Heart Screening
As we all go about our daily routines, it’s easy to forget that our hearts are what keeps us going. At Providence, we offer a range of precautionary heart screenings to inform patients of their risk of cardiovascular disease.
Our Approach
Our goal is to help you minimize your risk of cardiovascular disease, so we urge our patients to receive their screenings before symptoms begin. Whether your screening yields excellent or less than ideal results, our cardiovascular specialists work collaboratively with you to help manage your risk factors and take control of your heart health.
Heart screenings are safe; many use noninvasive or minimally invasive procedures. While there are no risks involved in receiving a precautionary heart screening, failure to do so can be life threatening. More often than not, symptoms of cardiovascular disease don’t manifest within the body until it’s too late.
Screenings and Diagnostics
Keeping your heart healthy starts with understanding it. Our cardiac specialists use advanced screenings, imaging scans and tests to evaluate your heart and detect any concerns early.
To create your care plan, we may recommend different screenings and diagnostics, including:
At Providence, we believe that healthy living starts with a healthy heart. When noninvasive heart screening methods, such as electrocardiograms, yield inconclusive results the next best step in treatment is a coronary angiography, or an angiogram for short.
This diagnostic procedure uses contrast dye and X-ray imaging to help your care team see any potential blockages in the heart.
Radiographic studies, such as cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and cardiac CT scan, are called imaging tests and allow the health care provider to check for problems in the heart. The tests are painless and noninvasive.
A cardiac MRI scan uses magnets and strong radio waves to create an image that can show problems with heart structure, abnormal blood flow or tissue damage.
Cardiac PET/CT is a specialized, noninvasive imaging test that evaluates blood flow and heart function. It uses a small amount of radioactive tracer to capture detailed images of your heart in both resting and stress phases.
Unlike traditional stress tests, a cardiac PET/CT provides superior resolution and sensitivity, allowing doctors to detect disease before symptoms appear.
Diagnostic procedures, like an echocardiogram, allow our doctors to more accurately diagnose and better treat cardiovascular conditions.
Echocardiography uses ultrasound technology to produce detailed images of the heart’s valve and chambers. Through a monitor, your doctor can evaluate how the heart is pumping blood in real-time.
Our teams of cardiovascular experts will help you understand how heart disease can personally affect your body, as well as the risks associated with heart disease and what can be done to reduce them. During a basic heart screening, our clinical experts conduct the following tests:
- 12-lead electrocardiogram
- Blood pressure and heart rate check
- Body mass index (BMI) check
- Comprehensive cholesterol screening that includes:
- Glucose
- High-density lipoprotein (HDL, good cholesterol)
- Low-density lipoprotein (LDL, bad cholesterol)
- Total cholesterol (TC)
- Triglycerides
- Framingham score calculation
- Metabolic syndrome calculation
If necessary, your doctor may recommend other advanced heart health screenings.
For some heart screenings, like cardiac imaging scans, it’s important to let your doctor and the imaging specialist know certain medical information prior to your appointment.
Please notify your doctor and imaging specialist if:
- You’re allergic to medications, contrast dye, or iodine.
- You’re pregnant.
- You have asthma.
- You have certain medical conditions like diabetes, heart disease, kidney problems or thyroid conditions.
- You have any metal objects within your body, such as a pacemaker, surgical clips or shrapnel.
- You’ve recently had a barium study done, which can interfere with the accuracy of a CAT/CT scan.
Preparing for your appointment
Some cardiac screenings, scans or tests may require some preparation before the appointment, including:
- Avoiding caffeine and/or smoking
- Fasting from any food or beverages for at least four hours prior to the exam – water is allowed
- Removing all makeup
- Removing all metal objects, including watches, jewelry or piercings
- Stopping specific medications at the direction of your doctor
If CAT/CT oral contrast is ordered, drink it according to the directions and time provided by your doctor.
After some screenings, you may experience the following:
- Any contrast dye should pass through the body in about 24 hours. Your care team may tell you to drink extra water or other fluids during this time.
- If you received a sedative or anesthesia, you will be taken to a recovery room. It may take 1-2 hours for these medicines to wear off.
- Unless you’ve been instructed not to, you can return to a normal routine and diet right away.
The images are reviewed by a radiologist and cardiologist. The cardiologist will follow up with complete results.
It’s important to get screenings and tests even if you don’t have symptoms of heart disease. Often, symptoms don’t arise until heart disease is more advanced.
If you’ve previously been diagnosed with a cardiovascular disease or experienced a cardiovascular event like a heart attack, your doctor may recommend additional heart screenings or more frequent imaging or tests.
Factors such as genetics and lifestyle choices can increase your risk of developing heart disease or experiencing a stroke.
Some risk factors to discuss with your doctor include:
- Elevated body mass index (BMI)
- Family history of heart disease
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- History of cardiovascular disease or event
- Sedentary or low physical activity
- Smoking
If you have one or more of these risk factors, talk with your doctor about when it’s best to start regular heart screenings or which advanced screenings are right for you.
Regardless of the type of screening, it’s important to follow your doctor’s recommendations afterward.
Doctors Specializing in Heart Screening
At Providence, you'll have access to a vast network of dedicated and compassionate providers who offer personalized care by focusing on treatment, prevention and health education.
Frequently Asked Questions
Regular heart screenings are highly recommended so that you and your doctor can get a baseline of your heart health to reference if something unusual comes up, like elevated cholesterol or chest pains.
People with heart disease don’t always experience symptoms early on, when these conditions are easiest to treat. That’s why getting routine heart screenings and following your doctor’s recommendations is so important for your cardiovascular health.
If you’ve previously experienced a cardiovascular event like a heart attack, or if your lifestyle involves one or more common risk factors, we recommend speaking with your doctor about your risk level and what screenings may be right for you.
Common risk factors include:
- Elevated body mass index (BMI)
- Family history of heart disease
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- History of cardiovascular disease or event
- Sedentary or low physical activity
- Smoking
Depending on the type of screening, imaging scan or test you’re receiving, you may experience some of the following during your visit:
- Angiogram: An injection of contrast dye is used to improve image results.
- Cardiac MRI scan: A coil may be placed over the heart to send and receive radio waves that help improve image results. The MRI machine can also make loud noises; we’ll provide you with earplugs if you need them.
- Cardiac PET/CT scan: An injection of contrast dye and a low-dose radioactive tracer is used to improve image results.
- ECG/EKG: Electrodes are placed on your chest, arms and legs. You’ll be asked to hold your breath for about 10 seconds to help the electrodes accurately record changes in your heart’s impulses.
- Echocardiogram:
- 3-D echocardiogram and transthoracic echocardiogram: A clear gel is applied to your chest, similar to an ultrasound.
- Stress echocardiogram: You need to raise your heart rate by exercising on a treadmill or stationary bike or by taking medication.
- Transesophageal echocardiogram: A small tube called an endoscope is inserted down the esophagus. You’ll be asked not to eat for at least six hours before the procedure.
- Electrophysiology test: An IV is inserted into the groin area. Temporary electrode catheters are placed at strategic positions along conduction areas of the heart, which may cause your heart to skip a beat or produce an abnormal rhythm to better understand what is causing arrhythmia.
- Holter monitor: Electrodes are placed on your chest and abdomen.
- MCT monitor: Electrodes are placed on your chest and abdomen.
- Nuclear studies and tests:
- This test may last between 3-4 hours.
- During the exercise portion, you increase your heart rate on a treadmill. Once you hit a specific target or can no longer continue exercising, a tracer is injected through an IV line.
- Then, you lie very still during an ECG/EKG scan.
- If you’re not able to perform the exercise portion of the test, you’re given medication that mimics a high-exertion heart rate.
- Peripheral arterial disease screening: Pressure cuffs, like the ones used in an average blood pressure check, are placed around your ankles and arms.
- PET scan: An IV line is inserted, and a dosage of radioactive tracer is injected through the IV. During the scan, you must lie very still to get the best possible imaging.
- Venous study: A clear gel is applied to your chest, similar to an ultrasound.
Yes, there are different types of echocardiograms, each with its own procedural steps:
- 3-D echocardiogram: Rather than a flat image, this type of echocardiogram provides a 3-D image, showing the heart’s full anatomy, working valves and blood flow. It can be used to diagnose both heart conditions and defects and to plan surgical procedures.
- Stress echocardiogram: This test is the same as a transthoracic echocardiogram, but it’s administered after elevating your heart rate through exercise or medication. It helps doctors evaluate how your heart functions under stress.
- Transesophageal echocardiogram: This exam uses a thin tube, called an endoscope, with a built-in sound wave transducer to help view the heart in greater detail. The endoscope is inserted into your chest via the mouth. Then, the transducer emits ultrasound waves to help produce images. Often, sedatives and numbing agents are provided for your comfort.
- Transthoracic echocardiogram: This noninvasive exam is the most common. It uses an external transducer to emit ultrasound waves through the chest. It requires no preparation and is administered in about 30 minutes.
While uncommon, the risks and possible complications of a cardiac imaging scan, screening or test include:
- Allergic reaction to contrast dye, such as hives, itching or wheezing
- Heart attack, abnormal heartbeat, dizziness or chest pain from a stress test
- These complications are extremely rare.
- Infection or bleeding at incision site with cardiac catheterization procedures like angiograms
- Kidney damage from IV contrast dye used in CT scan
- This complication is rare.
- Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis, an illness that has been linked to MRI IV contrast material
- This complication is extremely rare.
- Problems with undetected metal implants or foreign bodies during an MRI
- Radiation exposure from X-rays, only with CAT/CT scans or nuclear studies
- Reaction to sedative or anesthesia, such as headaches, shivering and vomiting
Many insurance plans cover heart screenings, especially if they’re medically necessary or are part of your preventative care. Some imaging scans or tests may require a copay or deductible.
Since coverage and plans can vary, it’s best to confirm with your insurance provider directly before scheduling a visit.