Diagnostics

Resting ECG

The resting ECG is a basic examination in cardiology. It records the heart’s electrical activity in a graph, providing important information about possible structural and functional changes in the heart muscle. It is also essential for documenting the heart rhythm and detecting arrhythmias.

Holter ECG (Long-term ECG)

A Holter ECG is performed with a small portable device that continuously records the heart’s activity over 24 hours up to 7 days. This test is especially important for detecting irregular heart rhythms.

Exercise ECG (Stress Test)

The exercise ECG records the heart’s electrical activity during physical exertion, showing how the heart performs under stress. Its main value lies in detecting functional heart problems that may only appear during activity. It also monitors pulse and blood pressure, helping to identify both rhythm disorders and insufficiently controlled blood pressure.

Performance Testing

In addition, the exercise ECG provides valuable information for assessing fitness levels – for example, before resuming sports or to determine current physical capacity.

This examination is an advanced development of the classic ECG. By using additional electrodes and artificial intelligence, the heart’s electrical activity is displayed in three dimensions.

The large amount of additional information about heart function makes it possible to gain insights not only into blood circulation but also into potential inflammatory processes in the heart muscle

Echocardiography, often called an “Echo,” is an ultrasound examination of the heart and the most important imaging method in cardiology. This painless test is performed while lying on the left side and allows us to assess heart muscle function, the heart valves, pressure inside the heart chambers, as well as the aorta and the sac around the heart. The direction and speed of blood flow through the chambers and valves are displayed in color, which makes it possible to detect and measure valve abnormalities.

In some cases, when the view from outside is not sufficient, a so-called transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) may be performed. This method is similar to a gastroscopy: the heart is examined from the esophagus using a special probe. For this test, the throat is numbed and a mild sedative is given, so that the short examination, lasting only a few minutes, is usually not felt by the patient.

To simulate how the heart muscle works and how well it is supplied with blood under stress, a stress echocardiography can be performed. During a standard echocardiogram (see above), a medication is given through a vein that makes the heart beat faster and stronger—similar to physical exercise.

This method is an alternative to the exercise ECG and is especially useful for patients who cannot reach a sufficient level of exertion during an exercise test. It allows doctors to assess blood flow in the heart and detect possible coronary artery disease.

How well is your brain supplied with blood?

This question can be answered with an ultrasound of the arteries in the neck that supply the brain. With Doppler / Duplex technology, blood flow speed and direction can be measured. The test also shows changes in the inner vessel wall, for example dangerous calcified deposits (plaques), which are a major risk factor for stroke.

By measuring the thickness of the inner vessel layer (intima), very early stages of vascular disease (arteriosclerosis) can also be detected. This allows timely prevention before serious narrowing develops.

This examination is particularly important for patients with risk factors such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, or smoking.

A lung function test provides important information about how well the lungs work. By measuring lung volumes, airway resistance, and airflow speed, it shows whether breathing is normal.

Diseases with narrowed airways, such as COPD, asthma, or lung function changes in smokers, can be diagnosed with this method.

Sleep apnea causes repeated pauses in breathing during sleep, often leading to low oxygen levels that can damage the heart, brain, and kidneys.

For screening, patients receive a small portable device to use at home for one night. The results are automatically transmitted via an app and then evaluated by our team, so no second visit is required.

Mild sleep apnea can often be treated with simple measures, such as avoiding sleeping on the back or using a dental appliance. In moderate or severe cases, referral to a sleep laboratory may be necessary for mask ventilation therapy (CPAP).

Safety requires regular follow-up.

For implanted devices such as pacemakers, ICDs (defibrillators), or CRT systems, regular check-ups are essential to ensure proper function. This includes testing the leads that connect the device to the heart, as wear and tear can sometimes occur under the collarbone.

Therefore, international guidelines recommend device checks every six months. These visits also provide information about stored data, such as previously unnoticed arrhythmias, and allow adjustments to settings if necessary.

Our services include:

• Pacemaker checks and programming
• ICD checks and programming (implanted defibrillators)
• CRT checks and programming (resynchronization systems)
• Event recorder checks and programming

Blood tests help to identify cardiovascular risk factors. Important values include cholesterol (total, HDL, LDL), triglycerides, lipoprotein(a), and long-term blood sugar (HbA1c).

These parameters allow us to create an individual risk profile for heart disease. Under specific medical therapies, these values are also monitored to check the effect of treatment and adjust if necessary.

A Cardio-CT scan provides high-resolution images of the coronary arteries to detect calcified or narrowed vessels early and reliably assess the risk of a heart attack.

A cardiac MRI provides detailed, radiation-free images of the heart. It allows precise assessment of the heart muscle, blood flow, inflammation, or scarring, and helps diagnose structural and functional heart diseases with great accuracy.

A cardiac catheterization allows direct visualization and assessment of the coronary arteries, heart valves, and heart chambers. It helps diagnose narrowings or functional disorders and, if necessary, enables immediate treatment with a stent (vascular support).