Consultations
A consultation with a cardiologist involves taking a thorough history and performing a physical examination to assess overall cardiovascular risk and provide a plan to reduce one’s risk. In addition, the cardiologist will see patients for the evaluation of symptoms and findings such as palpitations, hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, chest discomfort, shortness of breath, dizziness, and fainting.
Electrocardiography
An electrocardiogram is a simple test that looks at the electrical activity of your heart. It is useful as a screening test for the detection and diagnosis of a broad range of cardiac conditions. Electrocardiography is useful in evaluating if there is any heart damage, cardiac rhythm disorders, metabolic abnormalities, and enlargement of the heart muscle.
Echocardiography
An echocardiogram is a non-invasive test that uses ultrasound to image the heart muscle and heart valves. It will look at blood flow both in the heart chambers and through the heart valves along with the overall pumping function of the heart. There is no specific preparation for this thirty minute test. A technician will place a probe on certain parts of your chest to image the heart.
Vascular Ultrasound
A simple test using ultrasound to evaluate the carotid arteries to determine if an individual has significant plaque which would increase the risk of stroke. Vascular ultrasound is also used in our office to evaluate the abdominal aorta to make sure there is no abdominal aortic aneurysm.
Ambulatory “Holter” Electrocardiographic Monitoring
A Holter monitor is a small recorder that is worn for twenty-four hours and records every heart beat in that time period. It is used to evaluate symptoms of palpitations, skipped beats, dizziness, or arrhythmias. During the monitoring period, you will be asked to keep a diary of your symptoms to see if there is a correlation with an abnormal heart rhythm.
Coronary Calcium Scan/ Cardiac CT
Heart scans can provide pictures of the heart’s arteries and show either calcium and or blockages. Sometimes this is called a CORONARY CALCIUM SCORE. These scans may indicate if there is an increased risk of heart attack even before any symptoms occur of heart disease. Heart scans can also look at blockages in the heart in certain situations. These scans are performed at one of our partner facilities.
Stress Testing
There are several different types of stress tests that are performed depending on the individual’s age, history, symptoms, and risk factors.
These tests are performed in individuals with chest discomfort, indigestion, shortness of breath, a history of smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, a family history of heart disease, high cholesterol, or an abnormal level of blood lipids, and those with lightheadedness or dizziness.
Exercise Treadmill Testing
This test involves walking on a treadmill at increasing speed and elevation while your blood pressure, heart rate, and electrical activity of your heart are monitored for any changes. Most patients will walk an average of six to twelve minutes.
Exercise Echocardiography
This test includes exercise treadmill testing with the addition of ultrasound imaging of the heart at rest and immediately post-exercise. At first, a complete echocardiogram of your heart is done in the resting state.
Once your peak exercise is obtained and your target heart rate achieved, images of your heart will again be taken with the ultrasound.
Nuclear Exercise Testing
This test, our most comprehensive test, also known as exercise myocardial perfusion imaging includes exercise treadmill testing and determines the degree and location of compromised blood flow to the heart as well as pumping function and existence of scarred heart tissue and results in important diagnostic and prognostic information. Healthy heart muscle, receiving normal blood flow, will accumulate more imaging agent than cardiac muscle supplied by diseased coronary arteries. The nuclear exercise test is used to determine the need for further angiographic procedures, to avoid unwarranted hospital admissions or discharges, and to assess for long term prognosis.
Dipyridamole Stress Testing
This is a “stress” test for individuals who cannot walk adequately to undergo a treadmill test. It is a type of nuclear stress test or myocardial perfusion imaging with a medication that is given intravenously instead of walking or in conjunction with limited walking on the treadmill.
T-Wave Alternans Exercise Test
A specialized test to identify individual’s at risk of sudden cardiac death from certain types of irregular heartbeats that are life threatening heart rhythm disturbances.
