The Lake Today

If your heart stops working properly, several tests are available to help your physician determine the problem.

“These tests use different types of technology to measure your heart’s activity or ‘see’ inside your body to watch it as it works,” said Cardiologist Sendhil Krishnan, M.D., with Lake Regional Cardiovascular Institute in Osage Beach.

If you’re showing signs of heart problems, such as chest pain, shortness of breath or lightheadedness, Dr. Krishnan says you may need to undergo one or more of these common tests.

Electrocardiogram

“An EKG analyzes the electrical impulses that pass through your heart to make it beat properly,” Dr. Krishnan said.

During an EKG, sticky patches are placed on the chest, arms and legs. Wires connect the patches to a machine that records the heart’s electrical activity as a squiggly line on graph paper.

“An electrocardiogram shows if you have an abnormality in your heartbeat, called arrhythmia, and also can show if you’ve had a heart attack,” Dr. Krishnan said.

Stress Test

If your heart shows signs it’s not working properly when under exertion, Dr. Krishnan says you probably need to undergo a stress test.

“A stress test allows us to see how your heart is functioning when it’s pumping fast, compared with how it pumps when you are at rest,” he said.

During a stress test, an EKG is performed before, during and after 10 minutes of exercise on a treadmill or stationary bike. For patients with a condition that makes them unable to exercise, a medication is administered to speed up the heartbeat without exertion.

According to Dr. Krishnan, people with possible heart ailments often are concerned that putting stress on their hearts will cause a heart attack or other problem, but he says complications from stress tests are rare.

“If something bad does happen during a stress test, it means something is wrong with your heart,” he said. “If so, a hospital is the best place for it to occur.”

Echocardiogram

“An ‘echo’ probably is the best method for looking into your heart valves,” Dr. Krishnan said. “In addition to showing how well they are working, the test shows the size of your heart chambers and their level of performance.”

An echo is an ultrasound of the heart. It doesn’t hurt and typically takes less than 20 minutes to complete. It usually is ordered to assess how well your heart is pumping blood.

“If your doctor hears a murmur in your heartbeat using a stethoscope, this test can identify its cause,” Dr. Krishnan said. “An echo also may be ordered if you’re experiencing shortness of breath or difficulty exercising.”

Cardiac Catheterization

According to Dr. Krishnan, cardiac catheterization is the best test available to detect hardening of the arteries in your heart, which can cause a heart attack.

During a cardiac cath, a thin catheter is inserted into one of the blood vessels — usually an artery in the groin — until the tip is near the heart. An X-ray machine videos the heart while a special fluid is injected through the catheter to reveal blockages. The procedure lasts about 45 minutes and is performed while the patient is under sedation.

Routine Tests

Regardless of your risk for heart disease, Dr. Krishnan says there are two measures of heart health you should have tested on a regular basis: cholesterol and blood pressure.

“You should have a lipid profile performed annually to check your cholesterol levels,” he said. “Your blood pressure should be checked even more often.”

According to the American Heart Association, your LDL (“bad cholesterol”) should be below 100 mg/dL, your HDL (“good cholesterol”) should be above 40 mg/dL, and your triglycerides should be below 150 mg/dL. The National Institutes of Health recommends keeping your blood pressure at or below 120/80.

For these and other routine tests, visit your primary care physician or one of Lake Regional’s health fairs. Information on upcoming events is available online at lakeregional.com/events.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Sendhil Krishnan, call Lake Regional Cardiovascular Institute at 573-302-4960.

Upcoming Heart Month Events

In honor of American Heart Month, Lake Regional Health System will host the following events in February.

Cardiovascular Screening

7:30 to 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, Lake Regional Hospital, third floor conference rooms

Free pulmonary function tests, body mass index, body fat analysis and blood pressure screenings; pocket EKG cards for $15; and lipid profiles and blood glucose tests for $5. Fasting is required 12-14 hours in advance of lipid profiles and blood glucose tests. Water and prescribed medications may be consumed. Registration is not required. Call 573-348-8222 for more information.

Heart Attack — Know the Signs

2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21, Lake Regional Hospital, third floor conference rooms

Cardiologist Sendhil Krishnan, M.D., will discuss how to recognize, prevent and treat heart attacks. The forum is free, but registration is required. Visit lakeregional.com/events to register, or call 573-348-8222 for more information.