Heart Care Diagnostic Testing

Non-Invasive Cardiovascular Testing

• Angiography — visualizes and diagnoses coronary artery disease. The physician injects a special dye (contrast dye) into the coronary arteries and a series of X-rays are taken that show the location and extent of coronary artery narrowing or obstruction. This procedure is usually performed via an artery in the groin
• Echocardiography — creates images of heart and blood vessel structure and function using high-frequency sound
• Holter monitoring — a continuous recording of your heart rhythm, usually for 24 hours, while you go about your daily activities. This is especially useful in diagnosing abnormal heart rhythms
• Stress testing — measures how the heart works during stress or exercise
• Exercise stress test — usually involves walking on a treadmill or pedaling on a stationary bike at increasing levels of difficulty while your electrocardiogram, heart rate and blood pressure are monitored
• Stress echocardiography — combines stress testing with echocardiography for additional information on cardiac structure and function
• Nuclear stress test — measures blood flow to your heart muscle both at rest and during stress on the heart and is performed in a similar fashion to a routine exercise stress test. This test provides images that show areas of low blood flow through the heart and areas of damaged heart muscle