(HealthDay News) -- A cardiac stress test is designed to measure how well your heart is able to perform when it is under physical stress. It also is used to help diagnose heart problems.

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute lists these reasons why you may need a stress test:

    
  • You have experienced symptoms of reduced blood flow to the heart, including shortness of breath or chest pains.
  • You need to diagnose heart problems, such as coronary artery disease or a problem with a heart valve.
  • You need to know whether your heart is strong enough to start exercising after a heart attack or a diagnosis of coronary heart disease.
  • You need to see how well treatments such as coronary artery bypass grafting or angioplasty have worked at relieving your symptoms.
  • You have arrhythmia symptoms during exercise, including a fluttering sensation in the chest, irregular heartbeat or feeling faint.
  • You have shortness of breath without chest pain during exercise.