Posted on 5th January, 2024 at 12:19:22 AM
ELECTROCARDIOGRAM (ECG):
An ECG is a graphic recording of the electrical activity of the heart. It is primarily used as a screening test for patients with cardiac symptoms.
TREADMILL TEST (TMT):
Also called exercise stress test or exercise tolerance test. This test can detect coronary artery disease even when the ECG is normal. The test is advocated in patients with chest pain to exclude significant coronary artery disease.
HOLTER MONITOR ( 24-HOUR AMBULATORY ECG MONITOR):
This is a continuous recording of your heart's electrical activity, made by a small light-weight recorder strapped to your body that operates whilst you carry on with your daily routine. The test may be necessary if you complain of symptoms such as palpitation or blackouts or in some cases where your ECG is abnormal.
24-HOUR BLOOD PRESSURE MONITOR:
This is similar to Holter monitor, except that your blood pressure is measured over a continuous period instead of your heart's electrical activity. The blood pressure that is measured in your doctor's chamber may be unusually high for you and may not reflect your usual blood pressure. This phenomenon (called White Coat Hypertension) may cause inappropriate treatment of your blood pressure. The test identifies those with white-coat hypertension and helps in the assessment of the efficacy of drug therapy.
IMPLANTABLE LOOP RECORDER:
A small device is implanted under the skin which continuously records the ECG. It can provide vital clues in cases of unexplained symptoms such as palpitation or blackout. It could be left for more than a year if necessary and therefore specially useful where symptoms are infrequent.
SIGNAL-AVERAGED ECG:
This test identifies patients who are at risk for developing potentially lethal heart rhythms.
HEART RATE VARIABILITY (HRV):
In normal healthy individuals heart rate varies significantly over 24 hours. Reduced heart rate variability is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY & COLOUR DOPPLER (TTE):
This test utilises ultrasound to obtain still and moving images of the beating heart. It provides information on the size, structure and function of the heart chambers, motion of the heart valves and assessment of blood flow through the heart and the vessels. It is a painless procedure and free from radiation exposure.
TRANSOESOPHAGEAL ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY (TEE):
A probe with an ultrasound device at its tip is passed into the patient's gullet to image the heart from behind. It usually provides better image resolution and can also visualise the posterior structures of the heart that cannot be seen well by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). It is also used in the operating theatre especially in cardiac surgery.
STRESS ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY:
Intravenous medication is used to stimulate the heart. This unmasks latent coronary disease, which shows up as abnormal contraction of heart muscles. The test is particularly useful for patients who are not fit for exercise. The test is painless and non-invasive.
