In-Office Cardiology Procedures
At UpCountry Cardiology, we want to make sure the diagnostic testing and treatment of your cardiac condition is as convenient as possible. That’s why our doctors are proud to offer a variety of treatments and diagnostic testing in-office, including fingerstick lipid blood panel screening and cardiac imaging. Each of these services are used to help diagnose conditions early-on, monitor conditions when you can’t be in the office, and provide you with the treatment you need to manage your condition effectively.
In-office procedures UpCountry Cardiology provides to its Maui patients include:
Anticoagulation involves the use of medicine to thin the blood and reduce the risk of stroke. With newer medications (NOAS's), the need for monthly blood draws are eliminated, and have shown to reduce your risk for stroke compared to Warfarin.
Cardiac imaging, like echocardiograms and electrocardiograms, allow our doctors to get a fuller view of your heart and its function. These images are used for diagnostic testing. With cardiac imaging, our doctors can detect arrythmias, blocked arteries, heart murmurs and more. These tests may also be required for regular check-ups on your heart or to gain clearance for a cardiac procedure.
An echocardiogram is a diagnostic imaging test allows our doctors to see a live image of your heart’s function. This test uses ultrasound technology, which utilizes sound waves to show the shape and movement of the heart’s valves, the size of the heart’s chambers, and how well the valves and chambers are functioning. This test also allows our doctors to determine the direction and speed of blood flow throughout the heart. Echocardiograms are noninvasive, painless, and typically take less than an hour to complete.
At UpCountry Cardiology, we offer the following echocardiogram imaging tests:
- Transthoracic Echo (TTE). This echocardiogram is conducted by holding the ultrasound device over the skin of the torso and produces moving images of the heart.
- Stress Echocardiogram. This echocardiogram involves an ultrasound image being taken after a period of exercise, or a stress test. This captures how your heart functions at peak levels.
An electrocardiogram is typically used for patients with chest pain, heart palpitations, or suspected heart disease. This imaging test, unlike an echocardiogram, measures the electrical activity of the heart to determine whether the heart is beating normally. An EKG or ECG can provide detailed information about the position of the heart chambers, whether the heart has damage, and the effect of a pacemaker on the heart. This test can also detect arrythmias that put you at greater risk of a heart attack.
Holter and event monitors are devices that measure and record your heartbeat throughout your normal daily routine. These monitors are not only used to detect abnormal heart beats, but they are also used to evaluate symptoms like chest pain, dizziness, or fainting. We may also suggest using a Holter monitor or event monitor to examine how current treatments are working and affecting the heart.
Holter monitors and event monitors are similar, but they are not the same. Holter monitors are wireless and can record your heartbeat for up to 14 days at a time. With a Holter monitor, you don’t have to worry about wiring or patches – just wear it throughout the day and even shower with it!
Event monitors, on the other hand, only record the heartbeat when you activate the device or have a qualifying event. These monitors can be programmed to automatically record fast or slow heartrates depending on your needs.
An ILR is a small device that is placed just under the surface of the skin in the chest like a pacemaker. Unlike a pacemaker, however, an ILR simply monitors and records the heart’s activity. This device is most commonly used to find the root cause of symptoms like syncope, heart palpitations, or irregular heartbeats.
A pacemaker is a small device that is placed just under the skin in the upper chest. This device differs from an implantable loop recorder in that it monitors heart rate and rhythm and provides electrical signals to the heart. This means it regulates heart beats using electrical impulses. A pacemaker is typically used to treat arrythmias.
While the team at UpCountry Cardiology does not place pacemakers on-site, they do monitor the pacemaker’s performance. Our experts can also provide you with follow-up visits following your pacemaker surgery to ensure everything is functioning properly.
Exercise both increases your heart rate and makes your heart beat harder than usual. While this can strengthen the heart, it can also be used to see how the heart functions under pressure.
During a cardiac stress test, our doctors will ask you to walk, jog, and/or run on a treadmill. As you exercise, they will monitor your breathing, heart rhythm, and blood pressure. This test is most commonly used to detect underlying issues like arrythmia or coronary artery disease.
If you cannot exercise enough on the treadmill to produce results for a cardiac stress test, Dr. Markarian can arrange for a pharmacologic stress test.
Vascular studies include vascular ultrasounds – also called duplex studies. These noninvasive tests are done to view the circulation of blood throughout different parts of the body. A vascular ultrasound may also be used on common arteries which supply blood throughout the body. For example, we may use a vascular ultrasound to look at the carotid arteries in the neck, or iliac arteries, which supply blood to the lower portion of the body. This technology is used to examine arteries for peripheral arterial disease, to check the aorta for aneurysms or enlargement, or to rule out blood clots or venous insufficiency.
Board-Certified Cardiologist in Maui, HI
Want to know more about the in-office procedures we offer at UpCountry Cardiology? Give us a call at (808) 793-5440.