Heart function can be evaluated by several tests that should be indicated by the cardiologist or family doctor based on the person’s medical history.
Some tests, such as electrocardiogram, chest x-ray may be performed systematically for cardiovascular evaluation, while other tests, such as myocardial scan, stress tests, echocardiograms, MAP, and holter, are performed when specific diseases, such as angina or arrhythmias, are suspected.
Therefore, the main heart evaluation tests are
Chest x-rays or x-rays are an exam that evaluates the contour of your heart and aorta and assesses for signs of fluid buildup in your lungs, indicating the possibility of heart failure. This test also examines the contour of the aorta, which is the vessel that leaves the heart to carry blood to the rest of the body. This scan is usually done with the patient standing and the lungs filled with air, so that the image can be obtained correctly.
X-rays are considered an initial exam and your doctor generally recommends more cardiovascular tests to better evaluate your heart and more definition.
What it’s for: indicated to assess cases of cardiac hypertrophy or blood vessels or to check if there is a calcium deposit in the aorta, which can occur by age. In addition, it can be used to assess the condition of the lungs, observing the presence of fluids and secretions.
In contraction: should not be performed in pregnant women, especially during the first trimester due to radiation emitted during the test. However, if your doctor thinks the test is essential, it is recommended that the pregnant woman perform the test with a lead protector on her tummy. Understand the risks of x-rays during pregnancy.
The electrocardiogram is a test that evaluates the heart rate and is performed with the patient lying down, placing wires and small metal contacts on the skin of the chest. Thus, like chest x-ray, the electrocardiogram is considered one of the initial tests that evaluate the electrical function of the heart, being included in routine examinations of the consultation with a cardiologist. It can also be used to evaluate the size of certain heart chambers, to rule out certain types of heart attack, and to evaluate arrhythmias.
The electrocardiogram is fast and painless and often performed by the cardiologist itself in the office. Find out how the electrocardiogram is going.
What it’s for: Designed to detect irregular arrhythmias or heartbeats, evaluate evocative changes from a new or old heart attack, and suggest hydroelectrolytic changes such as a decrease or increase in blood potassium.
When it’s counter-cancer: anyone can have an electrocardiogram. However, there may be interference or difficulty in achieving this, in people with an amputated limb or who have skin lesions, excess hair on the chest, people who used moisturizers in the body before the test, or even in patients who cannot remain still when registering the electrocardiogram.
Outpatient blood pressure monitoring, known as MAP, is done for 24 hours with a blood pressure measurement device in your arm and a small waist-bound recorder measuring at intervals determined by your cardiologist, without having to stay in the hospital. .
All blood pressure results that have been recorded are analyzed by the doctor, so it is recommended to keep normal daily activities as well as write in a journal what you were doing whenever the pressure was measured, such as activities such as eating, walking or climbing stairs can usually change the pressure. Know the price and care to consider to perform the M.A.P.A.
What’s the use: it allows to study the pressure variation during the day, in case of doubt about the high blood pressure of the patient or in case of suspected white coat syndrome, in which the pressure increases during the medical consultation, but not in other situations. In addition, M.A.P.A. can be done to ensure that pressure control drugs work well throughout the day.
As opposed: this cannot be done when it is not possible to adjust the bracelet on the patient’s arm, which can occur in very thin or obese people, as well as in situations where it is not possible to measure pressure reliably, which can occur in people who have tremors or arrhythmias. Like what.
The holter is a test to evaluate your heart rate during the day and night using a portable recorder that has the same electrodes as the electrocardiogram and a recorder that attaches to your body, recording each beat of the period.
Although the exam period is 24 hours, there are more complicated cases that require 48 hours or even 1 week to properly study your heart rate. During holtering, it is also indicated to write the activities in a journal, such as increased effort and the presence of symptoms such as palpitations or chest pain, in order to evaluate the rhythm of these moments.
What’s the point: this test detects heart arrhythmias that may appear at different times of the day, studies symptoms of dizziness, palpitations or fainting that can be caused by heart failure, and also evaluates the effect of pacemakers or remedies to treat arrhythmias.
In contraction: it can be done in anyone, but it should be avoided in people with skin irritations that alter the fixation of the electrode. It can be installed by any trained person, but can only be analyzed by a cardiologist.
The stress test, also known as a treadmill test or stress test, is performed to observe changes in blood pressure or heart rate during any exertion. In addition to the treadmill, it can be done on an exercise bike.
Stress test evaluation mimics situations that your body requires, such as climbing stairs or a slope, such as situations that can cause discomfort or shortness of breath in people at risk of heart attack. Learn more about stress tests.
What it’s for: to evaluate the functioning of the heart during exercise, to detect the presence of chest pain, dyspnoea or arrhythmias, which may indicate risk of heart attack or heart failure.
In case of contraction: this test should not be performed by people who have physical limitations, such as not being able to walk or bike, or who have an acute illness, such as infection or heart failure, as it may worsen during the exam.
The echocardiogram, also called an echocardiogram, is a kind of ultrasound of the heart, which detects images during its activity, evaluating its size, the thickness of its walls, the amount of blood pumped and the functioning of the heart valves.
This test is painless and does not use x-rays to get your image, so it is very effective and provides a lot of important information about the heart. It is often done to investigate people who experience shortness of breath and swelling of the legs, which may indicate heart failure. Refer to the step-by-step instructions for the echocardiogram.
What it’s for: It helps evaluate heart function, detects heart failure, heart murmurs, changes in heart shape and vessels, and can detect tumors in the heart.
When contraindicated: there are no contraindications for the examination, however, its realization and, therefore, the result, may be more difficult in people with breast implants or obese, and in patients where it is not possible to lie on its side, such as people with a broken leg or in a severe or intubated state as what.
The scan is an examination that is performed by injecting a special drug into the vein, which facilitates the capture of images of the heart walls. Images are taken with the person at rest and after effort, so that there is a comparison between them. If the person cannot make the effort, it is replaced by a drug that simulates, in the body, a forced walk, without the person leaving the premises.
What it does: Evaluates changes in blood supply to the heart walls, such as angina or heart attack, for example. It is also able to observe the functioning of the heart rate in its stress phase.
When countered: Myocardial scans are countered in cases of allergy to the active substance used in the test, people with severe arrhythmias or kidney problems, as contrast removal is performed by the kidneys.
The cardiologist may also decide whether this test will be performed with or without stimulation of medications that speed up the heart rate to mimic the patient’s stressful situation. See how the scan is performed.
Some blood tests may be done to evaluate the heart, such as troponin, CPK, or CK-MB, for example, which are muscle markers that can be used in the evaluation of acute myocardial infarction.
Other tests such as blood sugar, cholesterol and triglycerides, requested during cardiovascular checkups, for example, although not specific to the heart, indicate that if there is no control with medication, physical activity and a balanced diet, there is a high risk. developing cardiovascular disease. In the future. Understand better when to have a cardiovascular checkup.