Cardiac Testing

Zio Patch

This is a cardiac heart monitor that continuously records your heart rhythms for up to 14 days. This new technology can help capture arrhythmias that would otherwise go missed with conventional monitors. Please talk to your doctor to see if the Zio Patch is right for you.

Holter Monitor

The purpose of this test is to determine the presence and severity of disturbances in your heart rhythm. The monitor can correlate heart rhythm disturbances you may be having such as dizziness, palpitations, or fainting spells. The test involves placing ECG wires attached to a small device on your chest. You will wear the monitor for 24-48 hours. You will be asked to keep a diary and record any symptoms you have, and what you were doing when they occurred. The test will then be analyzed, and symptoms will be correlated with any changes in your heart rhythm.

Cardiolite® Nuclear Stress Testing

A stress test with Cardiolite® is a test to determine if your heart muscle is getting the blood supply it requires. The test also helps determine how well your heart is working. To perform the test, a small amount of Cardiolite® is injected into your blood. A special camera is then used to take pictures of your heart.

Your doctor may ask for a stress test with Cardiolite® in order to get more accurate and complete information about how your heart is functioning. Your heart receives life-sustaining blood from vessels called coronary arteries. If these arteries become partially blocked or narrowed by the buildup of fatty materials (lipids), your heart may not receive the blood it needs to function properly. This narrowing of coronary arteries is called coronary atherosclerosis or more commonly, coronary artery disease (CAD).

While your heart may function normally at rest, your heart muscle may not receive adequate blood when under stress (for example, when you are exercising). This often results in chest pain called angina pectoris. On the other hand, there may be no outward physical signs of the disease. If CAD is limiting blood flow to a part of your heart, a stress test with Cardiolite® may be useful in detecting the disease and determining how this may affect you. With this information, your doctor can determine the proper course of treatment to keep you healthy.

Cardiac Stress Testing

The purpose of a stress test is to determine whether your heart gets adequate blood flow during stress or exercise. Prior to the procedure you should avoid caffeinated beverages, and you may eat a light meal up to 2 hours before exercise. It is advised to bring comfortable tennis shoes and loose-fitting clothing. When you arrive you will be asked to walk on a treadmill until you attain your maximum level of exertion or experience symptoms such as chest pain or shortness of breath. Your blood pressure, heart rate and heart rhythms will be monitored continuously throughout the test.