The sophisticated 2D Echo machine at Rhythm Heart & Health Clinic is an important diagnostic tool in the diagnosis of heart problems. A cardiologist may recommend a 2D Echo test if you have unusual chest pain, shortness of breath, high blood pressure, or other symptoms. It can also be done without any symptoms.
2D Echocardiography, often known as 2D Echo, uses ultrasound to take images of the heart and presents a cross-sectional slice of the beating heart, including the chambers, valves, and major blood veins. Doppler 2D Echo is used to assess blood flow in the heart.
This test takes roughly 15-20 minutes in the hands of Dr Pankaj Patil, senior cardiologist at Rhythm. It is a painless, non-invasive diagnostic test.
How is 2D Echo test done?
The procedure begins with the patient lying down and a white gel applied to the patient’s chest. The cardiologist will evaluate the inner structure and function of the heart using a transducer or probe. The patient’s heart activity is tracked, and photographs are taken using breath control or release. These records are analysed to detect heart issues.
How does the 2D Echo test help in the diagnosis of a cardiac condition?
2D echocardiography allows the cardiologist to see and assess the following:
- Heart chamber size and wall thickness
- Cardiac pumping rate
- The thickness, structure, and presence of any leaks in the heart valve, and
- Pericardial fluid, congenital heart disease, blood clots, tumours, abnormal lung pressure, and other medical conditions
According to Dr Pankaj Patil, even if there are no symptoms of cardiac disease, a stress test should be included in routine check-ups, particularly for patients who have diabetes and high blood pressure.
The Treadmill Test, commonly known as the Stress Test, monitors and records heart function while exercising. Because the heart requires more oxygen-rich blood during movement than at rest, certain anomalies that may not appear on a routine ECG may become obvious during the stress test.
ECGs in heart patients are frequently normal because the heart is at rest and beating gently throughout the ECG. However, the patient complains of chest pain while walking, running, or climbing. In such cases, the Stress Test is beneficial since it is performed while the patient is walking on a treadmill, which raises the heart rate. As a result, in detecting specific heart abnormalities, the exercise stress test (TMT) outperforms an ECG.
This cardiac test offers critical information regarding the blood flow and oxygen delivery of the heart. The results of the tests help the doctor make a treatment decision. If the test reveals coronary artery disease or other serious cardiac problems, the cardiologist may advise angiography. Rhythm Heart & Heart Clinic offers this non-invasive test to patients. Book your appointment to get a Stress Test done.
Rhythm Heart & Health Clinic is one of the few hospitals in Kalyan that offers the Holter Monitoring Test. This small, battery-powered portable gadget captures 24-48 hours of continuous heart activity (ECG) such as heart rate and heart rhythm. The Holter monitor records irregular heartbeats.
How does Holter Monitoring help?
Because an ECG is only used for a short period of time, several anomalies or irregular heart rhythms may be missed.
The Holter Monitoring device is worn continuously throughout the day or as prescribed by a cardiologist. As a result, it is possible that it will detect all irregular heartbeat rates and rhythms while performing any activity.
This device is extremely helpful to cardiologists when making medication or treatment decisions. The device record tells whether the medicines are working properly. As a result, the Holter Monitoring technology provides vital data to the cardiologist.
The device also shows the rhythm associated with symptoms such as dizziness, faintness, or the sense that your heart is racing or skipping a beat.
How does Holter Monitoring function?
Initially, a well-trained medical technician attaches glue-like gel to the electrodes on the chest and provides instructions on how to use it as well as how to track and record the activities. These are critical for the cardiologist’s examination of Holter Monitor data.
While going about his or her daily activities, the patient must wear a Holter Monitoring device. This device consists of wires with electrodes that are attached to the skin.
The device can be carried in a pocket or pouch, or it can be worn around the patient’s waist. The device should always be maintained close to the body for accurate readings. While wearing a Holter Monitor, the patient should avoid bathing and swimming.
Following the completion of the testing period, the patient should see a Cardiologist to have the Holter Monitoring device removed. The cardiologist reviews the report and assesses the findings. The cardiologist can adjust or continue the medicines based on the findings of the studies.
The Holter Monitoring test is a quick and painless approach to detect potential heart problems caused by abnormal heart rhythms.
Typically, blood pressure is measured at a doctor’s office or at home. These provide a single readout. A BP measuring equipment that monitors your BP throughout a 24-hour period is referred to as 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. This gadget captures your BP readings whether you are awake or asleep. This is ideal for those who have variable blood pressure and helps your doctor adjust medication dosage.
Along with continuous blood pressure readings, your heart rate is also taken into account. The average of multiple 24-hour data is used. Changes in blood pressure and heart rate, as well as blood pressure distribution and other data, are computed on this device, while you go through your regular activities in the day.
How does Ambulatory BP monitoring help in detection and treatment of hypertension?
Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring demonstrates how BP swings relate to daily activities and sleep.
Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring can detect irregular fluctuations that would otherwise go unnoticed or ignored in 1-2 readings taken during a doctor’s visit or at home. It detects white coat hypertension, masked hypertension, and chronic hypertension. A doctor may modify the dosage or administration time based on the patient’s blood pressure patterns. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring can also help anticipate cardiovascular and cerebrovascular illness caused by hypertension and organ damage. Ambulatory monitoring can rule out white coat hypertension, avoiding the use of needless blood pressure medications. It can detect concealed hypertension, allowing people to receive blood pressure medication. Patients with hypertension may experience fewer strokes, heart attacks, and organ damage. Ambulatory monitoring can also be used to assess the efficacy of long-acting antihypertensive medications. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring is also effective in hypertensive pregnancies, borderline cases, low blood pressure, medication-resistant hypertension, and so on.
2D echo is an ultrasound test that utilises sound waves to visualise the heart, comparable to a 2D echogram for adults except that the probes for infants are specially designed. It is risk-free, painless, and radiation-free. A monitor displays images of the child’s heart while the test is being performed. An echocardiography focuses on the heart and the blood vessels around the heart.
Why is 2D echo recommended for your infant?
2D Echo can detect structural abnormalities of your baby’s heart (holes between the chambers, fluid around the heart, mass inside the heart, etc.) and display valve form, motion, narrowing, or backward flow.
In general, 2D echo is the best test for demonstrating the structure and function of the heart’s components. The echocardiography is used to measure the size and thickness of the heart chambers, as well as how the heart pumps blood through its valves.
How is the test conducted?
If a child is younger than 4 years old, mild sedation medicines may be necessary for the echocardiography. This is given in the clinic by trained staff. In general, children older than 4 years old do not require anaesthesia for echocardiograms.