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Cardiovascular Diagnostic Testing

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Cardiovascular Diagnostic Testing

If you have symptoms of a heart or vascular condition, you may need diagnostic testing.

The expert team with Baptist Health Heart & Vascular Care uses some of the most advanced cardiovascular testing tools available today, including many noninvasive options.

These heart tests help us to quickly and accurately determine the source of your symptoms and plan the best course of treatment. Cardiovascular screenings can help us detect potential problems before symptoms even develop.

Our Approach to Cardiovascular Diagnostic Testing

Our Approach to Cardiovascular Diagnostic Testing

When you come to Baptist Health for cardiovascular diagnostic services, you can expect:

  • Collaborative care from a wide range of specialties, including cardiology, vascular surgery, radiology and emergency medicine
  • Experts who uphold high standards of care and accuracy and are up to date on the latest techniques and information
  • Detailed and advanced testing technology, so we can develop effective treatments tailored to you
  • Individualized testing based on your specific symptoms and health history

Why Do I Need Diagnostic Testing?

You may need diagnostic testing or screening if you:

  • Experience chest pain, shortness of breath or pain in the arms or legs
  • Have been diagnosed with heart disease, vascular disease or another cardiovascular problem
  • Have a personal or family history of cardiovascular disease, blood clots or aneurysms
  • Are at high risk for developing heart disease
  • Have had a heart attack or another cardiac event and you need follow-up testing
  • Have high blood pressure

To determine which test is right for you, our team will review your symptoms and health history. 

We’ll also do our best to recommend the least invasive diagnostic test for you. These include X-rays, ultrasounds and other imaging tests that give us a closer look at your heart. 

In some cases, we may need to perform more invasive tests, such as cardiac catheterizations or certain echocardiograms. While still minimally invasive — meaning we don’t need to make large incisions to access your anatomy — these tests may involve injections or small incisions, often with a form of anesthesia. We will discuss all the options available and let you know of the risks involved with the more invasive tests we offer.

What Heart Tests Does Baptist Health Offer?

Baptist Health Heart & Vascular Care offers a full range of diagnostic heart tests, including advanced minimally invasive procedures that give us a better look into your heart. We are pioneers in the development and use of some of these tests. 

Diagnostic heart tests offered at Baptist Health include: 

  • Blood pressure monitoring involves wrapping an inflatable cuff around your arm to measure the pressure of your blood against the walls of your arteries. This test is a simple way to check if your blood pressure is too high or too low, which can indicate potential heart and vascular issues.

  • The cardiac calcium scoring test, developed by a Baptist Health radiologist, is a type of computed tomography (CT) scan that helps physicians find calcium deposits in the arteries of the heart. These deposits can be a sign of plaque buildup, which narrows your arteries and increases your risk for heart disease.

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  • During cardiac catheterization, a long, thin tube (catheter) is inserted into your blood vessel through your groin or wrist. Physicians then inject a contrast dye into the catheter and use X-rays to see how the dye travels through your blood vessels and check for blockages or heart problems. Our team also uses cardiac catheterization for heart disease treatments like stent placement.

  • Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an imaging test that creates detailed pictures of your heart. Cardiac MRI is used to visualize your heart’s structure, function and blood flow. Physicians also use this test to diagnose various heart conditions.

  • CCTA creates a detailed image of your heart’s blood vessels. During CCTA, a contrast dye is injected into your veins. A computed tomography (CT) scanner then takes images, which helps physicians identify blockages or other heart problems

  • An echocardiogram is an imaging test that uses sound waves to create images of your heart’s structure, including size and shape, as well as its function. An echocardiogram helps doctors diagnose certain heart conditions.

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  • This simple, painless test records your heart’s electrical activity. During an EKG, electrodes attached to your skin create a graph of your heart's rhythm and any irregularities, helping doctors diagnose heart conditions.

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  • Holter monitoring is used to track your heart’s activity over a longer period of time. During Holter monitoring, you will wear a portable EKG device for 24 to 48 hours. This device keeps a continuous record of your heart’s activity. A Holter monitor is useful in detecting irregular heart rhythms that may not show up during a standard EKG.

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  • A stress test is used to evaluate your heart's response to physical stress or strain, like exercise or certain medications. A typical stress test involves walking on a treadmill or pedaling a stationary bike while connected to heart monitoring equipment.

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  • Similar to an MRI, an MRA test creates images of blood vessels to diagnose circulation problems or blockages.

  • During a nuclear stress test, a small amount of radioactive material is used to trace blood flow in your heart while at rest and during exercise. This test helps physicians identify areas with reduced blood supply, which can indicate coronary artery disease.

  • Ultrasound is a noninvasive imaging test that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce pictures of your body’s organs and blood vessels. In cardiology, ultrasound is commonly used to visualize the heart and assess its function, structure and blood flow. Physicians use ultrasound images to diagnose certain heart conditions.

What Vascular Tests Does Baptist Health Offer?

The Baptist Health Heart & Vascular Care team offers advanced, noninvasive vascular tests, including: 

  • An abdominal doppler study uses sound waves to create images of blood flow in the abdominal area. This test helps physicians check for blockages or abnormalities in the blood vessels that supply blood to your body’s abdominal organs, like your liver and kidneys.

  • Arterial blood flow testing measures the speed and strength of blood flow in your arteries. Doctors use this test to evaluate how well your arteries are working. Arterial blood flow testing is useful to detect problems like blockages or narrowing, or to assess your risk for conditions such as peripheral artery disease.

  • Carotid ultrasound uses sound waves to create images of the carotid arteries in your neck, which supply blood to your brain. Physicians use this test to check for blockages or buildups of plaque in these arteries, which could lead to strokes. A carotid ultrasound is a noninvasive way to evaluate your stroke risk.

  • A venous ultrasound test uses sound waves to create images of your veins, primarily in your legs. Doctors use this test to diagnose issues like blood clots or varicose veins.

“While the situation was critical, Dr. Bologna was very reassuring with his warm, friendly manner as he explained my problem and I felt very confident that all would be well.”
Joan Wright Cardiothoracic Surgery Patient
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Our Locations

Baptist Health Heart & Vascular Care offers cardiovascular diagnostic tests at many locations across Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.

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