What is a cardiac workup?
A cardiac workup involves screenings and diagnostic tests that detect the signs of heart-related disease before you experience any symptoms. In many cases, these diseases won’t cause symptoms until the condition becomes more severe.
Common conditions a cardiac workup can detect and help prevent include:
- Stroke
- Heart attack
- Congestive heart failure
- Atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries)
By identifying disease in its earliest stage, treatments are typically more effective than if the disease is advanced. You might also be able to get by with less invasive treatments.
Why would I need a cardiac workup?
The Gulf Coast Cardiology Group PLLC team recommends a cardiac workup if you have risk factors for certain cardiovascular diseases. These risk factors include:
- Age
- Gender
- Genetics
- Family history
If you have existing chronic diseases that can contribute to heart disease, you might also want a preventive cardiac workup.
What’s involved in a cardiac workup?
During a cardiac workup, the team at Gulf Coast Cardiology Group PLLC spends time reviewing your personal and family medical histories. They discuss your lifestyle, exercise routine, and diet.
To evaluate your cardiovascular health, the team takes your blood pressure. It often requests blood work to evaluate your cholesterol and blood glucose levels. They also check for C-reactive proteins in your blood that indicate that you have excess inflammation in your body.
After your blood work results come back, the team will determine if you need additional cardiac screenings.
What additional cardiac screenings are used during a cardiac workup?
The Gulf Coast Cardiology Group PLLC office is fully equipped with several cardiac imaging and monitoring tests, including:
Electrocardiography (EKG/ECG)
An EKG (sometimes called an ECG) is a noninvasive test that measures the electrical activity of your heart to identify abnormalities in your heart rate and rhythm.
Treadmill stress test
A treadmill stress test evaluates your heart rate and rhythm, the electrical activity of your heart, and your blood pressure while you engage in exercise.
Stress thallium test
Stress thallium tests combine a treadmill stress test and a heart scan. Before the scan, you’ll get an injection of a radionuclide material like thallium that travels through your coronary arteries to evaluate the shape and function of your heart.
Echocardiography
An echocardiogram (often called simply an echo) is a noninvasive test that uses sound waves to create pictures of your heart to identify structural abnormalities. This test provides information about how your heart is pumping, how blood flows through your heart and blood vessels, and how your heart valves are working.
Based on the results of your cardiac workup, the team can determine if you need additional testing or treatment for problems they identify.
To schedule a cardiac workup, call Gulf Coast Cardiology Group PLLC or book an appointment online today.
