What Does An Echocardiogram Show? An echocardiogram is used to show possible abnormalities of the heart structure and function that may be the cause for symptoms thought to be related to heart disease. An echocardiogram shows us the structure and function of the heart. It provides information on the heart pumping function and heart size.…
The Echo Board Exam – Everything You Need to Know to Pass
Content covered in this comprehensive article includes the Echo Board Exam, Echo boards information, ASCeXAM®, echoboardstudy.com, Echo board certification, echo board review, echo board study, echo board resources, echo board practice questions, and echo board practice tests. What is the Echo Board Exam? The echocardiography board exam is also known as echo boards or the…
What To Expect as a Patient in the Cath Lab
There are many reasons that may lead to someone needing a heart catheterization in the cardiac cath lab. Should it be an abnormal stress test, positive cardiac enzymes, or an acute myocardial infarction, the next step may be a heart cath. Even if your procedure is scheduled, or “routine,” it can be a scary experience.…
RVSP – Right Ventricular Systolic Pressure
What is RVSP? RVSP is short for right ventricular systolic pressure. RVSP is a commonly searched term because it is found on almost all echocardiogram reports. It is important as the RVSP is used to estimate the pressure inside the artery that supplies the lung with blood. In most cases, the RVSP equals the pulmonary…
Right Heart Catheterization
What is a Right Heart Catheterization? So you have been told you need a Right Heart Catheterization (RHC), now what? Allow us at MyHeart to explain this procedure. Before delving into the specifics of a right heart catheterization, it is important to understand basic definitions and parts. A catheter is essentially a long hollow tube…
Tilt Test – Tilt Table Test Explained!
Did your doctor order you to take a tilt test? He could suspect you have POTS Syndrome or any kind of disease. Learn what to expect from your tilt test experience and what kind of cardiovascular diseases your physician may be trying to diagnosis.
Troponin Levels – The Heart Attack Blood Test
Often people are hospitalized and they go home with a copy of their blood tests, one of which is a troponin level. Recently, someone asked me whether they should be worried about a heart attack after they noticed an elevated troponin level on the blood tests listed on their discharge paperwork. Diagnosing a heart attack…
Do I Need A Stress Test ? – Why It’s Not That Simple
I frequently perform emergency procedures to open up blocked heart arteries. At the end of the case, I’m often asked by the patient “how could this happen, I only just had a normal stress test a few months ago!” They think they have either been mismanaged by their cardiologist, or that the test was read…
What Is A Stress Test?
Unless otherwise stated, any stress test referenced on a MyHeart related blog post will refer specifically to cardiac stress tests. Other heart related stress tests like cardiopulmonary exercise tests can be discussed at a later date. In generic terms, a stress test is a procedure to indirectly determine whether there are significant blockages in your…
Echocardiography – Part 1 – What is an echocardiogram
An echocardiogram or echo for short, is a powerful tool used primarily by cardiologists to evaluate the heart’s structure and function. An echocardiogram is a type of sonogram which means that it uses sound waves to take pictures of your heart and related structures. The system is very similar to sonar on a submarine. The…
