Cardiac testing and treatments are crucial in diagnosing and managing various cardiovascular conditions. Each test provides essential diagnostic information to determine your heart health. They gain valuable insights into your heart function and help us provide effective treatment options for your care, improving your immediate and long-term well-being.
Testing & Treatments
- Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT)
- Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP)
- Heart calcium scoring
- Heart rhythm management
- Internal cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implantation
- Stress tests
Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT)
A weakened heart can cause congestive heart failure (CHF) after a heart attack or illness. This condition makes it difficult for individuals to live a normal life.
Some patients with CHF have electrical abnormalities that disrupt heart rhythm coordination. Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) helps correct electrical delays in the heart, synchronizing the contraction of the heart's walls. The results can be dramatic, with most patients reporting significant improvement in their quality of life.
The procedure is similar to a pacemaker implant, allowing some extra time to implant a special heart failure wire. The hospital usually discharges patients the following morning.
Heart Calcium Scoring
Heart calcium scoring is a compelling method to assess cardiac risk. It's essential for patients with risk factors like family history, high cholesterol, smoking, high blood pressure or diabetes. Calcium deposits in the coronary arteries indicate the degree of artery hardening. CT scanning can now assess calcium levels while exposing patients to a low dose of radiation. This test requires no dye, and there is no preparation.
Why Get Screened?
Heart calcium scoring detects plaque in your arteries before symptoms appear, helping prevent heart disease or catch it early. The test is painless, safe, noninvasive and takes just minutes.
What’s Included:
- Calcium score measurement
- Reading of surrounding lung tissue
- Results reviewed by a board-certified cardiologist and radiologist
- All for just $75
Who Should Consider This?
- Men over 30
- Women over 40
- Retesting may be recommended every 5 years (consult your primary care provider).
Appointments
- 15-minute slots available daily
- Call to schedule at (920) 445-7363 or (888) 758-7373
Locations
Heart Rhythm Management
With the help of improved technology, electrophysiology or heart rhythm management has dramatically advanced diagnosing and treating fast heart rhythm disorders. A minimally invasive catheter procedure can identify where the abnormal heart rhythm originates. Once you identify the area of concern, you can eliminate the problem without a surgical incision using a special catheter.
Some patients may require an overnight stay, while others can be discharged on the same day. The duration of their stay is determined by the specific heart rhythm issue they are facing. Generally, patients can return to work after a few days of rest.
Heart Rhythm Monitoring
Patients with lightheadedness, dizziness, rapid heart-beating sensations or fainting spells may have a heart rhythm abnormality. Depending on the symptoms, some patients will benefit from a test that monitors and records the heart's rhythm. The goal is to match the patient’s heart rhythm with their symptoms to better direct treatment.
Technology allows us to continually monitor the heart painlessly and non-intrusively. You will access the information stored on the monitor and give a full report to your provider.
Internal Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) Implantation
Dying suddenly from a lethal heart rhythm is a common cause of death. Internal cardioverter defibrillators or ICDs, save lives by delivering rescue therapy to people who suffer from these otherwise fatal rhythms. Our surgeons typically implant the device, smaller than a deck of cards, in fewer than 90 minutes. Patients stay overnight and the hospital discharges them by noon the next day.
Stress Tests
Stress testing stresses the heart to bring out symptoms or signs of heart disease under controlled circumstances and careful monitoring. This test provides information to diagnose and manage heart conditions like chest pain, blocked arteries, irregular heartbeats and difficulty breathing. It usually involves exercise like walking on a treadmill while recording your electrocardiogram (EKG) and blood oxygen content.
Test Types:
- Echocardiogram stress test
- Exercise treadmill testing (ETT)
- Nuclear stress test
The treadmill increases speed and inclines after each 3-minute stage until it reaches a target heart rate. This test is very safe. We use heart imaging with echo or nuclear cameras with exercise to improve diagnostic test accuracy. When patients cannot walk on a treadmill, we use intravenous medication to stress the heart.
