Consultation
This is best viewed as a two way social interaction with your specialist. It is an opportunity to discuss your symptoms and prior medical background to help formulate a further assessment and a care plan customized for you. If this is your initial review, you will have to complete a "Patient Registration Form", please allow extra time for your appointment. Please bring a referral and list a of your current medications. Following your consultation, it may be necessary to have further tests or investigations performed or scheduled.
Stress Testing
This test combines exercise ECG and echocardiographic (ultrasound) images of the main pumping chamber of the heart called as left ventricle. Exercise stress testing involves measuring the performance of your heart whilst you undergo exercise of gradually increasing intensity. In most cases the test is performed to assess the presence or severity of blockages in the arteries supplying blood to the heart. The test may also be used to evaluate a person’s exercise capacity, function of valves, pressure in lungs with exercise or effectiveness of your treatment plan. Please allow 45-60 minutes for the study.
How do I prepare for an exercise stress test ?
It is necessary to bring comfortable shoes or sneakers. Please wear comfortable clothing. Avoid food, alcohol or smoking for 2 hours prior to the test.
It is preferred that you avoid caffeine on the day. You may be advised in some instances to hold of heart rate lowering tablets like beta-blockers for 24 hours.
If you use an inhaler for asthma or other breathing problems, bring it to the test.
It is necessary to bring comfortable walking shoes or sneakers. Please notify the supervisor if you experience any symptoms of chest pains or breathlessness during the test.
Echocardiography
This is a test to visualize and assess function of the heart muscle and heart valves. It also provides an estimate of size of heart, structure of the valves and direction of the blood flow. The study uses ultrasound waves which are safe for everyone even in pregnant females.
You are required to change into a clean disposable modesty gown that opens at the front. The sonographer (cardiac technician) will ask you to lie on your left side on a couch. A wand coated with jelly will be placed on your heart and under the left breast. This may be uncomfortable at times; please tell your sonographer if it hurts too much. Please allow 30-45 minutes for the study.
Holter Monitor & Heart Bug Monitor
A Holter monitor is a small, wearable device that records the heart's rhythm. It's used to detect irregular heartbeats (aka cardiac arrhythmias). A Holter monitor test may be done if a traditional electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) doesn't provide enough details about the heart's condition. If the irregular heartbeats are infrequent, a longer term monitor called a heart bug recorder may be needed. Some personal devices, such as smartwatches, offer electrocardiogram monitoring. Ask your health care provider if this is an option for you.
Why is it done ?
A health care provider may recommend a Holter monitor or heart bug if you have:
Signs and symptoms of an irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia) - palpitations or episodic breathlesness
Unexplained fainting / dizziness
After stroke where we suspect irregular heart rhythm disorder
A heart condition that increases the risk of arrhythmias
Coronary Angiography (Cardiac Catheterization)
It is a special x-ray of coronary (heart) arteries. An Xray dye (also known as iodinated contrast) is injected and pictures acquired to check for blockages or narrowing. An angiogram is recommended after balancing the benefits and risks of the procedure, taking into context your clinical history and investigations. You will be admitted to hospital for the procedure.
Please refer to the 'Patient Resources' webpage for further information.
Pacemaker and Defibrillators
Pacemakers and Defibrillators and are two types of implantable medical devices. A pacemaker uses steady, low-energy electric impulse to help the heart maintain a normal beat or rhythm. Typically implanted in patients with a too slowly beating heart. A defibrillator uses an energy electric shock to restore potentially dangerous arrhythmia called as ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation which can at time be fata.
It is necessary to interrogate these devices periodically to ensure they are working appropriately and have adequate battery longevity. Some devices have a mobile home monitoring capacity. Ask us how we can enroll you for the remote monitoring.
