Test Overview

People who have passed out or often feel dizzy are checked with a tilt table. The results help your doctor figure out why you are feeling faint or dizzy. The test is done on a special table that tilts you slowly back to a standing position. It looks at how your body reacts when you move around.

Why They Do It

This test is done to figure out why you might be having certain symptoms, like feeling dizzy or fainting. Your doctor can check your heart rate and blood pressure to see if your symptoms are caused by problems with those things.

How to Do It

Most of the time, the test is done in a hospital or in the office of a cardiologist.
On your skin, there will be small patches or pads. These are monitors for your heart. A blood pressure cuff will also be on your arm. And you may have an IV.

During the test, you will lie flat on a table that can be tilted up so that you are almost standing. You’ll be securely fastened to the table.
As the table tilts up, your heart rate and blood pressure are checked often.

You will be asked if you are sick, sweating, feeling dizzy, or have an irregular heartbeat. If you don’t have any symptoms, you may be given medicine to make your heart beat faster. Then you’ll be checked again for signs.

If you pass out during the test, the table will be flattened again. Your medical team will check you carefully and take care of you right away. Most people get up quickly.

Before you go home, your heart rate and blood pressure will be checked.

How long the test takes

It will take about an hour to do the test. If you take medicine to make your heart beat faster during the test, it may take longer.

Results

If your blood pressure stays steady during the test and you don’t feel dizzy or faint, the test result is normal. If your blood pressure drops and you feel dizzy or faint, that is not a normal test result. If your heart rate is slow, these things might happen.