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This quick and easy test records the electrical signals of the heart. The test takes about 5 minutes and can provide crucial information to your cardiologist about your heart rhythm, the nature of any previous heart attack you may have had, the thickness of your heart muscle, any signs of inadequate amounts of oxygen reaching your heart, or any signs of any problems with the electrical system of your heart. The test itself is a simple matter of placing sticky pads on the chest and allowing the ECG machine to translate the information it records from these into a chart.

The Holter test is essentially an ECG that is conducted over a 24 hour period. The patient wears a small Holter recorder (the size of a lipstick) and 5 sticky pads with wires for a 24 hour period. A diary is required to assess heart rates and symptoms.

The results of this test are later analysed via software to determine what times and activities may be associated with the production of cardiac symptoms. It is an important test in diagnosing the causes of heart palpitations.

The only restrictions while wearing a Holter is NO bath, shower or swimming, otherwise the patient goes about normal activities including exercise.

Preparation requires shaving if necessary, a fine abrasion pad is used to scratch the skin and a wipe with skin prep for good contact. Should there be a reaction to the adhesive, it is recommended the patient take an antihistamine to combat the allergic reaction.

All monitors need to be returned to Christchurch Heart Group usually the next day or for out of towners couriered back ASAP so that the data can be analysed and a report produced for the Cardiologist.

The Holter test is essentially an ECG that is conducted over a set time period as determined by the Cardiologist or referring General Practitioner. The patient wears a small Holter recorder and sticky pad for a period of time and the results of this are later analysed by a Cardiologist to determine what times and activities may be associated with the production of cardiac symptoms. A diary is required to assess heart rates and symptoms. It is an important test in diagnosing the causes of heart palpitations.

This test allows showering but NO bath or swimming. Patients are to go about normal activities including exercise.

For a 7 day or 14 day monitor a spare Patch may be given to change if not sticking well.

Preparation requires shaving if necessary, a fine abrasion pad is used to scratch the skin and a wipe with skin prep for good contact. Should there be a reaction to the adhesive, it is recommended the patient take an antihistamine to combat the allergic reaction.

All monitors need to be returned to Christchurch Heart Group after the set time period has been completed.

An Ambulatory blood pressure unit takes regular blood pressure readings from a test subject over a 24 hour period. The cuff will inflate generally half hourly during the day and hourly at night, allowing your Cardiologist to monitor changes in your blood pressure over time. This helps them to determine the best method of treatment for any hight blood pressure problems.

A diary is also required to be kept to assess changes in blood pressure.

All monitors need to the returned to Christchurch Heart Group usually the next day but can be couriered. Data is then analysed and a report produced for the Cardiologist.

An echocardiogram is a non-invasive technique used to examine the structure of the heart and make sure it is functioning properly. An ultrasound probe is used to “bounce” high frequency sound waves off the heart and blood vessels, creating an 'echo' that returns to the probe and is interpreted into moving imagery of the heart. Blood movement can also be monitored with the test, which is useful for examining heart valves and congenital heart problems (such as holes in the heart).

A stress echocardiogram combines echocardiography with exercise. By doing this, cardiologists can directly compare heart function before and after exercise directly. An echocardiogram is made before exercise, the patient will then use a treadmill, and a second echocardiogram will be taken again immediately afterward. This test is useful in the diagnosis of a range of cardiac conditions.

A TOE is a specialist echocardiogram procedure conducted by passing the ultrasound probe through the mouth to the oesophagus. So positioned, the probe produces very high quality images, particularly of the structures at the back of the heart (the back of the heart is found directly forward of the oesophagus). This test is performed when an ordinary echocardiogram is not adequate to diagnose certain heart conditions.

Angiography is the term for the medical field that deals with of veins and arteries if the body. In relation to suspected (or known) heart conditions, angiography is typically used in assessment of the coronary arteries that transport blood into the muscle of the heart. The usual cause of a heart attack is the blockage of one of these arteries. Angiography to assess cardiac complaints is most often performed via an artery in the groin or in the wrist. After local anaesthetic is administered, a catheter (a long plastic tube) is inserted into the artery and guided to the vessel that requires study.