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Heart stress test1/21/2024 ![]() ![]() Stress echocardiography (“stress echo”) measures how well the heart pumps before and after exercise during a cardiac stress test.It can also evaluate damage after a heart attack, heart failure, and valve disease.Įchocardiograms are very versatile, and we apply them in multiple ways, such as: When you might need it: If you have symptoms such as chest pain or shortness of breath. It can determine the presence of weak heart function or damaged valves and can be done several times over the course of years to measure the effectiveness of treatments. What it shows: Changes in heart size pumping strength damage to the heart muscle valve problems and congenital heart defects. Small electrode patches are attached to your chest to simultaneously detect the heart rhythm while a sonographer moves a transducer back and forth along the chest to record the ultrasound pictures. An “echo” utilizes the same safe technology that is used to see a baby during pregnancy. What it is: A cornerstone of imaging technology, an echocardiogram – also called transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) – uses sound waves to create moving pictures of your heart’s chambers, valves, and walls. We use different imaging tools to evaluate each of the four systems, and often we’ll use more than one test – or what’s called multimodality imaging – to zero in on a problem that may involve multiple systems of the heart. Electric wires, which tell the heart when to squeeze: Cells carrying an electrical signal trigger your heart to pump at a normal, regular rhythm. If the blockages are severe, patients can experience chest pain during activity because the heart muscle doesn’t get enough blood.Ĥ. Atherosclerosis, or “hardening” of the arteries, occurs when coronary arteries narrow due to the buildup of cholesterol plaques. Pipes, which carry oxygen rich blood to the heart muscle: The heart’s plumbing, or coronary arteries, delivers oxygen rich blood to the heart muscle so it can continue doing its pumping work. Valves, which control blood flow to the main chambers of the heart: Four valves open and close to ensure blood flows properly in one direction.ģ. The left side pumps the oxygen-rich blood back out to fuel the body.Ģ. Pumps, which send blood to the body: The right side of your heart receives blood and pumps it to your lungs, where the blood picks up oxygen. This is how I typically describe them to my patients:ġ. Heart 101: Pumps, valves, pipes, and electric wiresĬardiac imaging helps us look more closely at the four systems of the heart, which are all interconnected. Your doctor will recommend which tests, if any, are right for you based on your current health and symptoms. The choice of test is individualized, of course. With so many options available, and new imaging enhancements in development, patients can feel overwhelmed by “all the tests.” So, we thought it would be helpful to provide a quick overview of cardiac imaging, from the fundamental to the highly specialized, and explain how each test can help our patients avoid or overcome heart disease. Our team also utilizes advanced imaging techniques, such as cardiac CT and cardiac MRI to create detailed, cross-sectional views of the heart and help diagnose complex or rare disorders. An echocardiogram uses ultrasound waves to create moving pictures of your heart’s chambers, valves, and walls.A stress test assesses blood flow to the heart muscle during rest and exercise.An electrocardiogram (EKG) records electrical signals in your heart.“Seeing” it in action is an essential part of evaluating, diagnosing, and treating potential cardiovascular conditions.Īt UT Southwestern, we use an evolving suite of sophisticated cardiac imaging tests, ranging from echocardiograms to cardiac MRIs, to create a clear picture of your current heart health and where it’s headed in the future.īecause the heart is also a highly complex organ, we can use different imaging tools to assess its many functions. Your heart is one of the hardest working organs in the body – beating once per second or about 3 billion times in the average person’s lifetime. ![]()
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