Why Early Detection Matters: The Benefits of In-House Cardiac Testing

Every year, more than 700,000 people die from heart disease, the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. Roughly two Americans die from cardiovascular disease every minute.

Those numbers may be alarming, but what’s even more important to know is this: Heart disease can be managed, and in many cases, it can even be prevented. In both instances, early detection plays a critical role.

At Bridgewater Primary Care & Cardiology, LLC, John Terzian, MD, FACC, and his team offer state-of-the-art onsite cardiac testing services and an in-house lab for fast, accurate results. Here, learn about the benefits of in-house cardiac testing and how it can help protect your heart and your life. 

Benefits of in-house cardiovascular testing

One of the major benefits of in-house testing is convenience. With in-office testing, you don’t need to coordinate with an outside provider or testing facility to schedule and perform your tests. Instead, you can schedule testing at the same location where you have your regular cardiovascular exams — a location that’s familiar (with a staff who’s familiar to you, too). 

Having testing at our facility also means you’re monitored by people with direct access to your health records. While cardiovascular testing is absolutely safe, it does require monitoring for unexpected complications, and having your own provider on site means if issues do arise, your care and management will be based specifically on your unique needs and risk factors.

On-site testing eliminates the need for communication between your provider and an outside team for faster results — and faster, more responsive care. Plus, since we schedule your tests, you can have testing more quickly — immediately, if needed.

In-house testing: What we offer

Our practice is equipped with the most advanced cardiovascular testing equipment to make it easy to get a comprehensive evaluation for better heart health. 

Electrocardiogram (EKG)

If you’ve had a physical exam, there’s a good chance you’ve had an EKG. This test uses sticky electrodes placed on your skin. The electrodes are so sensitive they can pick up your heart’s electrical activity, transmitting data to a computer that produces a graph reflecting that activity. 

Stress testing

Stress testing sounds a little scary, but in this case, “stress” refers to the physical stress of exercise, not emotional stress. During a stress test, we place EKG electrodes on your skin. Then, you walk on a treadmill or use an exercise bike for about 10-15 minutes. Throughout the test, we monitor your heart and evaluate its response to physical stress. 

Echocardiogram (echo testing)

Echocardiograms are a type of ultrasound exam that creates an image of your heart and vessels surrounding it. Echo testing uses no radiation, and in most cases, it’s noninvasive, using a device that’s passed over the surface of your skin. In some cases when surface imaging isn’t sufficient, we may recommend transthoracic ultrasound using a tiny device passed down your throat so it’s closer to your heart.

Stress echo testing

During a stress echo, you perform exercise as in a standard stress test. When your heart reaches a specific level of activity, we perform an echocardiogram of your heart to see how it responds to physical stress.

Nuclear stress testing

A nuclear stress test is similar to a “regular” stress test, but prior to exercise, you’re injected with a tiny amount of radioactive material called a tracer. The tracer helps your provider see your heart and blood vessels, including the way your blood circulates. Afterward, the tracer passes out of your body through urine or stool. 

Vascular testing

Our team also performs vascular testing to monitor the health of your arteries and veins. Depending on your symptoms and other factors, we may recommend ultrasound testing, CT scans, or MRI tests to look for blockages, aneurysm, and other issues affecting your vascular system.

Blood tests

We also offer on-site blood testing to measure cholesterol and other parameters that have a direct or indirect bearing on cardiovascular health.

Keep your heart healthy

Early detection is the key to protecting your heart and preventing more serious complications. With offices in West Bridgewater, Massachusetts, we make it easy and convenient for patients in West Bridgewater, East Bridgewater, Bridgewater, Middleborough, Brockton, Easton,Taunton, Plymouth, Mansfield, Pembroke, Braintree, Stoughton, Wareham, Somerset, Attleboro, Abington, Boston, and Canton, to get the testing they need. 

To learn more about cardiovascular testing, request an appointment online or over the phone with the team at Bridgewater Primary Care & Cardiology, today.