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Q.I’m having chest pain, but am afraid to do a treadmill stress test. Can I get a heart catheterization instead?

A. It’s certainly not unusual to feel nervous about medical tests, particularly those that involve some sort of performance on your part. But there’s little reason to worry about a treadmill test. The whole point is to replicate what your heart does in everyday situations, such as walking up the stairs.

But unlike in daily life, the exercise is done under careful supervision. While your exercise level is gradually increased on the treadmill, a physician monitors your heart rate, blood pressure, and electrocardiogram readings, as well as how you feel. The test is stopped as soon as the physician detects any potentially dangerous cardiac abnormalities.

Heart catheterization, on the other hand, involves having catheters (small flexible tubes) inserted into your heart – a procedure that entails a small risk of serious complications. The results reveal the location and severity of the blockages in the heart’s arteries more precisely than a stress test.

But a stress test may provide better information on how the blockages prevent the heart from functioning normally. Frequently, especially with minor blockages, both tests are needed to give a complete picture of your heart so your doctor can recommend proper treatment. If you are still concerned about having a treadmill test, talk to your physician. You may be a candidate for a different kind of stress test that uses drugs instead of exercise to stimulate your heart.