise to see how the heart muscles and blood flow respond to stress.
Step-by-step explanation:
Stress echocardiography is a diagnostic technique that combines an echocardiogram with a stress test to evaluate the heart's function under physical stress. A stress echocardiogram is particularly indicated for diagnosing or assessing conditions that affect the heart's function, such as coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction (MI), or heart valve abnormalities. During this procedure, heart images are captured both at rest and post-exercise or after administering medication that simulates the stress on the heart similar to exercise, allowing for analysis of the heart's pumping effectiveness and blood flow under stress conditions.
An echocardiogram (ECHO) uses ultrasound to create images of the heart, showing the structure and function of the heart chambers and valves. This type of ultrasound is different from an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), which records the electrical activity of the heart and is used to detect heart rhythm abnormalities or myocardial infarction. However, the ECHO provides more detailed information on the mechanical function of the heart.