Cardiology Tests & Screenings

Wilmington Heart & Vascular Healthcare

A primary reason heart disease remains the number one killer in the United States is that very few people realize they are in trouble until it’s too late. Without a cardiology health screening, it is unlikely you would ever know that your heart or vascular system is in bad shape. Symptoms do not usually manifest until after the patient has already had a heart attack or stroke.

With state-of-the-art technology and a team of highly skilled cardiologists, Saint Francis Healthcare is equipped to help you get a better grasp of your heart health. We offer a wide variety of non-invasive procedures that allow us to evaluate your risk factors and warn you if lifestyle changes are needed to avoid a cardiac event.

Same-day appointments are available, call 302.421.4828 today to schedule your cardiac health screening!

Heart Health Screenings

• 24-Hour Holter Monitors – A holter monitor records the heart’s rhythm. It is a small device that is usually worn for one to three days and continuously records the heart’s beating. 24-hour holter monitors are battery-operated ECG devices, which monitor and record the heart's electrical activity for 24 hours.
• Arterial Vascular Study Lower Extremity – An arterial vascular study of the lower extremity typically involves inflating blood pressure cuffs on the legs while recording the pulse sounds through a Doppler transducer.
• Electrocardiogram (ECG) – An electrocardiogram is a test in which electrodes on the chest are used to monitor and record the electrical activity of the heart.
• 2D Echo/Doppler – An echocardiogram is a test that uses ultrasound waves to examine the heart. The 2D imaging is the mainstay of echo imaging and allows areas in the heart to be viewed moving in real time, in a cross-section of the heart, in two dimensions.
• Transesophageal echo (TEE) – Transesophageal echo is an echocardiogram that provides three dimensional moving images of the heart in real time. This test is done from inside the esophagus, located just behind the heart. It is used to diagnose heart abnormalities such as valve disease and an arrhythmia.
• Cardiac Nuclear Stress Testing – A stress test measures blood flow to the heart at rest and during stress on the heart with exercise. A nuclear stress test is used to diagnose heart problems or to determine treatment if a heart condition has already been diagnosed. Both tests are conducted with heart stimulation, either by exercise on a treadmill or clinically. Electrodes are attached to the chest, legs and arms and are then connected by wires to an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) machine. The electrocardiogram records the electrical signals from the heartbeats. During a nuclear stress test, a dye is injected into the bloodstream and travels to your heart. A special scanner is then used to create images of the heart muscle to detect areas of inadequate blood flow.
• Vascular Ultrasound – Ultrasound can be used to evaluate the vascular system of the body. The arterial system is imaged to locate and identify blockages within the vessels of the neck, arms, and legs. Ultrasound is also used to detect abnormalities within vessels such as blood clots and help plan for their effective treatment. Vascular ultrasound is routinely used in the evaluation of the abdominal aorta to look for the presence of an aneurysm (abnormal ballooning of the artery).