A stress echocardiogram is a specialized heart test that combines echocardiography with physical exercise or medication-induced stress to evaluate how the heart functions under increased workload. Ultrasound images of the heart are taken before and immediately after stress to assess heart muscle movement, blood flow and valve function. This test helps detect coronary artery disease, assess the severity of heart conditions and evaluate exercise tolerance, providing valuable information for diagnosis, treatment planning, and ongoing cardiac care.