Non-invasive Cardiac Imaging, Nuclear Cardiology & Echocardiography

A coronary artery disease is also known as ischemic heart diseases which is a group of diseases that includes stable angina, unstable angina, myocardial infarction, and sudden cardiac death. It is within the group of cardiovascular diseases and most common type. CAD happens when the arteries that supply blood to heart muscle become hardened and narrowed this is due to the build-up of cholesterol and other materials called plaque on their inner walls this build up is called as atherosclerosis  as it grows less blood flows through the arteries. As a result the heart muscle can't get the blood or oxygen it needs so this can leads to chest pain (angina) or a heart attack.

Cardiac valvular diseases are also known as Valvular heart diseases is characterized by damage to or a defect in one of four heart valves: the mitral, aortic, tricuspid or pulmonary. These conditions occurs  largely as a result of aging and  sometimes they don't work properly If they don't, you could have Regurgitation - when blood leaks back through the valve in the wrong direction, Mitral valve prolapse - when one of the valves, the mitral valve, has "floppy" flaps and doesn't close tightly. It's one of the most common heart valve conditions sometimes it causes regurgitation and Stenosis - when the valve doesn't open enough and blocks blood flow.

Valve problems can be present at birth or caused by infections and heart attacks or heart disease. The main sign of heart valve disease is an unusual heartbeat sound called a heart murmur. Heart tests can show if you have a heart valve disease some valve problems are minor and do not need any treatment. Others might require medicine, medical procedures or surgery to repair or replace the valve.

Cardiac markers are biomarkers which are used to measure the evaluate heart function. These are often discussed in the context of myocardial infarction but other some conditions can lead to elevation in cardiac marker level. Most of the early markers are identified as enzymes so as a result the term Cardiac Enzymes are also used sometimes. Measuring cardiac biomarkers can be a step towards making a diagnosis for a condition whereas cardiac imaging often confirms a diagnosis, simpler and less expensive cardiac biomarker measurements can be done when  a physician advise whether more complicated or invasive procedures are warranted. In many cases doctors advertise biomarker measurements an initial testing strategy for patients especially with low risk of cardiac death.

An echocardiogram is  called an echo is a type of ultrasound test that uses high pitched sound waves that are sent through a device called transducers. This device picks up echoes of the sound waves as they bound off the different parts of your heart and these echoes are turned into moving pictures of your heart that can been seen on a video screen. Echocardiography uses usual two-dimensional, three-dimensional, and Doppler ultrasound to create images of the heart. Echocardiography has become routinely used in the diagnosis, management, and follow-up of patients with any suspected or known heart diseases. It is one of the most generally used diagnostic tests in cardiology and it can provide wealth information regarding size and shape of heart. Echocardiography is performed by cardiac sonographers, cardiac physiologists, or physicians trained in echocardiography.

3D echocardiography (also known as 4D echocardiography when the picture is moving) is now possible, using a matrix array ultrasound probe and an appropriate processing system. This enables detailed anatomical assessment of cardiac pathology, particularly valvular defects, and cardiomyopathies. The ability to slice the virtual heart in infinite planes in an anatomically appropriate manner and to reconstruct three-dimensional images of anatomic structures make 3D echocardiography unique for the understanding of the congenitally malformed heart. Real Time 3-Dimensional echocardiography can be used to guide the location of bioptomes during right ventricular endomyocardial biopsies, placement of catheter delivered valvular devices, and in many other intraoperative assessments. The 3D Echo Box developed by the European Association of Echocardiography offers a complete review of Three Dimensional Echocardiography.

Stress echocardiography is a test that uses ultrasound imaging to show how well your heart muscle is working to pump blood to your body. A stress echocardiography is also called as echocardiography stress test or stress echo. This test most often uses to detect a decrease in blood flow to the heart from narrowing in the coronary arteries.

   This test is done in medical care centres and health care centres. First a resting echocardiogram will be done while you lie on the left side with your left arm out, a small device called a transducer is held against your chest. A special gel is used to detect the ultrasound waves get to your heart. Most of the echocardiogram images will be taken when your heart rate is rising, or when it reaches its peak. The images will show whether any parts of the heart muscle do not work as well when your heart rate raises. This is a sign that part of the heart may not be getting enough blood or oxygen because of narrowed or blocked arteries.

Transesophageal echocardiography is a produces in which whole pictures of your heart can be seen. It uses high-frequency sound waves i.e. ultrasound to make detailed pictures of your heart and the arteries that lead to and from it. Unlike a standard echocardiogram, or the echo transducer that produces the sound waves for TEE is attached to a thin tube that passes through your mouth, down to your throat and finally into your esophagus. Because the esophagus is close to the upper chambers of the heart, so that very clear images of those heart structures and valves can be obtained.

Pediatric echocardiography is the commonly used test in children to diagnose or rule out heart disease and also to follow children who have already been diagnosed with a heart problem. This test can be performed on children of all ages and sizes including fetuses and newborns. This ultrasound test is done with your child lying down comfortably on a bed or examination table if infants they may be able to lie in their parent’s lap.

Cardiovascular technologists and technicians assist physicians in diagnosing and treating cardiac (heart) and peripheral vascular (blood vessel) ailments. Cardiovascular technicians who specialize in electrocardiograms (EKGs), stress testing and Holter monitors are known as cardiographic or EKG technicians.Technologists who use ultrasound to examine the heart chambers, valves, and vessels are referred to as cardiac sonographers. They use ultrasound instrumentation to create images called echocardiograms. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians and vascular technologists use imaging technology to help physicians diagnose cardiac (heart) and peripheral vascular (blood vessel) ailments in patients. Certification is not required to enter the occupation in the United States.

Nuclear cardiology studies use non-invasive techniques to assess myocardial blood flow check out the pumping function of the heart as well as visualize the size and location of a heart  among the techniques of nuclear cardiology, myocardial perfusion imaging is the most generally used. Myocardial perfusion images are connected with exercise to assess the blood flow to the heart muscle and examination can be in the form of walking on the treadmill or riding a stationary bicycle. A chemical stress test using the drug dipyridamole, adenosine, regadenoson, or dobutamine can be function in patients who are not able to exercise maximally, providing similar information about the heart’s blood flow.

Hypertension, additionally called high vital sign or blood vessel cardiovascular disease could be a chronic medical condition during which the blood pressure within the arteries is elevated. This session principally covers the various sorts of cardiovascular disease and their assessment. There are 2 primary cardiovascular disease sorts. For ninety fifth of individuals with high blood pressure, the reason behind their cardiovascular disease is unknown — this can be referred to as essential, or primary, cardiovascular disease. Once a cause may be found, the condition is termed secondary. Isolated systolic hypertension, high blood pressure, and resistant hypertension are all recognized hypertension sorts with specific diagnostic criteria.

Assessment of cardiovascular disease primarily includes: Confirmation of hypertension, Risk factors, Underlying causes, organ injury & Indications and contraindications for medication medicine.
Hypertension could be a major risk issue for cardiopathy and stroke. Globally, the general prevalence of raised vital sign in adults aged twenty five and over was around four-hundredth in 2008. As a result of increase and ageing, the amount of individuals with uncontrolled cardiovascular disease rose from 600 million in 1980 to just about 1 billion in 2008. The national Million Hearts initiative endeavours to extend the amount of persons whose cardiovascular disease is in check, by ten million, as a part of its goal to forestall one million heart attacks and strokes by the year 2017.

Cardiomyopathy is a group of diseases that affect the heart muscle. Earlier there are only few or no symptoms, others may have shortness of breath, feel tired, or have swelling of the legs due to heart failure. An irregular heartbeat may occur as well as fainting and increased risk of sudden cardiac death also occurs. Types of cardiomyopathies are hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, dilated cardiomyopathy and restrictive cardiomyopathy. In hypertrophic cardiomyopathy the heart muscles enlarges and become thicknes. In dilated cardiomyopathy the ventricles enlarge and weaken and in restrictive cardiomyopathy the ventricle becomes stiffens.

The myocardium is the thick, central layer of the heart and is poised of cardiac muscle. Cardiac muscle is very unique because it possesses the characteristics of skeletal muscle and smooth muscle in which skeletal muscle controls the voluntary movement of the body and smooth muscle responsible for the movement of all other body organs. The myocardium is composed of thousands of muscle fibers that are striated and are arranged at irregular intervals throughout the muscle. They connect to each other at points called intercalated discs. These are tiny membranes that divide the ends of the muscle cells, these fibers actually use calcium to cause an electrical conduction to occur. The contraction (heart beat) of the myocardium is responsible for pumping blood with oxygen to the body and body requires oxygen for proper function. Like all body tissues, the myocardium itself requires a blood supply in order to function.