Tests for Heart Conditions

St. Luke’s Regional Heart Center performs thousands of non-invasive heart tests every year. These tests are done both on an inpatient and outpatient basis, and help doctors diagnose and treat a patient’s symptoms, such as chest pain, high blood pressure and irregular heartbeats.

For more information about Cardiology Testing, see Frequently Asked Questions.

The non-invasive tests performed by St. Luke’s Regional Heart Center include:  

Electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG) test – A test that can detect heart problems by recording electrical changes in the heart. The test records the waves of electrical impulses that occur during each heartbeat.

Stress test (routine and nuclear) – This exercise test shows how your heart handles physical work. As your body works harder during the test, it requires more oxygen, so the heart must pump more blood. The test can show if the blood supply is reduced in the arteries that supply the heart.

Echocardiogram (ECHO) test

Pacemaker implantation follow up

Artery and vein testing

Cardiac CT – This non-invasive test uses a state-of-the-art 64-slice cardiac computer tomography scanner to provide high resolution, three-dimensional pictures of the heart. This shows if fatty or calcium deposits have built up in the coronary arteries and vessels of the heart.

Cardiac MRI – This non-invasive test uses magnetic resonance imaging and radiofrequency waves to produce high quality images of the heart. This is helpful in evaluating cardiac function, valvular function and myocardial viability.

Intravascular ultrasound – A test that uses sound waves to see inside the heart’s blood vessels. This test can be used to see plaque buildup on artery walls, determine the best location for stent placement and more.