Vitals
Vitals such as blood pressure, heart rate, O2 readings, respiratory rate, and temperature are taken with every patient. Just like the Doctors office, we start with vitals to ensure the best care possible.
Blood pressure should be around 120/80mmHg - any higher and you may have early onset hypertension that can cause things like thickened heart muscle and blood vessel damage over time.
Oxygen levels should be near 100% in the bloodstream, if it gets too low, vital organs are not receiving what they need to stay strong. Low O2 could be a sign of early lung disease.
Electrocardiogram (EKG)
An EKG is as an electrical assessment of your heart - looks for atrial fibrillation, premature heart beats, electrical disturbances, potential blockages and other quiet issues that may not be seen with an Echocardiogram alone.
Any time a suspected cardiac case comes to the hospital, this is the very first test that is performed!
Education
During the appointment, I am happy to answer any questions you may have about your overall health. Symptoms, family history, lifestyle and any other information can be vital in getting you the right diagnosis.
Doctors, Nursing and Hospital staff have become overworked and their time to listen to patients has dwindled. We're here to make sure every patient is heard and understood - because medical care can be scary.
I want all my patients to live long, happy, healthy lives.
It all starts with knowledge of your cardiovascular system and what you can do to ensure you stay healthy for your loved ones.
Our Services
Echocardiogram
An Echocardiogram is also known as an "Ultrasound of your heart" An in depth assessment of the anatomy, function, valves and overall health of your heart.
How strong does the heart squeeze? How well does it relax? Are there negative changes due to lifestyle or unknown underlying issues? Is there fluid backed up or surrounding the heart? How are the heart valves functioning - do they open well or do they leak? Are there blood clots? Are there tumors?
So many questions can be answered with an Echo. It's safe, non invasive and absolutely no radiation. It's all sound waves! It's almost always what a cardiologist will order after an EKG is performed.
Vascular Screening
Vascular Screening is a non invasive assessment of your arteries and veins searching for plaque, blockages, aneurysms and blood clots.
ABI's - Ankle Brachial Index. A blood pressure is taken in both arms and legs and compared. Blood pressure should be consistent throughout the body, if one or more limbs are showing higher or lower blood pressure it could suggest peripheral arterial disease.
Carotid ultrasound - the arteries that go up your neck and feed the face and brain. Common site for plaque development and source of stroke.
Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening - Scans the aorta (largest artery in the body) for any dilation or signs of aneurysm. Early detection and management is crucial. An aneurysm that bursts is most often life threatening.
Screening for cause of swollen legs or ankles (edema). Often times small blood clots can form on long car rides, airplanes, or lack of movement. Still or slow blood flow leads to high risk of blood clot formation. If a clot dislodges from your leg or arm, it returns to the heart and is pumped towards the lungs leading to a pulmonary embolism that can also be life threatening.
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