Canadian Vascular Laboratories

What is ECG?

• This looks at the electrical rhythm of the heart
• The test takes about 5-10 minutes
• You will not need to change into a gown
• You lie flat on your back
• 12 stickers are placed on the front your chest
• The stickers are connected to a machine that records the electrical activity of your heart
• It only hurts a bit when you take the stickers off

Some reasons we get an ECG

• To see why someone may have chest pain
• To see why someone may have trouble breathing
• To see why someone may have trouble dizzy
• To see why someone may feel their heart is beating too fast or skipping a beat

What is Echocardiogram?

• It looks at the structure of your heart with sound waves that you cannot hear. It also looks at the way blood flows through the different parts of the heart.
• This test takes about 1 hour.
• You will be asked to change into a gown.
• You lie flat on your back
• Gel is placed on your chest and a probe that transmits ultrasound takes pictures of your heart.
• You will feel nothing.

Some reasons we get an Echocardiogram

To see why someone may have:

• chest pain
• trouble breathing
• dizziness

What is Graded Exercise Stress Testing?

• This test sees how strong your heart is
• It takes about 30 minutes.
• Have a light meal before the test.
• Check with your doctor if you should stop your medication.
• Wear comfortable clothing.
• Do not work out on the same day as your test.
• You need to come with shorts (or we can provide a gown) and comfortable shoes (preferably running shoes)
• Stickers are placed on the front your chest to take an electrocardiogram
• Your blood pressure will taken
• You will be asked to walk on a treadmill. This will start very slow and be flat. If you are feeling OK, the speed will be gradually increased.
• You will be monitored by a specially trained technologist at all times.
• They will continuously monitor your heart rate and how your heart is functioning while walking.
• Time on the treadmill is typically 10 minutes

Some reasons we get a Graded Exercise Stress Testing

• To see if we have a heart disease

What is Holter monitoring?

• This test constantly monitors your heart rhythm
• It takes 20 minutes to attach to your body.
• 3 stickers are placed on the front your chest
• The stickers are connected by wires to a small device.
• The small device hangs by a lanyard from your neck

• You wear this from 1 day to 14 days, day and night.
• You return the small device to our facility at the end of the period.
• The device records your heart rhythm.
• If you have any symptoms while wearing the device, record the time and day it occurred and what you were doing when you got the symptoms
• Please note that the device is delicate and can be damaged. If damaged, we may not be able to use for our other patients.

What is Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring?

• This test constantly monitors your blood pressure
• You wear a cuff on your arm for 24 hours

Some reasons we get Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring

• To see if our blood pressure is higher some at some times than at other times and we are missing it.