Nuclear Stress Test
Summary
A nuclear stress test is a study designed to specifically assess the blood flow to the heart muscle. The test is typically used to determine if there is sufficient, healthy blood flow to the heart, assessing for potential blockages in the arteries. A patient is usually asked to perform exercise on a treadmill for a period of time in order to assess how well the heart compensates at different levels of intensity.
In the instance where a patient is unable to exercise adequately, we infuse a substance that mimics exercise on the heart. Images taken during the test are analyzed and read by our experienced team to determine the health of the patient’s heart.
Summary
A regular exercise stress test is similar in that it is used again a better understanding of the overall health of the patient’s heart. It differs from a nuclear stress test because it does not include a nuclear tracer to image blood flow.
We watch the EKG, heart rate, exercise capacity, blood pressure, symptoms, and oxygen saturation in order to determine heart health.
Regular Stress Test:
Stress Echocardiogram
Summary
A stress echocardiogram is similar to a nuclear stress test in that it is typically used to determine if there is sufficient healthy blood flow to the heart. It can also be utilized for an evaluation of heart valve abnormalities.
The patient is usually asked to perform exercise on a treadmill for a period of time and the heart is imaged using an ultrasound both at rest and at peak exertion. The images taken during the test are analyzed and read by the physician to determine the health of the patient’s heart.
Summary
An echocardiogram is an ultrasound of the heart. It is often used to determine both the structure and function of the heart itself. Using an ultrasound probe, the pumping function of the heart is assessed as well as the structure and integrity of the valves.
Echocardiogram
Carotid Ultrasound
Summary
Many times, the carotid arteries are the focus of our attention, and one of the best ways to determine if they have healthy blood flow & function is with a Carotid Ultrasound. This is a painless test that deploys high-frequency sound waves, similar to those to create images of a baby inside a pregnant woman.
Summary
When a more in-depth look at your heart is required, a Holter Monitor provides a continuous measurement of your heart’s rate and rhythm. A Holter Monitor is a small, battery operated device that is portable, and can measure your heart’s activity over a longer period of time than a typical EKG or stress test. Typically worn anywhere from 12 to 72 hours, the device uses electrodes to monitor and record heart rate and rhythm, and will be able to better determine causes of chest pain or arrhythmia while being worn.
Holter Monitor
Cardiac Event Monitor
Summary
Similar to a Holter Monitor, a Cardiac Event Monitor is used to record your heart’s electrical activity, just for typically longer periods of time. While a Holter Monitor usually records continuously, an event recorder starts to record when an abnormality occurs or when triggered manually, such as chest pain or light headedness. Many Event Monitors are capable of transmitting findings to your health care provider remotely.
Summary
An MCT Monitor, or Mobile Cardiac Telemetry Monitor also monitors heart activity. It’s typically triggered when a patient experiences an elevated heart rate, palpitations or other irregularities. The monitor can also be engaged symptomatically or when engaged by the patient by manual activation during an episode.Some MCT systems analyze individual heart beats, comparing them to one another over a period of time, to help pinpoint slight differentiations. The results are then transmitted to our team to be reviewed and interpreted.
MCT Monitor
Abdominal Aortic Ultrasound
Summary
An ultrasound of the abdominal aorta is a non-invasive, painless test that uses sound waves to image the aorta, the main blood vessel leading away from the heart. When the walls of the abdominal aorta become weak, they may balloon outward. If the aorta reaches over 3 centimeters in diameter, it is then called an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). As the aneurysm gets larger, the risk of rupture increases.
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