Non-Invasive Testing

An EKG measures the electrical activity in the heart.  It can determine if a heart attack has happened, predict if one is about to happen, and monitor changes in your heart rhythm. An EKG is conducted by placing small electrode patches to the skin of your chest, arms and legs. It is a quick and painless procedure that can be done in an outpatient setting.

A stress test can involve exercise stress testing, nuclear stress testing, a stress echo cardiogram, or a PET stress test. These all help evaluate how your heart handles exertion. There are several ways to conduct a stress test. In general, however, you are connected to a EKG machine which monitors your heart while you walk on a treadmill or receive medication to raise your heart rate. Heart rate, blood pressure, breathing pattern and fatigue are also all measured during the test. 

During a nuclear stress test, you’re given a small injection of a radioactive substance and a special camera takes pictures of your heart during the exercise. Similarly, a stress echo takes detailed readings of your heart function before and after exercise. Both of these tests show a higher level of detail regarding how the heart responds to exertion.

Stress tests are important tools for patients experiencing chest pain, arrhythmias, or blocked arteries. It is also helpful in determining a safe level of activity for someone who has had a heart attack. 

A Holter monitor is a portable device, similar to an EKG, which measures your heart’s activity for an extended period of time (24 to 48-hours or even longer in some instances). You may be put on a Holter monitor if you have an irregular heartbeat, or to monitor how well you are responding to treatment for an arrhythmia. 

For longer evaluations you may be fitted with an event monitor or a Zio patch cardiac monitor. An event monitor is similar to a Holter monitor but is worn for a longer period of time and records information when activated by the patient. The Zio patch cardiac monitor is an emerging technology that can monitor heart function for an extended period of time with just one patch attached to the chest. Patients wearing the Zio patch can shower with it on.

Wearing a Holter or event monitor is painless. Our non-invasive technicians will apply the monitor’s electrodes to your chest and provide all the necessary information and considerations to take while you wear the monitor. You may be asked to keep a diary of your activity and any symptoms you may have while wearing the device. Your provider will receive the results of your test and discuss them with you. 

For patients who need long-term heart monitoring, CMC offers implanted monitors including the Reveal LINQTM Insertable Cardiac Monitoring (ICM) System and the Confirm RxTM Insertable Cardiac Monitor.  An ICM is placed under the skin and continuously monitors heart rhythm to help identify potential problems not detected by other tests or monitors.  The device then wirelessly transmits data for your doctor to review.  Once a day, the device syncs with a wireless monitor that stores the data for your doctor to review.