The Stress Echocardiogram: What to Expect
A stress echocardiogram combines an ultrasound of the heart with an exercise challenge, revealing how the heart performs under pressure, not just at rest.
Search Results for: Echocardiogram
The Echocardiogram: What It Shows and Why It Matters
The echocardiogram is cardiology’s most comprehensive non-invasive imaging test. Here is what it reveals about your heart and what to expect from the procedure.
Transoesophageal Echocardiogram (TOE/TEE): What It Is and What to Expect
When a standard echocardiogram cannot provide the detail needed, a TOE fills the gap. Here is why it is requested, what happens during the procedure, and what to expect.
T Wave Inversion on Your ECG: What It Actually Means
T wave inversion describes a small wave on the tracing pointing down instead of up. In several of the heart’s twelve viewpoints that is completely normal. What matters is which ones, and whether it is new.
Second-Degree Heart Block: What the Finding Means
Second-degree AV block means most signals reach the lower chambers of the heart and the occasional one does not. Some causes are entirely benign. Here is what the finding describes and what usually happens next.
Infective Endocarditis: The Fever That Needs Explaining
Infective endocarditis is an infection of the heart’s inner lining, usually settling on a valve. It is uncommon, but the early signs are vague enough that it is often missed. Knowing who is at risk is most of the answer.
Left Ventricular Hypertrophy (LVH) on Your ECG
Left ventricular hypertrophy, or LVH, is commonly seen on ECG reports and often means less than it sounds. The tracing measures electrical signals, not muscle thickness. Here is what the finding describes and what usually settles it.
Pericarditis: Chest Pain That’s Worse Lying Down
Pericarditis is inflammation of the sac around the heart. The pain is sharp, worse lying flat, better sitting forward, and alarming enough to mimic a heart attack. Here is what causes it and what the evidence supports.
The Hair Loss Question
Hair clinics and GPs increasingly send people to check with their heart doctor before starting treatment. There is a good reason for that, and it runs in both directions.