The 12 lead ECG (also called a heart trace) is the most basic investigation that can be done on patients with suspected heart problems or as a screening tool to determine if an otherwise fit and healthy person has any clues about underlying heart disease. It is a very simple test that can be performed in a clinic after examining a patient and takes just 5 minutes to do. The test involves placing sticky labels (called electrodes) at certain locations on the patient (arms, legs and left side of the chest). This enables the ECG machine to pick up the electrical signal generated by the heart and this signal can be printed onto a paper. A completely normal ECG doesn’t always rule out serious heart problems but it provides a small degree of reassurance that the electrical signals in the heart are working properly. The ECG trace is recorded as a series of spikes called the P wave, QRS complex and T wave. The first signal or P wave is the signal from the top chambers of the heart (called the atria). The second signal is called the QRS complex and is the signal from the main pumping chambers of the heart (the ventricles). Finally the T wave is a signal that tells your cardiologist that the heart has reset itself ready for another heart beat.
The echocardiogram (also called a heart scan) is another very useful test that can be used to assess a person’s heart. It is an ultrasound scan of the heart that uses sound waves to look at a person’s heart as it beats inside their chest. It is very similar to the scan that pregnant women have to look at the baby inside the womb. The echocardiogram provides very useful information about how effectively the heart is beating. It is also able to look at the valves in the heart and to determine if they are working properly. It can also provide information about the blood vessels that come into or leave the heart (the arteries and veins) and the blood flow within these vessels. Under certain circumstances the echocardiogram will also be able to determine if there is any collection of fluid inside the heart or surrounding the lungs. The echocardiogram is a very useful test to help diagnose conditions such as heart failure, previous heart attack, cardiomyopathy and heart valve problems. Because the heart and the lungs are so closely connected this heart scan can help determine if there are any lung conditions (such as pulmonary hypertension) that can cause a problem within the heart. A normal heart scan is a very important test to do in any patient who presents with symptoms that might indicate a potential heart problem. If the echocardiogram/heart scan is normal it provides a great deal of reassurance that the heart is healthy and normal. A normal heart scan won’t always help rule out every heart condition because there is no one particular test that does that. If there are electrical problems (arrhythmia) affecting the heart then an echocardiogram is not a useful test to diagnose these. It will however provide a useful indication of the overall health of the heart.
If you are looking to have either of these tests done by a private cardiologist then Dr. Hamaad offers both of these tests to both insured and non-insured patients. For insured patients the fees for these tests are covered under the patient’s particular insurance provider. For non-insured patients looking to have either of these tests they can be arranged for a very competitive fee. A private ECG costs £50 and a private echocardiogram will cost £300. If you are concerned about your heart and want to have either of these tests arranged then please complete the enquiry form or arrange an appointment at either BMI Priory or Spire Little Aston Hospitals for complete peace of mind.
