Care for Your Heart Health
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in America, claiming nearly 697,000 American lives in 2020, accounting for 1 in 5 deaths and claiming one life every 34 seconds. Thanks to diagnostic cardiovascular screenings at Sarah D. Culbertson Memorial Hospital, minor warning signs can be detected early before they result in more devastating health consequences.
The most effective way to get ahead of a serious heart problem is to schedule your yearly checkup with your primary care physician, and if an issue is found they can schedule the proper diagnostic cardiovascular screening test. Using a variety of procedures, physicians can recognize and diagnose warning signs, then develop a treatment plan to prevent more serious issues. Types of heart screenings include:
- Cardiac CT scan —Painless, non-invasive, and only about 15 minutes long, this test uses X-ray images to examine the heart and blood vessels, and can help doctors detect issues with blood flow and can even detect blockages such as calcium or fat deposits.
- Cardiac stress test —A cardiac stress test measures how healthy a patient’s heart is and how well it works during times of stress, including exercise and other physical activity. A cardiac stress test may be recommended for patients experience symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, and rapid or irregular heartbeat.
- Echocardiogram — This painless test uses sound waves to create moving images of the heart. Echocardiograms can detect blood clots, fluid buildup in the pericardium, tumors, complications of the aorta, and damage to the heart tissue.
- Electrocardiogram — Commonly known as an ECG or EKG, this measures the heart’s electrical activity via electrodes stuck to the patient’s body. Electrocardiograms detect heart rate, irregular heartbeats, and strength and timing of the heart’s electrical impulses.
- Lab testing — A panel of cholesterol tests can determine the amount of fat and cholesterol in the blood, thereby determining the patient’s risk of heart disease.
Diagnostic cardiac screenings at Sarah D. Culbertson Memorial Hospital require a referral from your primary care physician. To schedule your appointment or for more information, call (217) 322-4321.