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Nov 27, 2023 · An echocardiogram is a test that uses ultrasound to show how your heart muscle and valves are working. These sound waves make moving pictures of your heart so your doctor can get a good look at...
Mar 29, 2022 · An electrocardiogram (EKG) records electrical signals in your heart. A stress test assesses blood flow to the heart muscle during rest and exercise. An echocardiogram uses ultrasound waves to create moving pictures of your heart’s chambers, valves, and walls.
ECHOCARDIOGRAM. HOW IT WORKS. e function and structures of the heart. A device called a transducer is placed on the chest and converts sound waves that bounce (“echo”) of the heart into images of th. walls and valves that can be examined. It’s noninvasive and can be done on a.
- Overview
- Why might someone need a heart test?
- Blood tests
- Electrocardiogram (EKG)
- Echocardiogram
- Nuclear stress test
- Coronary angiogram
- Chest X-ray
- MRI
- Cardiac event monitor
Doctors use heart tests to diagnose or monitor different heart conditions. They include blood tests, electrocardiograms, echocardiograms, and coronary angiograms.
Doctors use these tests to diagnose and monitor heart diseases. Some tests reveal issues that might lead to heart diseases in the future.
Doctors will help decide which tests are suitable for a person according to their symptoms, risk factors, and medical history.
This article will look at some of the most common types of heart tests. It will explain how they work and what they look for.
Doctors recommend heart tests for different reasons. A person may have symptoms of a heart condition, such as:
•pain or discomfort in the chest, upper back, or neck
•indigestion, nausea, or vomiting
•extreme tiredness
•dizziness
•shortness of breath
There are several blood tests for heart diseases. They include:
•Cardiac troponin test: Doctors use a cardiac troponin test to help diagnose a heart attack. Troponin is a protein in the heart. If damage occurs to the heart, it sends troponin into the bloodstream.
•Lipid profile: Doctors use this test to measure cholesterol levels in the blood. A high amount of low-density lipoproteins, or “bad” cholesterol, can lead to heart diseases.
•Thyroid function tests: Doctors use thyroid function tests to check how the thyroid gland is working. This gland produces a hormone called thyroxine into the blood. If levels of the hormone are too high or too low, it can cause a slow or fast heartbeat and may lead to palpitations.
•Complete blood count: Doctors use this test to look at the concentrations of different types of blood cells someone has in their blood. Low blood counts can cause similar symptoms to a heart condition.
•B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP): This test measures levels of a protein called BNP in the blood. If the heart has to work harder to pump blood, it creates more BNP, so higher levels may indicate heart failure.
Doctors often call an electrocardiogram an ECG or an EKG. The test measures the heart’s electrical activity through pads on the chest. The procedure is painless.
Doctors use an EKG to determine whether a person’s heart is beating at an expected rate and rhythm. This test can provide clues about a person’s heart size and health and helps doctors diagnose:
•arrhythmia, or an irregular heartbeat
•blocked arteries
•heart damage
•heart failure
An echocardiogram is an ultrasound of the heart. Doctors use it to understand the structure of the person’s heart and to see how well it functions.
During an echocardiogram, doctors look at:
•the size and movement of the heart’s walls
•how the heart moves
•how strongly the heart pumps
•the heart valves
Doctors also call a nuclear stress test a myocardial perfusion imaging test. It uses very small amounts of radioactive materials to capture images of the heart. This shows doctors how well blood flows through this organ.
Healthcare professionals will use a nuclear stress test to:
•look for narrowing and blockages in the arteries that may be causing discomfort
•look for signs of damage after a heart attack
•determine whether a person should have a coronary stent or bypass surgery
•see whether stent or bypass surgery is working
Doctors sometimes call a coronary angiogram a cardiac catheterization. The test, a type of X-ray, uses a special dye to show doctors how blood flows in the coronary arteries, the blood vessels that take blood to the heart.
Doctors use the test to look for a narrowing in the arteries and to diagnose CAD.
Doctors will sometimes suggest a chest X-ray to determine if the heart or the lungs are causing symptoms such as shortness of breath.
Sometimes, doctors may also recommend a chest X-ray for people preparing for heart surgery.
Cardiac MRIs use magnetic fields, radio waves, and a computer to take detailed pictures of the heart.
Doctors use these tests to diagnose and monitor heart diseases. They may also recommend this test to look for heart defects.
Cardiac event monitors are devices that record a person’s heartbeat over longer periods or specifically when they are having a symptom or “event.”
Doctors recommend cardiac event monitors to help diagnose heart rhythm problems that only occur infrequently.
- Amanda Barrell
Nov 12, 2024 · Overview. Echocardiogram Enlarge image. An echocardiogram uses sound waves to create pictures of the heart. This common test can show blood flow through the heart and heart valves. Your healthcare professional can use the pictures from the test to find heart disease and other heart conditions. Other names for this test are: Heart ultrasound.
Aug 13, 2024 · An ECG is a quick and painless test that records the electrical signals in the heart. It can tell if the heart is beating too fast or too slow. Holter monitoring. A Holter monitor is a portable ECG device that's worn for a day or more to record the heart's activity during daily activities.
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Jun 11, 2024 · Cardiac blood tests are used to assess heart function and help determine your risk of developing heart disease.
