Diagnosis is the first step toward giving you the right treatment for your heart. Here are some of the modern methods Dr. Chesnie uses: Echocardiography (ECHO) ­ Using high-frequency sound waves, provides pictures of the heart’s valves and chambers. Electrocardiography (ECG/EKG) ­ Records the heart’s electrical activity to help assess rhythm, blood-flow problems, heart attack, chamber enlargement or abnormal electrical conduction. Exercise Stress Tests ­ Let Dr. Chesnie evaluate your heart’s blood flow and check for coronary artery disease during physical exertion. Also helpful in assessing blood pressure problems, heart rhythm disturbances and overall conditioning. Tilt-Table Studies ­ Help diagnose fainting problems and peculiarities in the autonomic nervous system by tilting your body to different angles while your blood pressure, oxygen level and heart electrical impulses are monitored. Diagnostic Catheterization and Angiography ­ Allow Dr. Chesnie to create “X-ray movies” of your heart’s valves and chambers and coronary arteries in order to evaluate heart-muscle function and confirm the presence of heart disease. Nuclear Imaging Tests ­ Noninvasive testing using a radioactive “tracer” substance to produce images of the heart muscle. When combined with an exercise test is especially useful in evaluating blood flow and diagnosing blockages of coronary arteries. Electrophysiology Studies ­ In-depth evaluation and combined diagnostics to record and understand electrical activity and different heart rhythm abnormalities. Holter Monitoring ­ Continuous, 24-hour monitoring of heart rhythm that takes place at home or work accompanied by a diary of daily activities and symptoms. Telephony Monitoring ­ Available for up to a month, a small recorder can record heart rhythm specifically when symptoms occur and can then be transmitted via telephone to Chesnie HeartCare.