TREATMENTS:

Clinical Cardiology

Clinical cardiology involves the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease. At Cardiovascular Medicine, we have an entire team dedicated to helping patients overcome a range of cardiovascular issues. Our cardiologists bring their years of specialized training to deliver advanced treatments so you can be fully present in your life.

When to See a Cardiovascular Specialist

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Diagnostic Testing

Understanding what’s causing your symptoms is fundamental in deciding on the best treatment options for you. We offer a variety of diagnostic tests to help us determine the type and extent of your heart disease. Many of our diagnostic procedures are noninvasive or minimally-invasive. They include:

Cardiovascular Treatments

Our goal in treating your heart disease is to help you feel better and worry less so you can return to doing what you love. We are proud to offer advanced procedures to treat and manage your cardiovascular conditions. If you have been diagnosed with a heart condition, we are able to offer relief through:

Treatments :

Chest Pain Evaluations

What Causes
Chest Pain?

Most of us think of chest pain as heart-related. While you should always have a healthcare professional evaluate your chest pain, your discomfort could be from other causes, such as heartburn, a lung issue, or a pulled muscle in the chest.

When chest pain is a result of the heart not getting enough oxygen, it is called angina. On its own, angina is not a disease — it's a symptom of an underlying condition, such as coronary artery disease (CAD). Other conditions that can result in chest pain include:

  • Pulmonary embolism
  • A lung infection
  • Heartburn
  • A panic attack

Report any new or unusual chest pain or sensation to your doctor. If you feel that you may be having a heart attack, call 911 immediately.

Evaluating Chest Pain

Any chest pain should be evaluated by a medical professional to rule out a heart condition. We'll begin by discussing your symptoms with you, including when you started experiencing them and how often they occur. We'll ask about any family history with heart disease or other cardiovascular conditions. If our examination shows that your chest pain could indicate a heart condition, we will recommend additional testing, which may include:

Recovery

Depending on which procedure you have, your recovery time will vary. Most of our cardiac diagnostic tests are either non-invasive or minimally-invasive. In most cases, you are able to resume your normal activities immediately following the test. Your doctor will discuss any specific limitations you may have at your appointment.

Risks & Side Effects

Many of our cardiac imaging procedures use ultrasound, which is considered to be safe and has no side effects. Any test that uses X-ray will expose you to a small amount of radiation, which we don’t recommend for those who are pregnant. If the procedure we perform uses an additional element, such as contrast dye or radioactive medicine (used in nuclear stress tests), we will discuss any potential risks and side effects with you prior to the test.

Am I a Candidate?

If you are experiencing chest pain, you are eligible for diagnostic testing. When ordering a screening, we will evaluate any symptoms you're experiencing along with your risk factors for heart disease, which can include older age, being male, smoking, and being overweight. In addition, you may be more likely to experience heart disease if you have:

  • Diabetes
  • High cholesterol
  • High blood pressure
  • Lack of physical activity
  • Unmanaged stress

More on Chest Pain Evaluations

Additional Symptoms Related to Chest Pain

Chest pain can range in intensity from dull to sharp. You may feel burning or stabbing and pain can radiate to different areas of your body. If your symptoms are related to heart disease, you may experience:

  • Pressure or tightness in the chest
  • Pain that comes and goes
  • Shortness of breath
  • Dizziness, nausea, or vomiting
  • Cold sweats

Additional Information About Diagnostic Tests

Ambulatory EKGs: record the electrical activity of the heart. Ambulatory cardiac monitors allow us to continuously monitor your heart's electrical activity as you go about your normal activities.

Echocardiography: is a noninvasive cardiac imaging tool that takes moving pictures of the heart.

Stress EKG Test: also known as a cardiac stress test or exercise stress test, provides insight into how your heart functions during physical activity.

Nuclear Stress Test: uses a small amount of radioactive medicine in conjunction with cardiac imaging to see how well blood flows to your heart.

Angiography of the Heart: uses X-ray imaging to see if there are blocked or narrowed blood vessels in your heart.

Coronary Calcium Scoring: can help determine the degree and severity of calcium-containing hard plaque within your coronary arteries.

CT Scan of the Coronary Arteries: examines the arteries that supply blood to the heart to see if the vessels are blocked or narrowed, which can indicate coronary artery disease.

Meet Your Illinois and Iowa
Cardiovascular Physicians

Our team of physicians, researchers, and patient care specialists are focused specifically on cardiovascular best practices and lifesaving heart and vein care. We hire and empower the best cardiovascular doctors in the nation right here in the Heartland.

Patient Success Stories

Our patients live longer, healthier and more unburdened lives, thanks to heart care that counts. Just ask them:
 

CVM Locations

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Insurance Providers We Accept

Our team of physicians, researchers, and patient care specialists are focused specifically on cardiovascular best practices and lifesaving heart and vein care.
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