Non-Invasive Cardiology
What constitutes Non-Invasive Cardiology?
Stress Test: Exercise and Dobutamine
Are you at risk of heart disease? A treadmill test might be the answer. Offered by many cardiologists, a treadmill test can provide an overall assessment of your heart health.
The test begins with an electrocardiogram (ECG) that measures your heart rate and rhythm. You’ll then be asked to walk on the treadmill, starting at a slow pace and gradually increasing the speed and incline. As the treadmill speed increases, so does your heart rate, allowing your cardiologist to monitor your heart’s response.
2/D Echocardiography and Colour Doppler
If you’re looking for a comprehensive evaluation of your heart health, an echocardiogram may be the perfect choice for you. This non-invasive imaging technique, offered by cardiologists, utilizes sound waves to create detailed images of your heart and its structures.
2-D echocardiography is like an ultrasound of the heart where sound waves are used to give real time live images of the heart and its functioning.
Vascular Doppler
A Vascular Doppler is an important tool for a cardiologist when it comes to diagnosing and treating patients with vascular diseases. This non-invasive technology is used to measure both arterial and venous blood flow, giving cardiologists an understanding of the patient’s vascular health.
Using the same technology that is used for echocardiography, by a linear ultrasound probe one can study the flow across the blood vessels (both the arteries and the veins). This helps to identify blockages in the arteries or clots in the vessels.
Holter Monitoring
Holter monitoring is a service offered by cardiologists that gives you a comprehensive look at your heart's performance. This monitoring system uses a sophisticated electrocardiogram (ECG) to record your heart's activity over a 24-hour period. The information gathered during the monitoring can help your doctor diagnose and treat various heart-related problems.
Holter monitoring is often used to detect and diagnose irregular heart rhythms, also known as arrhythmias.