Cardiac Testing

Cardiac Testing

Cardiac Ultrasound (Echocardiogram)

The “echo” is an imaging technique that bounces sound waves through the chest to provide a two-dimensional image of the heart muscle, valves, and other cardiovascular structures. This test also provides important information about the pressure inside the heart and lungs. Heart muscle function is evaluated periodically to monitor changes over the years and to guide medical therapy. In patients who have sustained a heart attack, an echo helps assess how the heart is healing.

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Exercise Tolerance Test (ETT)

Stress tests check for abnormal blood flow to the heart due to blocked heart arteries and evaluate the heart’s response to exercise. The most common type of stress test involves walking on a treadmill to increase heart rate and blood pressure. Stress tests provide information that may not be apparent on a resting electrocardiogram. Results of a stress test may help explain symptoms that you have reported to your physician.

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Stress Echocardiogram (STE)

The stress echo combines the exercise tolerance test with an ultrasound of the heart, performed before and after exercise. This test looks at the squeezing function of the heart before and after exercise, which is an indication of blood flow. Normally, the heart function becomes stronger after exercise, however if there are blockages in the heart arteries, the muscle may become weaker.

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Cardiopulmonary Stress Test (CPET)

A CPET is a stress test that includes the addition of pulmonary measurements. This is achieved by wearing a mouthpiece that collects breath-by-breath measurements of inhaled oxygen and exhaled carbon dioxide. A baseline pulmonary capacity test is performed on every athlete before starting exercise. Analyzing both cardiac and pulmonary function allows us to determine the source of any problems. We can also use this test to determine the anaerobic threshold and maximal oxygen consumption for athletes looking to enhance performance.

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Vascular Ultrasound

This test uses ultrasound to evaluate blood flow in the neck arteries (carotid arteries) and/or in the veins and arteries of the arms and legs. Vascular testing may also be used to evaluate the abdominal aorta. It can detect narrowing of arteries, which may reduce the blood flow through these vessels, or atherosclerosis (“hardening of the arteries”). Vascular testing is performed in our office by Registered Vascular Technologists using state-of-the-art high-frequency ultrasound equipment.

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Holter and Event Monitors

These are small monitors that record your heart rhythm while you are sleeping, exercising at home, and under the daily stresses of life.

 

A Holter monitor (also called an ambulatory electrocardiography device) is a small device that continuously records your heart rhythm during usual daily activity. These monitors are generally worn for 24 to 48 hours. Your only limitation during this time is that it cannot get wet (i.e. you cannot take a shower or go swimming when wearing the monitor).

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Defibrillator and Pacemaker Evaluations

Many of our patients have implanted pacemakers, defibrillators, or automatic internal cardiac defibrillators (ICDs). The Lown Cardiovascular Group provides full evaluations and monitoring for these devices, including telephonic surveillance.


Multiple clinical trials support the use of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) for the prevention of sudden cardiac death in patients with heart failure (HF).

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