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Our Specialised Services

Resting ECG
Carotid Doppler
Holter ECG
Spirmetry

Stress Exercise Test

Diabetes Counselling

Echo – Cardiogram

24 Hour Amulatory Blood Pressure

Resting ECG

 

The resting electrocardiogram is a test that measures the electrical activity of the heart.

The heart is a muscular organ which pumps blood through rhythmic contractions induced by electric impulses generated by the sinus node, the heart’s natural pacemaker.

Normally, the electric impulses cross the heart, which contracts approximately 60 – 80 times per minute at rest. Each contraction of the ventricles represents one heartbeat.

The resting ECG is a simple, quick and painless test. The resting ECG can detect certain heart conditions such as hypertrophy of heart, ischemia, myocardial infarction, sequelae of myocardial infarction, cardiac arrhythmias, etc. The test takes about 5 minutes and no preparation is necessary.

During the ECG, you are lying on your back and several small electrodes are placed on your arms, legs and chest. Some aqueous gel is used allowing for adhesion to the skin. The recording takes a few seconds and then the electrodes are removed. No discomfort is felt and you can resume your normal activities immediately after the test.

Stress Exercise Test

The stress test by electrocardiogram (treadmill ECG) is a test similar to the resting ECG, during which the patient walks on a treadmill whose speed and tilt increase gradually during the test. The pulse, the heart rhythm and the blood pressure are continually recorded. For a successful test, the patient must reach, in successive steps, a predetermined heart rate depending on his age.

The stress test is interrupted when the patient :

    • reaches the desired heart rate
    • experiences fatigue, shortness of breath or significant chest pain
    • shows abnormal ECG changes
    • experiences a severe rhythm disorder
    • experiences a drop in blood pressure

The stress test lasts approximately 30 minutes and requires preparation so that the results are valid. You should avoid caffeine (coffee, tea, chocolate, etc.) and avoid smoking 4 hours before the test. You should wear comfortable clothes and running shoes during the examination.

The stress ECG can reveal arrhythmias or disorders of the coronary circulation that can not be identified on a resting ECG. It is important to let the doctor know if you experience any pain or other disorder that may require interruption of the test.

Holter ECG

The Holter test is a continuous, non-invasive recording of the electrocardiogram for 24 hours or more. It is usually used to diagnose arrhythmias that can not be distinguished during a resting or stress ECG.

During one whole day you will wear a Holter monitor (a small device that continuously records the ECG) which is connected to small electrodes placed on your chest and allows recording of the pulse and the heart rhythm during 24 hours. The monitor installation takes a few minutes and you wear it in your pocket or in a small bag around your neck or on your belt. You are free to conduct your usual daily activities (except taking a shower or a bath). During the day, you should write down on a log all your activities, any pain, discomfort or palpitation experienced, the drugs taken as well as and the time and duration of each event. At the end of the testing, the device must be returned to the clinic. The recording, made on tape, is digitized by the computer in order to be decoded and analyzed by the cardiologist.

Carotid Doppler

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Diabetes Counselling

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Echo-Cardiogram

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Spirometry

Spirometry is a medical test that assesses lung function. Spirometry is the preferred screening method for asthma and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). In addition, Spirometry can be used periodically to evaluate the treatment of lung disease.

Spirometry is a simple and noninvasive method intended to measure mobilizable volumes and airflows. The evaluation of the lung function of a patient is made by comparing it to the average lung function of a person of similar race, height, weight, sex and age. Based on this comparison, we determine whether the patient has a lung disorder.

For this test, you breathe into a rubber mouthpiece attached to a recording device (a spirometer). You need to wear light clothing, which does not prevent you from taking a deep breath. It is preferable not to eat a heavy meal before the exam and not to smoke or use bronchodilators 4 to 6 hours before the exam. You start by doing a few cycles of normal breathing. Then, you inhale deeply and slowly and exhale quickly and forcefully, expelling as much air as possible from your lungs. Three cycles of forced expirations of this type must be obtained for conclusive results. The results are displayed on a graph (spirogram).

The most important parameters measured with Spirometry are the following :

  • The forced vital capacity FVC (the amount of air forcefully exhaled after inhaling as deeply as possible)
  • The forced expiratory volume after one second FEV (the amount of air you can exhale forcefully during the first second of forced exhalation)
  • The Tiffeneau index is the ratio FEV/FVC as percentage. In normal subjects, the Tiffeneau index is about 80%. A decreased index indicates an obstructive disease

24 Hour Ambulatory Blood Pressure

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