But some heart disorders do not always appear when the patient is resting in a chair or reclining on an examination table, and manifest only when the heart is more active, and “under load.” So another tool in the cardiology doctors’ arsenal of diagnostic methodologies is the stress test, which enables them to determine the amount of exertion (stress) that your heart can manage before it develops either ischemia (insufficient blood flow to the heart muscle) or abnormal rhythms.

What exactly is a stress test?

First, you can relax, because the test itself only takes about 10 minutes, and is not particularly stressful. For most patients, skipping breakfast the morning of the test is the most stressful part. The most common type of test used by the doctors at Comprehensive Interventional Care Centers is an exercise stress test, in which the patient is asked to walk on a mechanized treadmill. The pace of the treadmill advances through a standardized protocol of speed and incline changes, which vary every three minutes to place increasing loads on the heart.

During the test, the patient’s blood pressure and ECG readings are continuously monitored, and the doctor periodically questions the patient about possible symptoms. If chest pain develops, this can be an indication of a blocked artery that is causing ischemia. The reduced blood flow from the ischemia will also be reflected in the changing electrocardiogram readings and in blood pressure measurements. This information can help the doctors pinpoint problems with heart rhythms that only appear under stress conditions.

Do you need to have a cardiac stress test?

The best way to answer this question is to call our offices at 888.377.7122 and schedule an appointment for an initial consultation and examination. During this examination, some of the best vein doctors in Phoenix will use more standard tests to evaluate your heart health, and will recommend a stress test only if they feel it is necessary. For more information about any of these procedures, please visit our website at www.ciccenters.com.

The post A Cardiology Doctor in Phoenix Explains What a Stress Test Is appeared first on Comprehensive Integrated Care.

How do arteries become blocked?

Atherosclerosis or “hardening of the arteries” occurs as the result of a lifetime’s buildup of cholesterol-laden arterial plaque inside the walls of the arteries themselves. As you age, the plaque burden becomes greater, and the arterial walls become inflamed and sticky, and attract other substances like lipoproteins, inflammatory cells, and calcium, creating even more of a buildup. These deposits of plaque cause the arteries, which start out smooth and elastic, to become more narrow and rigid. Naturally, this restricts the proper flow of blood to the heart, starving it of the oxygen and nutrients it needs to function properly.

What are the effects of blocked arteries?

Phoenix cardiologists explain that narrowed coronary arteries can lead to cardiac ischemia, in which the clogged arteries simply cannot deliver enough oxygenated blood to the heart to meet its needs. Eventually narrowed coronary arteries may become so narrow that they develop collateral circulation, in the form of new blood vessels that go around the blockage to pump blood to the heart muscle. But during times of stress, these new vessels may not be able to supply sufficient oxygenated blood to the heart muscle for it to keep pumping properly, and the result may be a heart attack. Ischemia is more pronounced when the heart is under load (meaning being used more heavily, for example when you are climbing stairs or exercising). But CAD can progress to the point that ischemia can occur even when the heart is at rest.

Symptoms of blocked arteries and Coronary Arterial Disease

One of the most common symptoms of CAD-related ischemia is angina, or chest pain, often described as feelings of heaviness, aching, pressure, numbness, or fullness in the chest area. Angina can be severely painful, or so moderate that it is mistaken for indigestion or heartburn. Other symptoms include shortness of breath, heart palpitations (irregular rhythms), faster heartbeat, weakness, dizziness, nausea, or sweating. On the other hand, some people with advanced CAD experience no symptoms at all, and their first indication that something is wrong is when they have a heart attack.

How are CAD and narrowed arteries diagnosed and treated?

Phoenix heart doctors can detect blocked arteries and CAD as the result of a physical examination, combined with specialized diagnostic tests such as electrocardiograms (ECG) and stress tests. Treatment for CAD often involves lifestyle changes such as smoking cessation, weight loss, lowering high cholesterol levels and lowered intake of high-cholesterol foods, and adopting a low-fat, low-salt diet. Medications can help to lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and to help your heart work more efficiently. In severe cases, invasive surgery may be necessary to open severely clogged arteries.

How can I avoid blocked arteries and CAD?

The best way to be proactive about your heart health is to get a complete checkup from your local Phoenix cardiologist. Give us a call at 888-377-7122 and we’ll set up an appointment to determine the state of your heart health, and based on those findings we can make recommendations to keep you healthy.

The post Phoenix Cardiologists Discuss the Risks of Blocked Arteries appeared first on Comprehensive Integrated Care.