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Heart Basics 101 provides the viewer with fundamental information about the structure and function of the heart. |
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History of Illness: The cardiac evaluation begins with the patient being interviewed by the physician to obtain a detailed history of his or her illness. |
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Physical Examination: During this phase of the cardiac evaluation, the patient is examined by the physician. |
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Chest x-ray: This test helps answer questions about the size of the heart, fluid in the lungs, pneumonia and multiple other abnormalities that may be accounting for the patient's problems. |
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EKG or Electrocardiogram: The electrocardiogram provides important information about the presence of coronary artery disease, heart rhythm and other cardiac issues. |
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Echocardiogram: This test is uses ultrasound to examine the heart chambers, valves and the lining of the heart. |
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TEE or TE Echocardiogram: TEE uses ultrasound to examine the heart with the use of a probe that looks at the heart from the back. |
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Stress Echo: This test is uses ultrasound to examine the heart, before and immediately after exercise or chemical stress and uncover problems such as coronary artery disease. |
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Treadmill Test: The patient walks on a treadmill while the blood pressure and EKG are monitored. It evaluates the heart's response to exercise and helps uncover problems such as coronary blockages and heart rhythm abnormalities. |
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Chemical Stress Test: The test is similar to the Treadmill test (left), except that chemical stress is used (instead of exercise) to help uncover problems such as coronary blockages. |
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Isotope Stress Test: An isotope tracer is used to increase the accuracy of a stress test in helping diagnose coronary artery disease. |
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Tilt Table Test: The test is used to diagnose a specific cause of syncope or black out spells that is known as Neurally Mediated Syncope or NMS. |
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Holter Monitor: This is a 24 hour tape recording of the patient's EKG. It is used to diagnose the cause of symptoms such as black outs, dizziness, irregular heart beats and coronary artery spasm. |
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Cardiac Cath or Angiogram: A thin and flexible tube or catheter is inserted into the blood vessel of the arm or leg and guided to the heart with the use of x-ray. Contrast or "dye" is injected to help diagnose heart disease. |
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PTCA or Balloon Angioplasty: A thin catheter is guided to a coronary artery blockage. A small balloon at its tip is then inflated and deflated to open up the coronary artery blockage. The balloon catheter is then removed. |
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Coronary Stent: This technique uses a stent or narrow stainless steel wire mesh to open up a coronary blockage. The stent is delivered to the site by a PTCA balloon (left). |
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Drug Coated Stent: The stent is coated with a medicine to reduce the chance of a coronary artery blockage from returning in the same area. |
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Coronary artery Disease: The onset, symptoms and treatment of this disease is discussed. |
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Heart Attack or Acute MI: This section provides fundamental details about a heart attack together with its cause, symptoms and treatment. |
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Heart Failure or CHF: Using easy to understand examples, this section provides fundamental information about congestive heart failure, together with its cause, symptoms and treatment. |
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On-line Lectures: This uses a familiar classroom lecture format. We balance simplicity with the needed depth of information. Animations and common analogies are used to illustrate points. |
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Site Info: This section provides information about HeatSite.com to our valued visitors. |
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