Cardiac Testing
- Routine Stress Tests
- Nuclear Stress Tests
- Echocardiography
- Echo Stress Testing
- Peripheral Vascular Testing
- Ambulatory Monitoring
Cardiac stress tests are used to detect and evaluate heart disease. Many diseases of the heart become apparent when the heart is stressed by exercise. During a stress test your EKG, blood pressure and symptoms are monitored while you walk on a treadmill that gradually increases the intensity of the exercise. All of the professionals monitoring you during your test are certified and specially trained in cardiology. A physician is in the office and immediately available during your test.
If you are not able to walk on a treadmill, your doctor may order a “nonwalking” stress test that uses medications to mimic the effects of walking on the treadmill.
Routine Treadmill Stress Tests
During this test you will be monitored while walking on a treadmill. The test takes approximately 1 hour.
If your doctor has ordered one of these tests please click the link below for preparation instructions and medical history questionnaire.
Nuclear Stress Tests
Myocardial Perfusion Imaging (Nuclear Stress testing) utilizes radioactive tracers to obtain images of your heart. The tracer is injected via a small I.V. in a vein in your arm or hand. The radioactive tracer does not contain any iodine dye. Pictures of your heart are taken at rest and again after your treadmill stress test. The pictures will take approximately 15 minutes to complete. A specially trained cardiologist will interpret these images, along with the EKG tracings and other information recorded during your test to evaluate you for heart disease.
If you are unable to exercise on a treadmill (as determined by your physician) he or she may order a non-walking or pharmacologic stress test. Instead of walking on a treadmill you will be given a medication through your I.V. Our office offers Persantine Myocardial Perfusion Imaging and Dobutamine Myocardial Perfusion Imaging as alternatives. Your physician will determine which medication is the appropriate alternative to exercise based on your personal medical history.
All nuclear stress testing takes approximately 2½ to 3 hours. Special preparation is necessary. If your doctor has ordered one of these tests please click the link below for preparation instructions and
stress test questionnaire.
Our nuclear cardiology lab is accredited with ICANL
Peripheral Vascular Testing
Our office offers several types of tests that are used to detect blockages, narrowing, and other abnormalities in the veins and arteries outside of your heart. Ultrasound is used to view the blood vessels in the arms, legs, neck, and abdomen. These tests take approximately 30 minutes.
Echocardiography
An echocardiogram uses sound waves to produce images of your heart. This common test allows your doctor to evaluate the structure and pumping function of your heart. Your doctor can use the images from an echocardiogram to identify various abnormalities in the heart muscle and valves. The test takes about 45 minutes. No special preparation is required.
The echo lab at Academic Cardiology is accredited through ICAEL.
Stress Echocardiogram
Ultrasound pictures of your heart are obtained at rest then immediately following a treadmill stress test. The before and after images are evaluated by a specially trained cardiologist to determine if there are indications of blockages in the arteries of your heart. This test takes about 45 minutes. If your doctor has ordered one of these tests please click the link below for preparation instructions and medical history questionairre.
Ambulatory Monitors
- Event monitor
- Holter monitor
These portable devices continuously monitor the heart rate and rhythm. They are useful in detecting abnormal heart rhythms that occur intermittently or cause transient symptoms. Electrodes are applied to the chest and attached to a recording device that is carried on a strap or belt. The device is small enough to be worn beneath clothing. Twenty-four hour, forty-eight hour and thirty-day recording is available.
