Services
Cardio-pulmonary Services
Cardiolite®
A stress test with Cardiolite® is a way to determine if
your heart muscle is getting the blood supply it needs. The test
also helps find out how well your heart is working. To perform
the test a small amount of Cardiolite® is injected
into your blood. A special camera is then able to take a picture
of your
heart.
Your doctor may ask for a stress test with Cardiolite® in
order to get more accurate information about how your heart is
functioning. Your heart receives life-giving blood from coronary
arteries. If these arteries become partially blocked or narrowed
by the fatty materials (lipids), your heart may not receive the
blood it needs to function properly narrowing of coronary arteries
is called coronary atherosclerosis or more commonly coronary artery
disease (CAD).
While your heart may function normally at rest, your heart muscle
may not receive enough when under stress (for example, when you
are exercising). This often results in chest angina pectoris. On
the other hand, there may be no outward physical signs of the disease
that is limiting blood flow to a part of your heart, a stress test
with Cardiolite® may be useful in detecting the disease and
assessing how this may affect you. With this information, your
doctor can determine the proper course of treatment to keep you
healthy.
Arterial Blood Gases
An arterial blood gas (ABG) is done on a patient to determine the
amounts of Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide dissolved in the blood.
It is also used to determine the Acid/Base status of the blood.
Holter Monitoring
The purpose of this test is to determine the presence and severity
of disturbances in your heart rhythm. The monitor can correlate
heart rhythm disturbances you may be having such as palpitations,
or fainting spells. The test involves placing ECG wires attached
to a box, similar to a small tape recorder, on your chest. You
will wear this for 24-48 hours. You will be asked to keep a diary
and record any symptoms you have, and what you were doing when
they occurred the test will then be analyzed, and symptoms will
be correlated with any disturbances in your heart rhythm.
Pulse Oximetry
The oxygen saturation test, or pulse oximetry, measures the amount
of oxygen in a pattern without the use of a needle. To do the
test, a small sensor is placed on the patient’s finger,
toe or ear lob. The sensor is connected to a machine that displays
the oxygen saturation and the pulse rate. The test is entirely
painless. Oxygen saturation tests are performed when there signs
that a patient may have less than the normal amount of oxygen
in the blood. This is overnight in the patient’s own home.
The purpose of a stress test is to determine whether your heart
gets adequate blood flow during stress or exercise. Prior to the
procedure you should avoid caffeinated beverages, and you may eat
a light meal up to 2 hours before exercise. It is wise to bring
comfortable tennis shoes and loose-fitting pants. When you arrive
you will be asked to walk on a treadmill until you attain your
maximum level of exertion or experience symptoms such as chest
pain or shortness of breath. Your blood pressure and heart rhythms
will continuously be monitored.
Lung Capacity Testing
This is a simple screening test administered by a respiratory therapist
to see of you have obstructive or restrictive lung disease. This
test can also be performed on site at your place of employment
to help employers comply with OSHA regulations for certain employees.
The test is simple and equipment is portable. We can come wherever
you are to perform this vital lung screening to detect lung disease.
Pulmonary Function Testing
This testing includes simple spirometry, complete spirometry-testing,
pre and post bronchodilator studies, lung volumes diffusion studies,
airway resistance, and airway compliance. These tests can determine
if lung disease is present and can help to identify which type
of lung disease you might suffer from.
Stress Echocardiograms
A stress echo, as it is most commonly referred as, is a non-invasive
test that uses sound waves to produce a study of the motion of
the heart’s chambers and valves. The echo sound waves create
an image on the monitor as the ultrasound transducer is passed
over the heart. This ultrasound test is performed just prior
to and immediately following the exercise treadmill stress test.
The results of both tests are used to determine the presence
of heart disease and safe levels of exercise following a heart
attack or heart surgery. Any individuals who are experiencing
cardiac disease symptoms should see their doctor immediately.
The stress echo is available to any patient with cardiac symptoms
at the request of his or her physician.
EEG
An electroencephalograph is an instrument that measures and records
electrical activity in the brain. To make an EEG, electrodes
are placed in pairs on the scalp. EEG’s have proven more
useful as a diagnostic aid in cases of serious head injuries,
brain tumors, cerebral infections, epilepsy, and various degenerative
diseases of the nervous system.
Respiratory Care and Treatments
The upper respiratory tract is one of two parts of the respiratory
system. It includes the mouth, nose, nasal cavity pharynx, larynx,
and trachea. The upper tract serves to bring air to and from
the lungs. The lower respiratory tract consists of the lungs,
including the airways within the lungs. If a patient suffers
from any lung disorder, asthma, bronchitis or pneumonia, he or
she may require respiratory treatments that can deliver medicine
to the lungs to relieve shortness of breath. This can include
oxygen, nebulizer treatments, chest percussion and incentive
spirometry.
Event Monitoring or King of Hearts
The purpose of this test is to determine the presence and severity
of disturbances in your heart rhythm. The test involves wearing
a card around your neck for one month. You will be asked to transmit
events or symptoms via the phone line. The monitor can correlate
heart rhythms disturbances with the symptoms you may be having
such as fainting spells, dizziness, palpitations, fast heart
beats, etc.
Variety of Education
This would include asthma, nebulizer, inhalers, smoking cessation,
CPAP, sleep apnea, cardiac and pulmonary education.
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