Cardiology

Cardiology services comprise of various tests and treatments that help cure heart disease and other abnormalities of the heart. Every day new tests are being studied and developed in order to further understand disease, injury and abnormalities of the heart.

Here are some of the most common cardiology services

ECG or Electrocardiogram

This test is able to record the heart’s electrical activity and it can identify abnormal rhythms. It can also detect any heart muscle damage.

The Stress test or Exercise ECG

This test will monitor the heart as the patient walks on a treadmill or pedals a stationary bike. The doctor will monitor the patient’s breathing and the level of the blood pressure. The stress test is mostly used to detect diseases of the coronary artery. It can also be used to determine the levels of exercise that are safe for someone who has just recovered from heart surgery or a heart attack. The stress test is also conducted by using special medicines that can stress the heart in similar ways that exercise would.

Echocardiogram

This is also known as echo. The echo test is a noninvasive test. It uses sound ways in order to analyze the heart’s valves and chambers. It also evaluates the heart’s pumping function. The echo sound waves will create an image on the screen when an ultrasound probe is moved over the skin above the heart.

Transesophageal Echocardiogram or TEE

This test involves the patient having to swallow a tiny probe that is about the size of a little finger. The probe will move down through the oesophagus and nearer to the heart. The probe will permit a close look at the function and structure of the heart. It is able to show any abnormal tissues around the heart’s valves. You can check it blood is leaking backward through a valve or if blood clots have formed in the heart’s chambers.

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan

This nuclear scan is able to provide information of the blood flow through the arteries to the heart muscle. There are many types of PET scans for detecting specific conditions.

Holter Monitor

This test involves the patient having to wear a small and portable, battery powered ECG in order to record the heartbeats for a 24-48 hour period during normal activities. When the time period ends, the patient will return the monitor to the doctor’s office. It will then be read and evaluated.

Event Recorder

This test also involves the patient having to wear a small, portable and battery powered ECG but the activities will be recorded over several weeks. Every time the patient experiences any symptoms they will press a button to record the ECG sample. This data will need to be transferred immediately to the doctor’s office for closer evaluation.

Electrophysiology Study

In this test, the patient has insulated electric catheters placed through the large vein of their upper leg and then thread into their heart. This test will monitor the heart’s electrical system in order to spot any irregular rhythms.

The ones listed above are the most common cardiology services. There are several other cardiology services to test and treat patients for heart disease, injuries and abnormalities, such as the loop recorder test, tilt table test, cardiac catheterization, Magnetic resonance imaging or MRI and Cardiac CT scans. For a detailed list of cardiology services, check the website of a a comprehensive cardiology center such as Indus Healthcare, and get yourself more familiarized with the subject!