Our Services / Noninvasive Cardiology

What is noninvasive cardiology?

Noninvasive cardiology reveals heart disease using external tests rather than procedures that insert catheters or other instruments into your body.

Heartwise Cardiology offers on-site, advanced cardiac imaging and other noninvasive tests to quickly and accurately diagnose your heart problems.

When would I need noninvasive cardiology?

When you have symptoms of a heart problem, such as chest pain, shortness of breath, syncope (fainting), and dizziness, the first diagnostic tests you receive are noninvasive cardiology procedures.

Your provider may perform noninvasive cardiology to diagnose conditions such as:

• Arrhythmias
• Atrial fibrillation
• Heart failure
• Coronary artery disease
• Heart inflammation
• Fluid around the heart
• Heart valve disease
• Heart muscle disease
• Muscle damage after a heart attack

After your noninvasive procedure, your provider immediately creates and implements a personalized treatment plan based on your diagnosis.

What procedures are included in noninvasive cardiology?

During your evaluation at Heartwise Cardiology, your provider may perform one or more of the following noninvasive tests:

Electrocardiogram (EKG)

During an electrocardiogram, your provider places self-adhesive electrodes on your chest, arms, and legs and then uses wires to connect them with an EKG machine. The electrodes pick up your heart's electrical activity while the machine records them.

Echocardiogram (echo)

An echocardiogram uses ultrasound to create images of your heart. This noninvasive test shows details about the heart’s structures, as well as blood flow, muscle contractions, and valves opening and closing.

Stress test

When you have a stress test, you walk on a treadmill while you're connected to the EKG machine and wear a blood pressure cuff. The intensity of your exercise gradually increases to raise your heartbeat. This test shows how well your heart works when it works harder.

Nuclear stress test

If you get a nuclear stress test, your provider injects radioactive dye and uses specialized equipment to take images of your heart before and after a stress test. The dye reveals areas of your heart that lose blood flow when you exercise.

Tilt table test

Tilt table testing helps to determine the cause of unexplained fainting (syncope). During the test, you lie on a table that tilts up, allowing your provider to see how different positions affect your heart rate and blood pressure.

Remote cardiac monitoring

Remote cardiac monitoring includes devices such as a Holter or event monitor. You wear these devices for a day or longer. During that time, they record your heartbeat, detecting irregular rhythms that didn't show up during testing in the office.

If you need help for heart symptoms, call Heartwise Cardiology or book an appointment online today.