title: Exercise testing in the evaluation of cardiopulmonary disease. A cardiologist's point of view.
abstract: The heart and lungs work in synchrony as a metabolic unit to transport the respiratory gases, O2 and CO2, between the atmosphere and the metabolizing tissues. This article reviews the physiologic behavior of the cardiopulmonary unit; in particular it focuses on the physiologic stress of exercise and the utility of monitoring respiratory gas exchange during exercise to assess the nature of cardiovascular disease and its severity.
mesh_terms: D000332:Aerobiosis; D000693:Anaerobiosis; D002302:Cardiac Output; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005080:Exercise Test; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000503:physiopathology; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011652:Pulmonary Circulation; D011659:Pulmonary Gas Exchange; D011667:Pulmonary Veins / Q000503:physiopathology; D012119:Respiration; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014655:Vascular Resistance