INTRODUCTION

Background

Treadmill testing is commonly used for assessment of cardiac and respiratory function with a use of treadmill machine. Tests often proceed with increasing work rate to the limit of functional capacity. Treadmills are also used in fitness training with a wide variety of work rate profiles . A regular stress test is considered important for patients with symptoms or signs that are suggestive of Coronary Artery Diseases (CAD) and for patients with significant risk factors for CAD. It is also important in order to evaluate exercise tolerance when patients have unexplained fatigue and shortness of breath and also to evaluate blood pressure response to exercise in patients with borderline hypertension. It is also suggested to the patient to look for exercise-induced serious irregular heartbeats . The TMT utilizes a motorized treadmill based on protocol, ECG component for measurement of ECG for assessment of cardiac function and a sphygmomanometer for time based Blood Pressure (BP) measurement. According to the protocol, the speed and the inclination of the treadmill increase at some time interval.

In the modern world, people constantly experience the influence of many negative factors such as stress, polluted environment, and poor quality of food causing health problems. Many diseases develop very slowly without showing any symptoms for long time. Therefore, proper and systematic health assessment becomes very important regardless to whether or not people have any health problems by using existing technologies. So, it is extremely important to focus on using methods of cardiovascular health assessments. TMT is one of the techniques for proper cardiovascular assessments.

Objectives

The objectives of this project are:

• To develop ECG measurement device for stress testing that uses fewer components than traditional designs while trying to achieve the same performance.
• Assessment of cardiac function.

Treadmill Testing

Treadmill testing (TMT) is commonly used for assessment of cardiac and respiratory function. Tests often proceed with increasing work rate to the limit of functional capacity. Traditional clinical tests include the Bruce Protocol where speed and angle are increased together in seven 3-minutes stages, and the Balke Protocol in which speed is constant and angle is increased every minute. Treadmills are also used in fitness training with a wide variety of work rate profiles. Modern treadmill technology allows speed and angle to be pre-programmed and finely adjusted, thus offering the possibility of precise imposition of arbitrary work rate profiles .

Treadmill testing is also referred to as stress testing. Treadmill testing is heavily dependent upon interpretation of ECG changes produced by exercise. A regular stress test is considered in the following circumstances :

·                     Patients with symptoms or signs that is suggestive of coronary artery diseases (CAD).

·                     Patients with significant risk factors for CAD.

·                     To evaluate exercise tolerance when patients have unexplained fatigue and shortness of       breath.

·                     To evaluate blood pressure response to exercise in patients with borderline hypertension.

·                     To look for exercise-induced serious irregular heartbeats.

Normally, Patients with coronary artery blockages may have minimal symptoms and an unremarkable or unchanged ECG while at rest. However, symptoms and signs of heart disease may become unmasked by exposing the heart to the stress of exercise.

Treadmill Testing

Treadmill testing (TMT) is commonly used for assessment of cardiac and respiratory function. Tests often proceed with increasing work rate to the limit of functional capacity. Traditional clinical tests include the Bruce Protocol where speed and angle are increased together in seven 3-minutes stages, and the Balke Protocol in which speed is constant and angle is increased every minute. Treadmills are also used in fitness training with a wide variety of work rate profiles. Modern treadmill technology allows speed and angle to be pre-programmed and finely adjusted, thus offering the possibility of precise imposition of arbitrary work rate profiles .

Treadmill testing is also referred to as stress testing. Treadmill testing is heavily dependent upon interpretation of ECG changes produced by exercise. A regular stress test is considered in the following circumstances :

·                     Patients with symptoms or signs that is suggestive of coronary artery diseases (CAD).

·                     Patients with significant risk factors for CAD.

·                     To evaluate exercise tolerance when patients have unexplained fatigue and shortness of       breath.

·                     To evaluate blood pressure response to exercise in patients with borderline hypertension.

·                     To look for exercise-induced serious irregular heartbeats.

Normally, Patients with coronary artery blockages may have minimal symptoms and an unremarkable or unchanged ECG while at rest. However, symptoms and signs of heart disease may become unmasked by exposing the heart to the stress of exercise.