The echocardiogram is a painless, safe and highly effective way to produce images of a beating heart—using the same technology that obstetricians use when they view a new baby as it develops in the womb. There is no discomfort at all, in fact, many find it fascinating to watch the video monitors showing pictures of their own heart at work. The echo is a reliable way to evaluate heart anatomy, structural abnormalities, and function, as well as to help diagnose various causes of chest pain, breathing difficulties, and dysrhythmias.
The first thing you should know about cholesterol is that it is an important
component of your body. It is vital to the structure and function of
cells, and it is an important building block in the formation of certain
types of hormones.
What you should also know is that you can have too much of a good thing.
When cholesterol
and triglycerides—another type of fat in the bloodstream—become
too high, you run the risk of developing fatty deposits, called plaque.
These deposits eventually clog your arteries preventing proper blood
flow, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke.
Finding out how much cholesterol you have is very easy. Regular blood tests to measure your level are the first step in helping you prevent heart attack. Before providing a blood sample for the cholesterol test you will have to fast for at least 8 hours.
An ECG or EKG is a diagnostic test used to detect heart disease. It is a non-invasive test where small electrode patches are attached to your body to measure the electrical impulses produced by your heart. These impulses cause your heart to contract and relax. Each wave of the impulse represents a different area of the heart. By understanding and interpreting the patterns of impulses, your doctor can diagnose several abnormal heart conditions. Some of the information includes: heart rate and heart rhythm, heart attack, blood and oxygen supply, and any electrical abnormalities.
Stress testing is really an EKG test but performed while you are exercising. The test is done on a treadmill or stationary bike. By monitoring your heart while you are moving (unlike an EKG which is done while you are not moving) your physician can determine your heart’s function and its limits. This is a good way to detect blocked coronary arteries before a heart attack occurs.
Tilt table tests assist your physician in determining why you are experiencing fainting spells, lightheadedness, or dizziness when the electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor does not reveal an arrhythmia. Your doctor may perform a tilt-table test, which enables him or her to monitor your blood pressure, heart rate, and heart rhythm while you are moved from lying down to an upright position. This test is based on the fact that normal physiological reflexes cause the heart rate and blood pressure to change when you change postures, ensuring that the brain receives sufficient blood supply. If these physiologic reflexes are inadequate, they can result in symptoms.
In many ways, Holter monitoring is a continuation of the stress test
because it monitors your heart while you are mobile but does so over
a 24 hour period, while you go about your normal activities. A small
recorder, the size of a beeper, is attached to your belt
(or strapped to you). This provides your physician with accurate data
about your heart over a sustained period of time.
The purpose of a nuclear image test is to further evaluate the cause of certain symptoms you may have such as chest pain and or shortness of breath. A nuclear image test carries no greater risk than conventional X-ray tests.