Karine’s doctor is putting her on a treadmill and having her job for 10 minutes. The doctor wants to see how well her heart and lungs function. What is the doctor most likely trying to measure?

1 answer

The doctor is likely trying to measure Karine's cardiovascular fitness and overall aerobic capacity. This is often assessed through a stress test, which evaluates how well her heart and lungs function under physical stress. The key parameters measured during a treadmill exercise test include heart rate, oxygen consumption (VO2), oxygen saturation, and the electrical activity of the heart (via an ECG). This helps the doctor determine how efficiently her body is able to deliver and utilize oxygen during exercise, assess her heart's response to physical stress, and check for any underlying cardiovascular issues.