Heart and Vascular Care in Bolingbrook

When it comes to your heart, prevention is the best medicine. That’s why we have developed and offer the latest innovations in screening tools to detect heart disease in its earliest stages.

If you’re experiencing heart problem symptoms, or have a history of heart disease, your cardiologist may recommend one of the following screening tests.

Cardiac Calcium Score

Cardiovascular disease affects approximately 1 in 3 adults, and high blood pressure or high cholesterol are risk factors. Find out your risk with a cardiac calcium-scoring test, sometimes referred to as a heart scan, which combines non-invasive computed tomography (CT) technology with very low doses of radiation to spot calcium buildup in your heart and blood vessels that can lead to coronary artery disease.

Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) Screening

This artery disease develops when buildup in your arteries results in slower-than-normal blood flow. Our interventional utilize a series of simple, pain-free screenings to spot these blockages before they cause pain, loss of mobility or even heart attack or stroke.

Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD) Screening

This type of vascular disease develops when plaque buildup in your veins begins to restrict blood flow. There are many potential PVD causes, including diabetes, obesity and smoking. Our interventional cardiologists offer several simple, pain-free screenings to diagnose PVD, such as ultrasound and angiogram, that can spot these blockages early.

It’s estimated that some form of heart disease affects nearly half of all American adults. Those conditions can range from high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels to coronary artery disease or heart failure.

The first step in staying heart healthy is to pay attention to any signs of heart problems. While some people don’t experience any heart disease symptoms, the most common include:

• Chest pain
• Dizziness or fainting
• Fatigue
• Heart attack
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol levels
• Indigestion
• Leg pain
• Shortness of breath

Be sure to talk to your doctor if you’re experiencing any troubling heart issues or have a family history of heart problems.

Listening to and visualizing your heart are great first steps toward preventing heart and vascular diseases. That's why we offer state-of-the-art cardiac imaging to spot early warning signs and help prevent heart issues before they happen.

Cardiac Computed Tomography (CT)

By using X-rays to take detailed images of your heart and its surrounding blood vessels, a heart CT scan can help with early detection of many heart disease risks. That includes plaque buildup in the arteries, congenital heart disease, heart cancer and problems with heart valves, just to name a few.

HeartFlow Analysis

Using your CT scan, your doctor may order a HeartFlow Analysis which uses the data from a CT scan to create a color-coded 3D model showing the health of your heart arteries. This non-invasive test helps physicians determine if your heart is receiving the blood it needs to function.

Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Also known as a heart MRI, this imaging method utilizes powerful magnets and radio waves to take hundreds of detailed pictures of your heart. It's a pain-free and accurate way to diagnose heart issues such as heart muscle damage after a heart attack, birth defects of the heart, weakening of the heart muscle or other symptoms of heart failure. Tests usually take 30 minutes to an hour to complete, and you can request an open MRI if you feel anxious in confined spaces.

Carotid Ultrasound

When your doctor wants to check the health of the artery that carries blood to your brain, they may prescribe a carotid artery screening (also known as a carotid duplex). This can help detect blood flow issues such as blood clotting, narrowing of the artery or other causes of carotid blockage that can lead to increased risk of stroke. Carotid ultrasounds are completely painless and risk-free and require no advanced preparation.

Coronary Angiogram

A specialized X-ray-based imaging test uses fluoroscopy to take pictures of the blood flow in coronary arteries. It is used to help doctors assess if arteries are blocked (and to what extent), so that they can recommend the best treatment option.

Digital Angiography

We also offer Innova^® digital angiography, the latest advancement in heart imaging. This gives doctors a detailed, real-time image of your heart with less radiation exposure, a larger field of view and less distortion.

Echocardiogram

Our board-certified radiologists — as well as technologists with specialized training in cardiac imaging equipment — use advanced ultrasound technology, such as an echocardiogram, 3D ultrasounds and Doppler ultrasonography, to diagnose and treat a wide variety of heart problems.

Holter and Event Recorder

Have you recently suffered a heart attack, or noticed unusual changes in how your heart beats? As part of your treatment plan, you may be asked to wear a Holter monitor, a machine that records your heart's electrical activity over 24 or 48 hours. In addition to capturing how your heart responds to regular activity, a Holter monitor is also used to diagnose an arrhythmia (or irregular heartbeat) or help determine your ability to exercise after a heart attack.

Stress Testing

Exercise is the key to a healthy heart — and we want to make sure your heart is as healthy as it can be. We offer stress testing to help diagnose coronary artery disease, spot arrhythmia symptoms and assess your ability to handle strenuous activities. Testing takes about an hour, but only requires 10 to 15 minutes of exercise.

The more you know about critical heart events, the more empowered you can be to take care of your heart — and better prepared if the unexpected happens.

What Is Cardiac Arrest?

Cardiac arrest is the sudden, unexpected loss of heart function, breathing and consciousness.

What Causes Cardiac Arrest?

Cardiac arrest is typically caused when the heart’s electrical system malfunctions. This causes the heart to stop beating properly. A heart attack, on the other hand, is caused by a blockage that stops blood flow to the heart.

How Is Cardiac Arrest Treated?

Cardiac arrest can be reversed if CPR is performed immediately and a defibrillator is used to shock the heart back into normal rhythm.

Your doctor will discuss if you are at a higher risk of experiencing cardiac arrest because of a pre-existing heart condition. Together, you can make a plan that will help you stay safe and inform your loved ones what to do in an emergency.