Cardiac Testing

A calcium (coronary) score screening/test is a CT scan of the heart that detects calcium build-up in the coronary arteries. It is available for $50, and no insurance is needed.

Calcium buildup can narrow your arteries and increase your risk of heart disease, so early diagnosis is key to preventing heart attacks and worsening heart disease. The calcium scoring scan will provide a number (or score) that relates to the amount of calcium deposits seen in your heart’s arteries. The higher the score, the more extensive the accumulation of plaque in your arteries. Calcium score guide:

0: The scan is not picking up any calcium deposits at this time.

1-100: Speak to your primary-care physician about heart disease prevention.

100-499: Speak to a cardiologist about heart disease prevention and any additional treatment needed.

500 or higher: You have significant calcium build-up and should seek care from a cardiologist as soon as possible.

This exam is not recommended for patients who are pregnant or claustrophobic. It is also not recommended for patients who have known coronary artery disease (e.g., have had a heart attack, angioplasty/stent or bypass surgery) or patients who have metallic objects in the heart (e.g., mechanical heart valves, pacemaker wires, stents, etc.).

Common cardiac imaging tests include chest x-rays and ultrasounds, along with cardiac CT scans and MRIs. Liberty Hospital Heart Center is equipped with:

• 160-slice CT scanner
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Nuclear medicine
• PET/CT scanning
• Chest ultrasound
• Chest X-rays

This ultrasound test is used to detect abnormalities of the chambers and heart valves, murmurs, wall motion of the ventricle and possibly fluid surrounding the heart. Accredited through Intersocietal Accreditation Commission in Echocardiography.

An EMG is a diagnostic procedure to assess the health of muscles and the nerve cells that control them (motor neurons). EMG results can reveal nerve dysfunction, muscle dysfunction or problems with nerve-to-muscle signal transmission.

This test is used as a screening tool in diagnosing cardiac electrical abnormalities, such as a heart attack. An EKG records the electrical activity of the heart over time.

This is a small portable device used for continuously monitoring the electrical activity of the heart for 24 hours or more. Its extended recording period is sometimes useful for observing occasional cardiac irregularities arrhythmias that would be difficult to identify in a shorter period of time. Liberty Hospital offers 24-hour and 48-hour monitors.

This test helps determine how the heart works during physical activity. As your body works during any physical exertion, it requires more oxygen and energy. To meet this demand, the heart beats faster and harder. The stress test shows if your heart receives enough blood from its own arteries to work harder, safely.

A stress echocardiogram is usually done to rule out coronary artery disease. The test is generally conducted on a treadmill. For patients who cannot exercise on a treadmill, the test involves use of a medicine called dobutamine to evaluate coronary artery disease.

This test is generally ordered for patients with prosthetic valves if there is a question of the valves' function or to rule out stroke. In some patients with unexplained fevers, this test would be ordered to visualize the heart valves.