Electrocardiogram (ECG)
An electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) is a test that checks how your heart is functioning by measuring the electrical activity of the heart. With each heart beat, an electrical impulse (or wave) travels through your heart. This wave causes the muscle to squeeze and pump blood from the heart. An ECG measures and records the electrical activity that passes through the heart. A doctor can determine if this electrical activity is normal or irregular.
An ECG may be recommended if you are experiencing arrhythmia, chest pain, or palpitations and an abnormal ECG result can be a signal of a number of different heart conditions. No special preparation is needed.
An electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) is a test that checks how your heart is functioning by measuring the electrical activity of the heart. With each heart beat, an electrical impulse (or wave) travels through your heart. This wave causes the muscle to squeeze and pump blood from the heart. An ECG measures and records the electrical activity that passes through the heart. A doctor can determine if this electrical activity is normal or irregular.
An ECG may be recommended if you are experiencing arrhythmia, chest pain, or palpitations and an abnormal ECG result can be a signal of a number of different heart conditions. No special preparation is needed.
Echocardiogram (Echo)
An echocardiogram uses sound waves (ultrasound) to create a picture of your heart. The recorded waves show the shape, texture and movement of your heart valves, as well as the size of your heart chambers and how well they are working. An ECHO may be done to assess a variety of heart conditions, such as heart murmurs, damage to heart muscle in those who have had a heart attack, and infections in the heart. It may also be recommended if you are experiencing abnormal heart sounds, shortness of breath, palpitations, angina (chest pain) or have a history of stroke. It is very useful in diagnosing heart valve problems.
In case there is poor visualization of cardiac structures, a contrast solution may be used.
For a regular echocardiogram, no special preparation is needed.
An echocardiogram uses sound waves (ultrasound) to create a picture of your heart. The recorded waves show the shape, texture and movement of your heart valves, as well as the size of your heart chambers and how well they are working. An ECHO may be done to assess a variety of heart conditions, such as heart murmurs, damage to heart muscle in those who have had a heart attack, and infections in the heart. It may also be recommended if you are experiencing abnormal heart sounds, shortness of breath, palpitations, angina (chest pain) or have a history of stroke. It is very useful in diagnosing heart valve problems.
In case there is poor visualization of cardiac structures, a contrast solution may be used.
For a regular echocardiogram, no special preparation is needed.
Graded Exercise Stress Test (GXT)/Stress Echocardiography (SE)
An exercise electrocardiogram records your heart's response to the stress of exercise. An exercise ECG measures your heart's electrical activity, blood pressure and heart rate while you exercise, usually by walking on a treadmill or exercising on a special bike.
A stress test is usually done to pinpoint the cause of unexplained chest pain, especially if coronary artery disease (heart disease) is suspected.
When a SE is required, a regular GXT will be accompanied by pre- and post-echocardiography scanning.
Preparation: Wear comfortable clothes and running shoes. Do not consume caffeinated products for 24 hours prior. Please stop taking beta-blocker medications for 24 hours prior.
An exercise electrocardiogram records your heart's response to the stress of exercise. An exercise ECG measures your heart's electrical activity, blood pressure and heart rate while you exercise, usually by walking on a treadmill or exercising on a special bike.
A stress test is usually done to pinpoint the cause of unexplained chest pain, especially if coronary artery disease (heart disease) is suspected.
When a SE is required, a regular GXT will be accompanied by pre- and post-echocardiography scanning.
Preparation: Wear comfortable clothes and running shoes. Do not consume caffeinated products for 24 hours prior. Please stop taking beta-blocker medications for 24 hours prior.
Holter monitoring
Holter monitoring is usually used to diagnose heart rhythm disturbances, specifically to find the cause of palpitations or dizziness. You will wear a small recording device, called a Holter monitor, which is connected to a patch (called electrode) that is placed on your chest to get a reading of your heart rate and rhythm over a 24-hour period or longer. Your heart's rhythm is transmitted and recorded on a memory drive, then played back into a computer so it can be analyzed to find out what is causing your arrhythmia.
No special preparation is needed.
Holter monitoring is usually used to diagnose heart rhythm disturbances, specifically to find the cause of palpitations or dizziness. You will wear a small recording device, called a Holter monitor, which is connected to a patch (called electrode) that is placed on your chest to get a reading of your heart rate and rhythm over a 24-hour period or longer. Your heart's rhythm is transmitted and recorded on a memory drive, then played back into a computer so it can be analyzed to find out what is causing your arrhythmia.
No special preparation is needed.
Nuclear Cardiac Imaging
A Nuclear scan uses a radioactive tracer to see how much blood is reaching different parts of the heart. These scans are often done to determine the size and location of injured cardiac muscle after a heart attack and will help your doctor find out more about your heart's cells and its blood supply. The amount of radioactive material used is very little and is comparable to a single chest x-ray. The test normally takes two days and is split into a Day 1 Resting scan and Day 2 Stress scan. During Resting scan you will be injected with the first part of tracer dose and resting images of your heart will be taken in a dedicated cardiac camera. On Stress day you will undergo either a Treadmill stress test or a Pharmacological stress test, followed by a second tracer injection and post-stress camera imaging in the dedicated cardiac camera. The test is safe and highly accurate in confirming myocardial infarction as well as locating an affected heart muscle area.
Preparation: Wear comfortable clothes and running shoes. Do not consume caffeinated products for 24 hours prior. Please stop taking beta-blocker medications for 24 hours prior.
A Nuclear scan uses a radioactive tracer to see how much blood is reaching different parts of the heart. These scans are often done to determine the size and location of injured cardiac muscle after a heart attack and will help your doctor find out more about your heart's cells and its blood supply. The amount of radioactive material used is very little and is comparable to a single chest x-ray. The test normally takes two days and is split into a Day 1 Resting scan and Day 2 Stress scan. During Resting scan you will be injected with the first part of tracer dose and resting images of your heart will be taken in a dedicated cardiac camera. On Stress day you will undergo either a Treadmill stress test or a Pharmacological stress test, followed by a second tracer injection and post-stress camera imaging in the dedicated cardiac camera. The test is safe and highly accurate in confirming myocardial infarction as well as locating an affected heart muscle area.
Preparation: Wear comfortable clothes and running shoes. Do not consume caffeinated products for 24 hours prior. Please stop taking beta-blocker medications for 24 hours prior.
Cardiology consultations
Heart and Vascular Centre of Excellence provides a complete cardiac care from best specialists in North America. Our team of doctors have received training in the best hospitals of Canada, as well as have been trained in Harvard University.
There is no wait time to see a specialist, all appointments are given same week.
Heart and Vascular Centre of Excellence provides a complete cardiac care from best specialists in North America. Our team of doctors have received training in the best hospitals of Canada, as well as have been trained in Harvard University.
There is no wait time to see a specialist, all appointments are given same week.