What you can expect

To prepare you for the test, a member of your health care team will:

• Have you lie flat on a table that has a footboard and place straps around you to hold you in place.
• Place sticky patches (electrodes) on your chest, legs and arms. Wires connect the electrodes to an electrocardiogram machine that monitors your heart rate.
• Place a blood pressure monitor or cuff on your finger, on your arm or on both to check your blood pressure during the test.
• Place an IV line into a vein in your arm for delivering medication, if needed.

During a tilt table test

• You'll start by lying flat on your back on the motorized table for about five minutes.
• You'll be moved to a nearly vertical position, where you'll remain from five to 45 minutes, depending on the reason for the test. While vertical, you'll be asked to remain as still as possible but to report signs and symptoms such as nausea, sweating, lightheadedness or irregular heartbeats.
• If you don't faint or have other symptoms after 45 minutes, you might receive the medication isoproterenol (Isuprel) through an IV line in your arm. The medication might prompt the abnormal nervous system reflex that causes you to faint.
• You then remain in the upright position for another 15 to 20 minutes.

Your heart rate and blood pressure will be monitored in each position to evaluate your body's cardiovascular response to the change in position.

After a tilt table test

If you faint while vertical, the table will be returned to a horizontal position immediately and you'll be monitored. Most people regain consciousness almost immediately.

In some cases, if blood pressure and heart rate changes indicate you are about to faint, the table is returned to a horizontal position so that you don't lose consciousness.

When the test is complete, you can return to your normal activities.