The heart is the “steam engine ” of our body, a pump whose uninterrupted and smooth functioning is vital for our body. But to keep it healthy, we need to check it frequently, because although it can sometimes give warning signs, it can sometimes give us unpleasant surprises and even diseases that could have been detected in time.
Cardiac screening is the key prevention step that will help us to get a full picture of our heart and seek medical help in time, if needed. Unfortunately, we usually need to be confronted with disturbing symptoms to deal with our heart, such as chest pain, palpitations in the heart, the familiar fluttering, easy fatigue, recurrent shortness of breath, swelling in the legs or fainting episodes.
Ideally, cardiac screening should be part of our routine without being necessary, but as part of a preventive approach. The cardiological tests to which it is good to undergo as a preventive measure are blood tests, chest X-ray, electrocardiogram, Triplex, and also the stress test. But the cardiological check-up does not stop there, as it may also include more specialised tests, which the doctor will decide on.
Cardiology tests
The tests that give a complete picture of the health of our heart are the following.
Rhythm and Pressure Holter: The Rhythm Holter uses electrodes and recording device, to monitor heart rate for 24-72 hours. The physician analyzes the recording minute by minute, in order to diagnose heart rateproblems . The Pressure Holter uses an armband and recording device, to monitor blood pressure for 24hours. The physician analyzes the recording to determine blood pressure disorders , guide treatment and distinguish between primary and secondary causes of hypertension.
HeartTriplex: It is one of the key modern methods of researching heart disease. It examines cardiac function, the size of the heart chambers, the thickness of the heart walls, the anatomy and function of the heart valves and the pericardium.
Stress test: An exercise stress test, also known as an exercise stress test, is a cardiac test that helps doctors determine how well a patient’s heart is working during physical activity and aids in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease. The exercise stress test is performed on a rolling mat while the patient is connected to electrodes so that an electrocardiogram of heart activity is available. It is indicated in cases where there is a family predisposition, when there is discomfort, and to check suitability for exercise programmes. The procedure is painless and usually takes 15 minutes.
Stress Echo: Stress Echo or dynamic echocardiography is a specialized technique used to diagnose coronary artery disease and assess cardiac function by imaging the heart under stressful conditions. Compared to the stress test, the test has a much higher diagnostic accuracy and is preferred in patients with cardiovascular risk factors (e.g. diabetes, hypertension, hereditary history, etc.) or patients with already known coronary artery disease (balloon stent, bypass, previous myocardial infarction). The subject receives a special drug, dobutamine, through a venous catheter while lying down, resulting in an increase in heart rate, as would occur during vigorous exercise.
Electrocardiogram: An electrocardiogram analyses the electrical current produced by the heart, recording a person’s heart rate and heart rhythm . The test is done with an electrocardiograph that records on paper the electrical signal produced by the heart as it works. The test is carried out by the doctor when there is a suspicion of a heart condition.
Magnetic resonance imaging of the heart: Cardiac MRI is one of the most important imaging techniques for diagnosing cardiovascular disease and assessing the anatomy and functionality of the heart. It is a high-precision examination that exploits only the properties of the simple magnetic field. In most cases a special contrast agent is required during the examination.
In fact, cardiac MRI is now the exclusive non-invasive method of diagnosing myocarditis, both acute and chronic, and is useful in conditions such as pericarditis, ischemic and infiltrative cardiomyopathy, thalassemia, congenital and acquired cardiomyopathies of non-ischemic origin, heart failure, arterial and pulmonary hypertension and heart tumours.
CT scan: A CT scan is a supra-analytical imaging done using X-rays and can accurately visualize many parts of the body, including the heart. The examination is painless and of short duration, and with modern CT scanners it can be performed in between 10 and 20 minutes, taking into account the preparation time required. During the examination and depending on the type of examination, a contrast medium may be administered for better visualisation of the spot.
Also, the required blood tests include complete blood count, blood sugar, urea, creatinine , creatinine, uric acid, cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, SGOT, SGPT, CPK, g-GT , potassium, sodium, calcium. If arrhythmias coexist , thyroid function testing is also prescribed: T3, T4, TSH.
In the diagnostic centers of the Euromedica Group , all the above tests are carried out with reliability and speed, thanks to the specialized human resources and state-of-the-art equipment. We take care of our heart, we put cardiac screening in our lives and prevent unpleasant surprises by shielding it in time.