3-031:

You have had an ultrasound test done on your heart. This examination was done while your heart was under stress.

The heart pumps blood through the body. In the process, the blood flows through blood vessels. The blood supplies all areas of the body with oxygen and nutrients.

An ultrasound examination involves sending ultrasound waves from an ultrasound probe in the body. Depending on the structure of the tissue, different numbers of ultrasound waves are reflected. These waves are then converted to images that can be viewed on a screen.

To do the test, the ultrasound probe is laid on the chest. Testing is then done on how the heart works and is supplied with blood while under stress. A special cycle, upon which the person makes a physical effort while lying down, is usually used. However, a particular drug is also sometimes injected into a blood vessel. This drug speeds up the heart rate.