DIAGNOSTIC TESTING & INTERVENTIONAL PROCEDURES
Electrocardiogram (ECG) – This records electrical signals as they travel through your heart. ECG often reveals evidence of a previous heart attack or one that's in progress. You wear a portable Holter monitor for 24 hours as you go about your daily activities. This test may indicate inadequate blood flow to your heart.
Echocardiogram – This test uses sound waves to produce images of your heart and determine whether all parts of the heart wall are contributing normally to pumping activity. Parts that move weakly may have been damaged during a heart attack or be receiving too little oxygen. This may indicate coronary artery disease or various other conditions.
Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) – A minimally invasive procedure that opens blocked arteries, improves blood flow and allows blood to circulate to the heart muscle. This is often used to treat blockages caused by atherosclerosis or coronary artery disease. Atherosclerosis occurs when plaque builds up on the inner walls of arteries and causes hardening and narrowing, which leads to coronary artery disease. A percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty uses a tiny balloon to open and widen the artery, and a stent to keep it open. This less invasive procedure is an option to more invasive open-heart surgery.
Cardiac catheterization or angiogram – Your doctor may inject a special dye into your coronary arteries. This procedure is known as an angiogram. We inject the dye through a long, thin, flexible catheter, usually in the leg, to reveal arteries and blood flow in the heart. This cardiac catheterization procedure reveals narrow spots and blockages on X-ray images. If you have a blockage, we can insert a balloon through the catheter and inflate it to improve your blood flow. We sometimes use a mesh stent to keep the dilated artery open.
CT coronary angiogram – We inject a contrast dye intravenously during a CT scan to generate images of your coronary arteries.
Exercise stress test – If your symptoms occur during exercise, your doctor may ask you to walk on a treadmill or ride a stationary bike during your ECG. This is known as an exercise stress test. Some stress tests are done using an echocardiogram. Your doctor may do an ultrasound before and after you exercise or use medication to stimulate your heart during your echocardiogram.
Nuclear stress test – This helps measure blood flow to your heart muscle at rest and under stress. It's similar to a routine exercise stress test but with images. We inject a tracer into your bloodstream and use special cameras to identify areas in your heart that may be receiving reduced blood flow.
Heart scan - Computerized tomography (CT) technologies help your doctor see calcium deposits that can narrow your arteries. If you have a substantial amount of calcium, you may have coronary artery disease.
It’s never too soon nor too late to have your heart health checked. For more information, call 212.305.1467.
