Important exams beneficial for the evaluation and follow up of coronary artery disease, chest pain syndromes, functional capacity (exercise tolerance), analysis of blood pressure and heart rate responses. These tests are performed under constant EKG and blood pressure monitoring by a cardiologist and a technician:
- Treadmill Exercise Test
This type of stress test is conducted on a treadmill using various walking protocols. Patients with coronary artery blockages may have minimal symptoms and an unremarkable or unchanged EKG while at rest. However, symptoms and signs of heart disease may become unmasked by exposing the heart to the stress of exercise Also, depending on the patient, the cardiologist may opt to select a more sophisticated test that use heart images for obtaining more information about your heart.
- Echo Stress Test
A non-invasive test that combines two tests, a treadmill stress test and an echocardiogram (ECHO). A Echo Stress Test can accurately visualize the motion of the heart wall and pumping action when the heart is stressed. This test can reveal a lack of blood flow which isn’t always apparent on other tests. An echocardiogram is done at rest prior to exercise and again at your peak heart rate.
- Nuclear Cardiology
Our nuclear laboratory performs several types of cardiovascular diagnostic tests. We use hi-tech computers, to analyze relative blood flow and global function of the heart muscle. Nuclear cardiac tests may be used in conjunction with pharmacologic (generally used for patients who are unable to exercise) or treadmill stress tests to gather information as to how well your heart functions during physical activity and at rest.