Heart testing in the Seacoast Region
We closely monitor your cardiovascular system to find and assess your heart issue.
Our cardiac team at Portsmouth Regional Hospital aims to give answers about your cardiovascular health. Heart tests we use feature advanced imaging technology, enabling us to deliver precise, detailed results.
Expert advice, available 24/7
Free health-related information is just a phone call away. Our nurses help you understand your symptoms, treatment options and procedures. They will also help you find a provider or specialist and schedule an appointment.
Free health-related information is just a phone call away. Our nurses help you understand your symptoms, treatment options and procedures. They will also help you find a provider or specialist and schedule an appointment.
Diagnosing heart and vascular disease
Through our compassionate approach, we work to give you the deepest possible understanding of what's causing your heart problem. After completing specialized diagnostic tests, we are typically able to determine how severe your condition is and what your best course of treatment may be.
Types of cardiovascular diagnostic tests we offer
To identify cardiovascular issues, we perform a wide variety of imaging and screening tests, such as:
- Angiograms
- Echocardiograms
- Electrocardiograms
- Electrophysiology (EP) studies
- Evoked potential tests
- Holter monitoring test
- Positron emission tomography (PET) scan
- Pulmonary function tests (PFTs)
- Saphenous vein mapping
- Segmental blood pressure test
- Stress tests
- Ultrasounds
- Vascular tests
Cardiac catheterization (cath)
Our cardiologists and interventional radiologists use cardiac cath — a minimally invasive technique — to diagnose and treat arrhythmias, blocked arteries and heart valve abnormalities.
During this procedure, your doctor inserts a catheter into a large blood vessel that leads to your heart. We use fluoroscopy, an advanced X-ray technology, to see real-time video of the inside of your heart and arteries. Using angiography, we can accurately pinpoint blockages and prevent brain tissue damage.
Cardiac scanning
This comprehensive diagnostic method uses computerized tomography (CT) scan technology to create a detailed picture of the heart. It can alert us to the presence of calcifications and blockages in the arteries, helping to prevent a heart attack or stroke. Cardiac scanning is often used to guide your treatment decisions.
We use this screening tool if you have no history of heart disease. It should never take the place of other diagnostic tests recommended by your doctor. This private-pay service isn't covered by health insurance.
Echocardiogram
An echocardiogram is a cardiovascular imaging test that uses high-frequency sound waves, or ultrasound technology, to create moving images of the heart. Images generated during the test are displayed on a computer screen and can be captured and saved as video or still shots.
The cardiac care specialists at our hospital review echocardiograms to assess the size, shape and motion of the heart, as well as to pinpoint heart muscles that aren't contracting properly. Echocardiograms help detect blood clots, fluid buildup around the heart and valve conditions.
Electrocardiogram (EKG)
For an EKG, small electrical sensors — known as electrodes — are carefully placed on your legs, arms and chest by one of our technicians. These adhesive pads on your skin measure the heart's electrical activity. The electrodes are connected to an EKG machine, which produces a graph that shows you doctor if your heart is beating normally.
We use EKGs to help:
- Detect conditions that alter the body's balance of electrolytes, such as potassium and magnesium
- Diagnose heart attacks and arrhythmias
- Identify medication overdoses
EP study
An EP study can be used to evaluate the heart's electrical activity, helping your doctor identify and locate an irregular heartbeat. We can treat heart arrhythmias with cryoablation, which enables us to use extreme cold to eliminate the diseased tissue causing your condition.
For your convenience, you can register online for your heart test to save time and effort on the day of your appointment. If you have additional questions, please call us at (603) 433-4032.