Have you been told you're at risk for heart disease? Then you should know about diagnostic heart disease screenings that may save your life. The George
Washington University Hospital Cardiovascular Center offers these painless,
nonsurgical tests to help your physician pinpoint problems now in the early stages
when a better prognosis is more likely. The tests also may help you and your physician
plan a course of preventive care, such as lowering your cholesterol or starting an
exercise routine.
Your personal risk factors, such as family history of heart disease or high
cholesterol levels, will help your physician determine what screenings are
appropriate for you. Most tests are conducted on an outpatient basis and the
convenient location makes it possible to fit healthcare into your busy life.
Talk with your cardiologist about which tests are right for you:
- Stress testing ("treadmill test"): This measures the electrical activity of your heart when you are exercising or given medication to speed up your heartbeat. This test helps doctors diagnose coronary artery disease, examine potential causes of chest pain and predict the risk of heart attack.
- Cardiac Imaging: These procedures, such as CT scans, cardiac MRIs and carotid ultrasounds, use advanced equipment to create highly detailed pictures of the heart and blood vessels.
- Electrophysiology: Physicians use a variety of advanced tools including cardiac MRI or CT scans, intracardiac echo and 3-D mapping systems to create an extremely accurate picture of your heart chambers and pinpoint the location of abnormal electrical pathways.
To learn more about the diagnostic services at GW Hospital or to make an appointment, call 1-888-4GW-DOCS.
Risk factors
There are certain heart disease risk factors that you can control
through lifestyle changes and treatment. Speak with your cardiologist
about how you can lower your risk.
- Smoking: Smokers have a two to four times greater risk of developing coronary heart disease.
- High blood cholesterol: This may cause clogging and narrowing of the blood vessels.
- High blood pressure: This forces the heart to work harder, causing it to thicken and stiffen.
- Physical inactivity: Even moderate physical activity can lower your heart disease risk.
- Obesity and excess weight: Carrying excess weight, especially around the waist, has been linked to heart disease.
- Diabetes: People with diabetes are two to four times more likely to develop cardiovascular disease.
- Stress: High stress contributes to unhealthy behaviors such as overeating and smoking.
- Alcohol consumption: Drinking too much alcohol may raise the level of some fats in the blood and contribute to high blood pressure and weight problems.
