Electrocardiogram

An electrocardiogram, also known as an EKG or ECG, is a noninvasive diagnostic test that detects electrical activity in the heart. It is usually part of a routine physical exam and is commonly performed after patients have experienced heart attack symptoms including chest pain, shortness of breath and heart palpitations. An EKG produces a record of waves that relate to the electrical impulses that occur during each beat of a patient's heart.

This test is performed by attaching electrical wires, called electrodes, to the arms, legs and chest. The EKG will begin recording your heart's electrical activity, showing how quickly and regularly your heart beats, as well as any structural abnormalities in the chambers and thickness of the heart. It is important for patients to remain still during this test, as muscle movement may interfere with results. Abnormal results from an EKG may indicate signs of a heart condition, which should be further investigated.

Echocardiography

Echocardiography uses an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart) to assess the functioning and health of the the heart by creating images out of sound waves. In addition to detecting many other heart problems, echocardiograms can diagnose specific heart conditions; determine if heart abnormalities exist; and evaluate the effectiveness of procedures that have been performed on the heart.

The most common type of echocardiogram is transthoracic (TTE), which is painless and noninvasive. A transducer that emits high-frequency sound waves is placed on the patient's chest; when the sound waves bounce back to the transducer, they are interpreted by a computer and the results are shown on a monitor.

Treadmill stress testing

An exercise stress test is used to evaluate how well your heart functions during physical activity. This non-invasive cardiac test can reveal problems with your heart that can go undetected because exercise makes your heart pump harder and faster than it otherwise normally would. Your doctor will ask you to exercise on a treadmill while they monitor your blood pressure, heart rhythm and EKG tracing.

Arrhythmia Monitoring

Heart arrhythmias occur when the electrical impulses that coordinate your heartbeats don’t function properly, resulting in your heart beating irregularly, too quickly or too slowly. To diagnose a heart arrhythmia, your doctor will review your symptoms and perform cardiac tests that specifically monitor arrhythmias.

These tests include:

Electrocardiogram

Holter Monitor: a small, wearable device that keeps track of your heart rhythm for 24 hours while you go about your daily activities.

Event Monitor: a portable device that you attach to your body as you experience arrhythmia symptoms.

Biotel MCOT: a small, wearable monitor that continuously records your heart rhythm for up to 30 days.

Myocardial Perfusion Imaging

Nuclear perfusion imaging, also known as a nuclear stress test, is a diagnostic test performed to determine if the heart is receiving adequate blood supply under both stress and rest conditions. The test is done with the injection of a small amount of radioactive material into the bloodstream, which will circulate throughout the body and help to evaluate the blood flow and function of the heart. This procedure is performed to determine the risk of a heart attack and to show if there is a limited blood flow to the heart and determine the best treatment plan for serious heart conditions.

During the stress test, a radioactive isotope (either thallium or sestamibi) is injected into the bloodstream once during the exercise portion of the test and again when the patient is at rest. Images of the heart will be taken shortly after each injection to show any areas of the heart that are not receiving enough blood. Both sets of images will be interpreted by a board-certified cardiologist before providing the patient with the results.