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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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).