An electrocardiogram is generally known as an ECG. It records how your heart is performing by measuring its electrical activity through the placement of various sensors placed on your arms, chest, and lower legs.

By calculating the rate and regularity of heartbeats, it can show an irregular heartbeat, the existence of any damage, or enlargement of the muscles in the heart.

Likewise, an ECG can show if your heart is getting enough oxygen and the effects of drugs or regulating devices. The test is quick, safe, and painless.

Here at AVIVO Group, our doctors recommend having an ECG for various reasons including:

• A routine annual check of your heart
• Monitoring heart rhythm
• Analyze electrical changes in the heart
• Status of oxygen present in the heart
• Detect a heart attack or other conditions
• We are monitoring unusual heart structures, such as a thickened heart muscle.

A stress test can assist in determining the risk of having a heart problem.

Exercise stress testing is a form of cardiovascular stress testing that uses exercise with electrocardiography (ECG) and monitors the blood pressure.

Here, at AVIVO Clinics, our experienced doctors and team of trained technicians perform the analysis. They review the strength of the heart before an abnormal rhythm starts or flow of blood to your heart muscle drops.

To perform this form of testing with exercise protocols, we use either a treadmill or bicycle. Patients who have difficulty exercising may benefit from the administration of a pharmacologic agent that stimulates the activity of the heart during exercise.

In this test, you perform a walk on a treadmill, which makes your heart work progressively harder. An (ECG) monitors your heart’s electrical rhythms. Additionally, the doctor measures your blood pressure and reviews whether you have signs and symptoms like discomfort in chest or fatigue. Irregularities in blood pressure, heart rate, or electrocardiogram or worsening sign and symptom could lead to coronary artery disease (CAD): fatty deposits (plaques) that reduce the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle.

An echocardiogram (echo) is a graphical representation of the heart’s movement. An echocardiogram uses sound waves to produce images of your heart. Meanwhile, in an echo test, ultrasound (high-frequency sound waves) from a hand-held device (transducer) placed on your chest display pictures of the heart’s valves and chambers and assists the sonographer in evaluating the pumping action of the heart. The echo test is usually combined with Doppler ultrasound and Color Doppler to assess the flow of blood across the cardiovascular system.

This test helps:

• Evaluate the overall function of your heart.
• Determine the existence of various heart diseases and disorders like valve disease, cardiac masses, myocardial disease, pericardial disease, congenital heart disease
• Follow the development of valve disease over time.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of the medical or surgical treatment.

A Holter monitor is a battery-powered device that keeps a record of your heart rhythm. It calculates your heart rate and rhythm. Additionally, it determines symptoms of an irregular heartbeat when you feel chest pain.

Our specialized doctors at AVIVO Group recommend you wear a Holter monitor for one to two days. During that time, the device tracks your heartbeats.

If the electrocardiogram is unable to provide enough information about your heart’s condition, the Holter monitor helps to provide quality information about the heart condition.