An echocardiogram is an ultrasound test of your heart. It is used to view the structures of your heart and how your heart and its valves are functioning. 

Your doctor may perform an echocardiogram to check for heart disease or to assess your heart after you have had a heart attack.

Some heart problems only occur during physical activity, so your doctor may have you exercise on a treadmill. 

Ultrasound images during a stress echocardiogram help determine whether your heart gets enough blood and oxygen during physical activity and assesses how well your heart and blood vessels are functioning.

Your carotid arteries, located on both sides of your neck, are responsible for sending blood from your heart to your brain. Blocked or narrowed arteries can increase your risk of stroke. 

A carotid ultrasound uses sound waves to examine blood flow through your carotid arteries.

Abdominal ultrasound examines the abdominal aorta for possible aneurysm or dilation of the artery.

A pulse volume recording (PVR) is a non-invasive test to determine arterial blood flow in the arms and legs. There are many kinds of PVRs, including ankle brachial index (ABI). 

This quick test compares the blood pressure in your lower leg to the blood pressure in your arm. They should be about the same, but if the pressure in your leg is lower than in your arm, it may indicate narrowed or blocked arteries in your leg (peripheral artery disease).

A duplex venous ultrasound uses both conventional ultrasound and Doppler ultrasound to produce images of blood vessels that show how blood moves through them, including speed and direction. 

It can determine problems within your arms and legs, such as blood clots or poor circulation. It is a good alternative to more invasive procedures.

Some patients with coronary blockages may have unnoticeable symptoms at rest. However, when undergoing the stress of exercise, blocked or narrowed arteries are unable to carry blood to the heart. A treadmill stress test can detect such abnormalities if they exist.

A nuclear stress test takes images of your heart both at rest and when your heart is stressed, induced either by exercise or by medication.

A small amount of radioactive tracer will be injected into your blood stream. The tracer will show areas of your heart where blood flow is inadequate so your doctor can compare blood flow during rest and times of stress.

During this stress test, your doctor may use medication to put stress on your heart and take images when your heart is at rest and at work. 

Pharmacological stress tests may benefit patients who suffer from conditions that prevent them from walking or running on a treadmill.

To determine how well your heart is pumping, your doctor may recommend a MUGA (multigated acquisition) scan. A MUGA scan helps your doctor learn more about symptoms you may have, such as chest pain, trouble breathing, or lethargy. 

During this nuclear test, images show possible abnormalities in your ventricles and the movement of blood through your heart.

This non-invasive, painless test is used to monitor your heart. It records the electrical signals that trigger your heartbeat as they travel through your heart. 

An EKG may be used to diagnose different heart diseases by evaluating the patterns and rhythms in your heartbeats.

Your cardiologist may monitor your heart to detect arrhythmia, or an irregular heartbeat (too fast or too slow). This provides additional information to plan your treatment. 

At our practice, we use a Holter monitor to monitor your heart for 24 or 48 hours. We also utilize 21-day continuous ambulatory (event) monitoring and 30-day continuous auto-trigger monitoring.

To determine whether you are fit for surgery, one of our specialists may recommend a cardiac clearance test. This test may be performed with imaging, such as an EKG, or without, such as a treadmill stress test.