Diagnostic Testing
Our experts your first step to better health through the accurate diagnosis of your condition.
The echocardiography laboratory at the Columbia University Division of Cardiology at Mount Sinai is accredited by the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Echocardiography Laboratories (ICAEL), and is arguably the best in the region We perform approximately 6,100 transthoracic and 1,500 transesophageal studies annually. Our team of experts, all board certified in cardiology and echocardiography, utilizes the latest technology, including 3-dimensional imaging, to make even the most difficult diagnoses via noninvasive techniques.
Angiography
Angiography (also known as an Angiogram) is the x-ray visualization of the internal anatomy of the heart and blood vessels after the intravascular introduction of radioopaque contrast medium (dye). This technique can be used to look at arteries in many areas of the body, including the brain, neck, heart, chest, pulmonary circuit, kidneys, and limbs.
Ankle Brachial Index (ABI)
ABI is the ratio of systolic blood pressure at the ankle to the systolic blood pressure in the arm, and it is used to diagnose Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD).
A blood pressure in the legs that is less than 90 percent of the blood pressure in the arms suggests blocked arteries and PAD.
What is Advanced Lipid Profile Testing?
Advanced Lipid Profile Testing is a great way to measure the amount of cholesterol – both good and bad – in the blood. Cholesterol is a lipid (or fat) which is carried through the heart and body in the bloodstream and is either produced by the liver or consumed through food. Your cholesterol level is determined by a combination of genetics and diet, and having an unhealthy level can put you at risk for heart disease, stroke, and other diseases.
A standard cholesterol test measures your LDL level (or “bad” cholesterol), HDL level (or “good” cholesterol), triglycerides, and total cholesterol. An Advanced Lipid Profile, however, analyzes the makeup of LDL and HDL cholesterol to measure the subtypes of each kind. While a standard cholesterol test can help gauge your risk of developing cardiovascular disease, an Advanced Lipid Profile Test can improve the accuracy of the test from around 40 percent to around 90 percent.
Who is at risk for Cardiovascular Disease?
Your risk for cardiovascular disease is determined by a mixture of genetic predisposition and lifestyle choices like diet, exercise, and smoking. Those who have a family history of heart disease, are overweight, eat a diet high in saturated fat and cholesterol, smoke, drink alcohol in excess, exercise very infrequently, and even people who lead a high-stress lifestyle are at a greater risk of developing heart disease.
As the body builds up excess cholesterol in the bloodstream, walls of plaque begin to form on the insides of the blood vessels – a condition known as atherosclerosis. Having high levels of LDL cholesterol and plaque in the blood is a strong risk factor for heart disease, but analysis with an Advanced Lipoprotein Analysis Test can give your doctor a more accurate picture of your risk and the course of action needed to prevent future disease.
How to Schedule a Test
To learn more about Advanced Lipid Profile Testing or to schedule a test today, please call 305.674.2273 or Contact Us online.
Cardiac Calcium Scoring
A cardiac calcium score test, also known as a heart scan, is a test that measures the amount of plaque plaque buildup in the coronary arteries. Calcium buildup found in the arteries is a sign of coronary heart disease. A CT scan is used in this test.
Cardiac Catherization
This is a procedure to examine blood flow to the heart and test how well the heart is pumping. A thin plastic tube is inserted into an artery or vein in the arm or leg. From there it can be advanced into the chambers of the heart or into the coronary arteries. This test can measure blood pressure within the heart and how much oxygen is in the blood. It is also used to get information about the pumping ability of the heart muscle.
Cardiac MRI
Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR), also known as a cardiac MRI, is a medical imaging technology for the non-invasive assessment of the function and structure of the cardiovascular system. It is derived from and based on the same basic principles as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), but with optimization for use in the cardiovascular system.
What is Carotid IMT?
Carotid IMT (which stands for intima-media thickness; also abbreviated CIMT) is a measurement of the thickness of the walls of the carotid arteries located in the neck. This measurement serves as an important indicator of one’s risk of cardiovascular disease or stroke. Changes in blood pressure can put stress on the walls of the arteries, causing them to thicken over time. Plaque buildup on the arterial walls can also contribute to their thickness.
The Carotid IMT test provides a detailed picture of the thickness of both the media (the thick, muscular layer of the artery) and the intima (the thin, inner layer). It offers an analysis of the patient’s risk for heart attack, stroke, and other cardiac diseases. The test is brief, non-invasive, and uses a high-tech ultrasound system to measure arterial thickness. It requires no medications, anathesthetic, injections, needles, or radiation exposure.
Who should have a Carotid IMT Scan?
By analyzing the thickness of the arterial walls with a CIMT test, cardiologists are better able to assess their patients’ health and risk for cardiovascular disease. An individual’s risk of developing cardiovascular disease is determined by a mixture of genetic predisposition and lifestyle choices like diet, exercise, and smoking. Those who have a family history of heart disease, are overweight, eat a diet high in saturated fat and cholesterol, smoke, drink alcohol in excess, exercise very infrequently, and even people who lead a high-stress lifestyle are at a greater risk of developing heart disease.
As the body builds up excess cholesterol in the bloodstream, walls of plaque begin to form on the insides of the blood vessels – a condition known as atherosclerosis. Having a CIMT test regularly is an excellent way to track the progress of a heart diease prevention plan or treatment program. For patients with high blood pressure, CIMT testing is also a way to asses the risk that their blood pressure has afforded them of developing heart disease.
How to Get Started
Due to stringent test examination requirements and the need for high-tech equipment and expert consultation, Carotid IMT testing is not a widely available test – and the Mount Sinai Heart Institute is proud to offer it. To learn more about Carotid IMT scanning or to schedule a test today, please call 305.674.2273 or Contact Us online
Carotid Ultrasound
A carotid ultrasound is a non-invasive ultrasound method used to examine blood circulation. An ultrasound of the body’s two carotid arteries, which are located on each side of the neck and carry blood from the heart to the brain, provides detailed pictures of these blood vessels and information about the blood flowing through them.
Chest X-Ray
A chest X-ray is a radiology test that involves exposing the chest briefly to radiation to produce an image of the chest and the internal organs of the chest. An X-ray film is positioned against the body opposite the camera, which sends out a very small dose of a radiation beam.
CT Coronary Angiogram
CT coronary angiogram is a noninvasive test of the heart. The procedure uses an intravenous dye and CT scanning to image the coronary arteries. CT coronary angiogram is a major tool in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease.
Echo Stress Test
A supplement to the routine exercise cardiac stress test. During stress echocardiography, the sound waves of ultrasound are used to produce images of the heart at rest and at the peak of exercise.
Echocardiogram (EKG)
Echocardiograms are obtained by reflecting high frequency sound waves (ultrasound) off various structures of the heart, then translating the reflected waves into images.
Heart Scan
A CAT scan uses x-rays to do detailed images of internal body structures and, in this case, the arteries of your heart. In addition, it can look at the heart itself to see if there are any abnormalities of the muscles, valves, or the outer lining of the heart. CAT scans of the heart can recognize early blockages within arteries of the heart and therefore may save lives.
Holter Monitor
The Holter monitor is a small portable electrocardiogram (ECG). The device is worn in a pouch around the neck or waist. It keeps a record of the heart rhythm, typically over a 24-hour period, while the patient keeps a diary recording their activities and any symptoms they may feel.
Nuclear Stress Test
A nuclear stress test measures blood flow to the heart muscle at rest and during stress. It is performed similarly to a routine exercise stress test but provides more images than electrocardiograms. A mild radioactive liquid is pumped into the patient’s circulatory system in this test.