The purpose of cardiac stress testing is to differentiate between which two conditions?

Cardiac stress testing is primarily designed to assess the heart's performance under physical stress, helping to determine the presence of coronary artery disease by evaluating blood flow to the heart muscle. The correct differentiation is between ischemia and infarction.

Ischemia refers to a reduced blood flow to the heart muscle, which can lead to chest pain or discomfort (angina) during stress, indicating that the heart is not receiving enough oxygen. This is often due to narrowed or blocked arteries. In contrast, myocardial infarction is a condition where there is actual damage to the heart muscle due to prolonged ischemia, resulting in the death of heart tissue.

Different tests and signs during stress testing help healthcare providers detect symptoms related to ischemia, such as changes in electrocardiogram readings that occur when the heart is under stress but are reversible. An infarction would typically show damage that could result in more persistent changes or complications.

Other options do not pertain to the direct role of cardiac stress testing. For instance, hypertension and hypotension relate more to blood pressure management rather than cardiac performance under stress. Arrhythmias and tachycardias involve electrical conduction issues rather than blood flow assessment. Similarly, palpitations often relate to anxiety or other non-cardi