Know what to expect before your test.

You will lie on an exam table while a sonographer places a small amount of gel on your chest and moves a handheld probe over the area. The test is painless and uses sound waves, not radiation. Most echocardiograms take about 30 to 60 minutes, and you can return to your normal activities right afterward.

A standard echocardiogram usually requires no special preparation. You can eat, drink, and take your medications as normal unless our team tells you otherwise. Wear comfortable clothing that allows easy access to your chest.

The images are reviewed by your cardiologist, who will discuss the findings with you at a follow-up visit or by phone. If anything requires urgent attention, our team will contact you promptly.

Wear comfortable walking shoes and loose clothing. Avoid caffeine for the period our team specifies before your test, since caffeine can affect the results. Ask us before the test whether to take your usual medications that morning, and bring a list of everything you take.

Small electrodes are placed on your chest to monitor your heart's rhythm and blood pressure while you walk on a treadmill. The speed and incline increase gradually. The test stops when you reach a target heart rate, when symptoms appear, or when you ask to stop. Tell the team right away if you feel chest pain, dizziness, or unusual shortness of breath.

A nuclear stress test adds a small amount of a safe radioactive tracer given through an IV, along with imaging pictures of your heart taken before and after stress. This shows how blood flows to the heart muscle. The visit is longer than a standard stress test, often a few hours, and our team will give you specific instructions about eating, drinking, and caffeine beforehand.

If exercise is not safe or possible for you, medication can be used to simulate the effect of exercise on the heart. Your cardiologist will choose the approach that fits your situation.

Electrodes are placed on your chest and connected to a small recorder you wear on a belt or strap. You go about your usual activities while it records. You will typically be asked to keep a short diary of symptoms and activities so your cardiologist can match them to the recording.

A standard Holter monitor cannot get wet, so plan to shower before it is placed. Normal daily activity is encouraged so the recording reflects your real routine, but avoid anything that would soak or dislodge the electrodes. Our team will review the specifics when the monitor is fitted.

You will lie comfortably while a sonographer moves a probe along the sides of your neck. The test checks the arteries that carry blood to your brain and usually takes about 30 minutes. There is no special preparation, and you can resume normal activities immediately.

An ankle brachial index, or ABI, compares the blood pressure in your ankle with the blood pressure in your arm. It is a quick, painless way to check for peripheral artery disease. You simply lie still while blood pressure cuffs are placed on your arms and ankles.

These studies generally need no special preparation. Wear loose, comfortable clothing that can be rolled up or removed easily from the waist down. The sonographer will move a probe along your leg to evaluate blood flow.

Most diagnostic testing, including echocardiograms, stress testing, Holter monitors, and vascular ultrasound, is performed right in our offices. Procedures such as cardiac catheterization are performed in a hospital setting, and our team coordinates everything for you.

The tests on this page are non-invasive and painless. Stress testing involves exercise or medication that may make you feel your heart working harder, which is the point of the test, and you are monitored closely the entire time.

The guidance on this page is general. When you schedule, our team will give you instructions specific to your test and your medications. If you are ever unsure, call us at 512-551-3490 before your visit and we will walk you through it.