Exercise Electrocardiogram

An exercise EKG is not always accurate. The test results from an exercise EKG are always evaluated along with other information, such as your symptoms and other risk factors.

• Some people who have a normal exercise electrocardiogram test may still have heart disease, and some people with an abnormal test do not have heart disease. Because heart disease is rare in younger people who do not have symptoms, an exercise EKG may not be accurate. A falsely abnormal result (Reference false-positive Opens New Window) may cause needless worry and further unnecessary testing.
• The test is less accurate in young or middle-aged women who do not have typical symptoms of heart disease.
• Sometimes doctors automatically schedule routine tests because they think that's what patients expect. But experts say routine heart tests can be a waste of time and money. For more information, see Reference Heart Tests: When Do You Need Them?
• Further tests, such as cardiac perfusion scanning, stress echocardiogram, or cardiac catheterization, may be needed to further evaluate an abnormal exercise EKG test result. For more information, see the topics Reference Echocardiogram, Reference Cardiac Perfusion Scan, and Reference Cardiac Catheterization.

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