Heart screening and imaging
Regular heart screening, such as blood pressure screening, is important for maintaining heart health. Blood tests are utilized to examine cholesterol levels and glucose levels and imaging is used to screen for heart complications or monitor current conditions.
Cardiac testing and imaging in Virginia
A concrete diagnosis is the first step in an effective care plan — let us get one for you.
Throughout the hospitals in the HCA Virginia Health System, we emphasize the importance of early detection. From cardiac catheterization to diagnostic imaging, we use a wide range of tools to help start your care as soon as possible.
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Understanding your heart health is a valuable preventive care tool. Take our free assessment to determine your risk of heart disease and what you can do about it.
Understanding your heart health is a valuable preventive care tool. Take our free assessment to determine your risk of heart disease and what you can do about it.
Related specialties
Learn more about our related specialties.
Conditions that require heart imaging
Our laboratory and imaging specialists offer an extensive suite of screening tools for various cardiovascular conditions, such as:
- Coronary artery disease
- Heart attack
- Heart disease
- Heart failure
- Hypertension
Heart screening and imaging services we offer
From advanced imaging and cardiac catheterization to coronary calcium scans and electrophysiology (EP) studies, our services are designed to ensure you get the most comprehensive, accurate diagnosis possible.
Complete screening and imaging care
Whether you are experiencing heart disease, heart failure, a heart arrhythmia or a related condition, our services help our cardiologists to identify these situations early. Doing so allows our specialists to provide treatments to keep these conditions from advancing, or possibly even prevent sudden events like heart attacks from happening in the first place.
Cardiac catheterization (cath) labs
Our cardiac cath labs operate 24/7 and are operated by a team of board-certified interventional cardiologists, cardiac nurse practitioners, registered cath lab nurses and electrophysiology technologists. Here, they use advanced minimally invasive surgical technology to perform both diagnostic and interventional treatments and tests, including:
- Blood sample collection
- Breaking up blood clots during a heart attack
- Calculating heart chamber pressure
- Diagnosing heart disease
- Measuring oxygen levels
These procedures are accomplished via a doctor placing a catheter into a blood vessel in the neck, arm or groin, then threading it into the heart. By utilizing minimally invasive techniques, we can reduce your recovery time and ensure less pain, less scarring and a shorter hospital stay.
Procedures offered at our cath labs
We perform a variety of interventions to diagnose and treat conditions such as heart failure and heart arrhythmias. Some of the coronary and peripheral intervention procedures we offer include:
- 3D mapping
- Angiogram
- Bare metal stents
- Biventricular leads
- Cardioversion
- Cutting balloon
- Drug-eluting stents
- Heart biopsy
- High-risk coronary stenting with advanced, heart-pump therapies
- Intravascular ultrasound
- Nitric oxide study for pulmonary hypertension
- Pacemaker and defibrillator implantation
- Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) stent
- Peripheral catheterization
- Peripheral PTCA stent
- Pressure wire
- Renal PTCA stent
- Rotational atherectomy
- Tilt table testing
- Transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) and other advanced heart imaging
Coronary calcium scans
A coronary calcium scan, also known as a "heart scan," is a specialized X-ray that captures photos of your heart to detect and measure calcium-containing plaque in the arteries.
We offer this type of advanced scan because it allows us to identify potential coronary artery disease before you may experience symptoms. If a significant level of calcified plaque is discovered, then our heart team may prescribe certain medications or recommend lifestyle changes to reduce your risk of life-threatening cardiac problems.
Electrophysiology (EP) studies
Electrophysiology involves testing the electrical system and activity within your heart. For example, if you have been diagnosed with an arrhythmia, your cardiologist may use an EP study to see where it is occurring in your heart.
Our hospitals include electrophysiologists, electrophysiology nurses and anesthesiologists who are specially trained to perform EP studies. They will work together to determine what treatment plan is best for you.
Imaging services we offer
Our utmost concern is ensuring that you have as many options as possible to gain a proper diagnosis, no matter your condition. We monitor your heart's activity through a spectrum of imaging services, including:
- Computerized tomography angiography (CTA)
- Echocardiogram
- Electrocardiogram (EKG)
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Multidetector cardiac computerized tomography scan (MDCT)
- Nuclear imaging
- Ultrasound
- X-rays
Stress testing
Also known as an exercise stress test, a stress test shows how your heart performs during physical activity. Since your heart pumps harder and faster when you exercise, a stress test is able to detect any problems with blood flow within your heart.
Typically, you will be asked to walk on a treadmill or ride a stationary bike while our cardiologists monitor your heart rhythm, blood pressure and breathing. If you already have signs of heart disease or a heart arrhythmia, a stress test may be recommended so we can determine the severity of your heart condition and form the best treatment plan for you.
Vascular lab testing
Vascular testing involves a full scope of noninvasive procedures to determine blood flow, circulation or blockages in vessels outside the heart.
We offer several fully equipped peripheral vascular labs, which feature advanced imaging technology for veins and arteries. This technology provides doctors with a clear view of the vascular field, resulting in reliable detection and treatment all while only exposing you to minimal radiation.
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