Testing and Diagnosis
Atrium Health Floyd is dedicated to providing timely and technologically advanced care for patients experiencing chest pain, heart attacks, heart failure and other heart conditions.
Our heart care team at Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center is ready with the most advanced diagnostic and treatment techniques available, including heart catheterizations. Atrium Health Floyd Polk Medical Center in Cedartown and Atrium Health Floyd Cherokee Medical Center in Centre, Alabama, also provide most diagnostic procedures available.
Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center
Diagnostic services:
- Heart catheterization
- Echocardiogram
- Electrocardiogram (EKG)
- Exercise-induced Stress test
- Dobutamine Stress Test
- Heart Event Monitor
- Holter EKG Monitor
- Tilt Table Test
Atrium Health Floyd Polk Medical Center and Atrium Health Floyd Cherokee Medical Center
Diagnostic services:
- Echocardiogram
- Electrocardiogram (EKG)
- Exercise-induced Stress test
- Dobutamine Stress Test
- Heart Event Monitor
- Holter EKG Monitor
How the Tests Work
Heart Cath
X-ray dye is injected into heart arteries through a catheter, and X-ray images are taken.
Echocardiogram
An echocardiogram is an ultrasound that provides pictures of the chambers of the heart. Sometimes the patient is injected with a contrast dye during the procedure. Neonatal echocardiogram uses ultrasound to get images of the heart in newborn babies. Transesophageal echocardiograms produce a detailed picture of the heart chambers and the arteries that lead to the heart. The doctor will use a thin tube placed down the throat into the esophagus.
Electrocardiogram (EKG)
This test records the electrical activity of the heart using electrodes placed on the chest, arms and legs. When an abnormal rhythm is suspected, a patient may be asked to wear a portable EKG monitor to allow a doctor to better evaluate the rhythm.
Exercise-induced Stress Test
The patient walks on a treadmill while the heart is monitored by an EKG machine. The test can determine how well your heart handles its workload and can show if there are any potential blockages in your arteries.
Dobutamine Stress Test
The patient is given medication in place of exercise to stimulate the heart while it is monitored by an EKG machine. Ultrasound is also used to take pictures of the heart before and after medication is given.
Heart Event Monitor
The patient wears a portable EKG monitor for up to 30 days to record the electrical activity of the heart.
Holter EKG Monitor
The patient wears a portable EKG monitor for up to two days. When a patient feels something unusual, such as heart fluttering or discomfort in the chest, the patient presses a button on the monitor that records the event for the physician to further assess.
Tilt Table Test
The patient lies flat on a table that tilts upward to see how the heart reacts to changes in position.
Locations