About cardiac tests

Your doctor uses cardiac testing to diagnose heart conditions and develop the best care plan for you, based on the results. 

Detecting heart problems early can often make them easier to treat. With early detection, you can improve your heart health and avoid serious complications, such as heart attack or stroke.

Your doctor may order cardiac testing if you're having symptoms of heart disease, including chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, fainting or palpitations. Or you may need testing if you have a family history of heart disease or risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking or obesity.

The tests your doctor orders can include:

• Electrocardiogram (EKG): Small electrode patches attached to your skin send measurements to a computer, which creates a picture of the electrical impulses on paper.
• Echocardiography: This test uses both EKG to check your heart rhythm and ultrasound to see how blood moves through your heart.
• Cardiac nuclear imaging: This test uses a radioactive tracer given intravenously (IV). The imaging machine takes pictures of how the tracer moves through the heart's arteries.
• Stress test: This test examines your heart's activity when it's working hardest. It usually involves walking on a treadmill or pedaling a stationary bike while hooked up to an EKG.

We have multiple testing locations throughout the region, so it's easy for you to get the care you need close to home. Cardiac testing doesn't usually take long, and you'll be awake and alert the entire time. Because these tests are noninvasive, there's no recovery time.