Heart valves make sure blood flows in then out of your heart. Heart valve disease occurs if one or more of your heart valves don't work well. The three types of heart valve diseases are regurgitation, stenosis, and atresia. Learn more about different types, causes, symptoms, and treatments of heart valve diseases.
The four main valves of your heart are called: tricuspid, mitral, aortic, and pulmonary.
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3D Medical Animation still shot Artificial Heart Valve
Image by Scientific Animations, Inc.
3D Medical Animation still shot Artificial Heart Valve
Image by Scientific Animations, Inc.
What Are Heart Valve Diseases?
Heart valve diseases are problems affecting one or more of the four valves in the heart. Heart valves open and shut with each heartbeat to keep blood flowing in the right direction. Problems with heart valves can occur if the valves are leaky (a condition called regurgitation), too narrow (stenosis), or don’t have a proper opening (atresia).
The causes of heart valve diseases vary from person to person. You may be born with a heart valve problem, or it may happen because of age or an infection. You may also have a heart valve problem but not experience any symptoms. Or, your symptoms may develop over time. Extreme tiredness (fatigue) is often the first symptom. You may also feel faint or lose consciousness, have breathing difficulty or chest pain, or feel that your heart is skipping a beat, fluttering, pounding, or racing.
To diagnose a heart valve disease, your doctor may ask about your symptoms, listen to your heart, or order imaging tests to look at your heart. In newborns, screening tests can detect and help diagnose heart valve conditions.
Most heart valve conditions are treatable. Medicine may treat symptoms or prevent the condition from getting worse. Your doctor may also suggest surgery or another procedure to repair or replace a faulty heart valve. If not diagnosed and treated promptly, heart valve problems can lead to arrhythmia, infection, high blood pressure in the lungs, heart failure, or cardiac arrest.
Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NIH)
Additional Materials (19)
What is heart valve disease?
Video by NHLBI/Vimeo
Understanding Heart Valve Disease
Video by Mended Hearts - The largest cardiovascular patient peer support network in the world!/YouTube
Heart Valves
Fluid-structure interaction (FSI) results of an aortic heart valve, obtained by coupling the ADINA modules.[11] The simulation was used to study how sinuses behind the aortic valve leaflets produce vortices that aid in closure with minimal transvalvular pressure.
Image by ADINA R & D
Living with Valve Disease: Two Patients and their Heart Surgeon Share their Stories
Video by Alliance for Aging Research/YouTube
Dr. Robert Bonow on Heart Valve Disease Symptoms
Video by American Heart Association/YouTube
Four Basic Treatment Options for Heart Valve Patients
Video by American Heart Association/YouTube
Understanding Heart Murmurs, Aortic and Mitral Valve Problems
Video by American Heart Association/YouTube
Heart Valve Disease in Women
Video by Alliance for Aging Research/YouTube
Am I at Risk for Heart Valve Disease?
Video by UAB Medicine/YouTube
What is valvular heart disease? | Circulatory System and Disease | NCLEX-RN | Khan Academy
Video by khanacademymedicine/YouTube
Valvular heart disease causes | Circulatory System and Disease | NCLEX-RN | Khan Academy
Video by khanacademymedicine/YouTube
VIDEO: Heart Valve Disease What Women Need To Know
Video by WomenHeartTV/YouTube
Valvular heart disease diagnosis and treatment | NCLEX-RN | Khan Academy
Video by khanacademymedicine/YouTube
The Importance of Tracking Heart Valve Disease Symptoms
Video by American Heart Association/YouTube
Mitral Regurgitation (Stephen H. Little, MD) Sunday, August 21, 2016
Video by Houston Methodist DeBakey CV Education/YouTube
Aortic Stenosis in Seniors Explained
Video by Alliance for Aging Research/YouTube
Mitral Reguritation (insufficiency) - Overview (signs and symptoms, pathophysiology, treatment)
Video by Armando Hasudungan/YouTube
Aortic Stenosis - Overview (signs and symptoms, pathophysiology, treatment)
Video by Armando Hasudungan/YouTube
Clinician's Corner: Endocarditis
Video by Osmosis/YouTube
1:05
What is heart valve disease?
NHLBI/Vimeo
2:19
Understanding Heart Valve Disease
Mended Hearts - The largest cardiovascular patient peer support network in the world!/YouTube
Heart Valves
ADINA R & D
5:56
Living with Valve Disease: Two Patients and their Heart Surgeon Share their Stories
Alliance for Aging Research/YouTube
2:09
Dr. Robert Bonow on Heart Valve Disease Symptoms
American Heart Association/YouTube
3:57
Four Basic Treatment Options for Heart Valve Patients
American Heart Association/YouTube
4:46
Understanding Heart Murmurs, Aortic and Mitral Valve Problems
American Heart Association/YouTube
5:21
Heart Valve Disease in Women
Alliance for Aging Research/YouTube
1:37
Am I at Risk for Heart Valve Disease?
UAB Medicine/YouTube
10:41
What is valvular heart disease? | Circulatory System and Disease | NCLEX-RN | Khan Academy
khanacademymedicine/YouTube
8:47
Valvular heart disease causes | Circulatory System and Disease | NCLEX-RN | Khan Academy
khanacademymedicine/YouTube
8:14
VIDEO: Heart Valve Disease What Women Need To Know
WomenHeartTV/YouTube
9:46
Valvular heart disease diagnosis and treatment | NCLEX-RN | Khan Academy
khanacademymedicine/YouTube
4:14
The Importance of Tracking Heart Valve Disease Symptoms
American Heart Association/YouTube
15:17
Mitral Regurgitation (Stephen H. Little, MD) Sunday, August 21, 2016
Houston Methodist DeBakey CV Education/YouTube
3:51
Aortic Stenosis in Seniors Explained
Alliance for Aging Research/YouTube
9:13
Mitral Reguritation (insufficiency) - Overview (signs and symptoms, pathophysiology, treatment)
Armando Hasudungan/YouTube
7:59
Aortic Stenosis - Overview (signs and symptoms, pathophysiology, treatment)
Armando Hasudungan/YouTube
5:58
Clinician's Corner: Endocarditis
Osmosis/YouTube
FAQs
3D Medical Animation still shot Artificial Heart Valve
Image by Scientific Animations, Inc.
3D Medical Animation still shot Artificial Heart Valve
Image by Scientific Animations, Inc.
Heart Valve Diseases
What are heart valve diseases?
Heart valve disease happens when one or more of your heart valves don't work well.
Your heart has four valves: the tricuspid, pulmonary, mitral, and aortic valves. The valves have flaps that open and close. The flaps make sure that blood flows in the right direction through your heart and to the rest of your body. When your heart beats, the flaps open to let blood through. Between heartbeats they close to stop the blood from flowing backwards.
If one or more of your heart valves doesn't open or close correctly, it can affect your blood flow and strain your heart. Fortunately, treatment helps most valve diseases.
What are the types of heart valve diseases?
Heart valves can have three basic kinds of problems:
Regurgitation, or backflow, happens when the flaps of a valve don't close tightly. This allows the blood to leak backwards. A common cause of regurgitation is prolapse, where the flaps of the valve flop or bulge back. Prolapse most often affects the mitral valve.
Stenosis happens when the flaps of a valve become thick, stiff, or stuck together. This prevents the heart valve from opening all the way. Not enough blood can pass through the valve. Aortic valve stenosis is a common type of stenosis. It affects the valve that controls blood flow into the large artery that carries blood out of the heart to the body.
Atresia happens when a heart valve did not form properly and does not have an opening for blood to pass through.
Sometimes a valve can have both regurgitation and stenosis.
What causes heart valve diseases?
Some people are born with heart valve disease. This is called congenital heart valve disease. It can happen alone or along with other congenital heart defects. Heart valve disease can also develop over time as you get older or have certain conditions that affect the heart.
Who is more likely to develop heart valve diseases?
Your chance of having heart valve disease is higher if:
You are older. With age, the heart valves can become thick and stiff.
You have or have had other conditions that affect your heart and blood vessels. These include:
Rheumatic fever. An untreated strep throat can become rheumatic fever, which can harm the heart valves. The damage may not show up for years. Today, most people take antibiotics to cure strep throat before it can cause heart valve damage.
Endocarditis. This is a rare infection in the lining of the heart and heart valves. It is usually caused by bacteria in the bloodstream.
A heart attack.
Heart failure.
Coronary artery disease, especially when it affects the aorta (the large artery that carries blood from the heart to the body).
High blood pressure.
High blood cholesterol.
Diabetes.
Obesity and overweight.
Lack of physical activity.
A family history of early heart disease:
A father or brother who had heart disease younger than 55.
A mother or sister who had heart disease younger than 65.
You were born with an aortic valve that wasn't formed right. Sometimes this will cause problems right away. Other times, the valve may work well enough for years before causing problems.
What are the symptoms of heart valve diseases?
Many people live their whole lives with a heart valve that doesn't work perfectly and never have any problems. But heart valve disease may get worse slowly over time. You may develop signs and symptoms, such as:
Shortness of breath (feeling like you can't get enough air)
Fatigue
Swelling in your feet, ankles, abdomen (belly), or the veins in your neck
Chest pain when you're physically active
Arrhythmia, a problem with the rate or rhythm of your heartbeat
Dizziness or fainting
If you don't get treatment for heart valve disease, the symptoms and strain on your heart may keep getting worse.
What other problems can heart valve diseases cause?
When the valves don't work well, your heart has to pump harder to get enough blood out to the body. Without treatment, this extra workload on your heart can lead to:
Heart failure
Stroke
Blood clots
Sudden cardiac arrest or death
How is heart valve disease diagnosed?
Your health care provider may listen to your heart with a stethoscope and hear that your heart makes abnormal sounds, such as a click or a heart murmur. These sounds may mean a valve isn't working normally. The provider will usually refer you to a cardiologist, a doctor who specializes in heart diseases.
The doctor will also listen to your heart and will do a physical exam. You will also likely need to have one or more heart tests.
What are the treatments for heart valve diseases?
Most heart valve problems can be treated successfully. Treatment may include:
Medicines to control your symptoms and keep your heart pumping well
Heart-healthy lifestyle changes to treat other related heart conditions
Surgery to repair or replace a valve
It's possible that you may need surgery, even if you don't have symptoms. Fixing the valve can help can prevent future heart problems.
There are many ways to do heart valve surgery. You and your doctor can decide what's best for you, based on your valve problem and general health. Heart valve repair surgery has fewer risks than heart valve replacement. So, when repair is possible, it's preferred over valve replacement.
In some cases, valve replacement is necessary. There are 2 types of replacement valves:
Biologic valves made from pig, cow, or human tissue. These valves tend to wear out after 10 to 15 years, but some may last longer.
Mechanical (human-made) valves usually don't wear out. But with a mechanical valve, you usually have to take blood thinners for the rest of your life to prevent blood clots. And your risk of endocarditis (a heart infection) is higher than with a biologic valve.
Source: NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Additional Materials (1)
Understanding Heart Valve Disease
Video by Mended Hearts - The largest cardiovascular patient peer support network in the world!/YouTube
2:19
Understanding Heart Valve Disease
Mended Hearts - The largest cardiovascular patient peer support network in the world!/YouTube
Types
Pulmonary Atresia
Image by CDC
Pulmonary Atresia
TOF / PULMONARY ATRESIA
Image by CDC
What Are the Types of Heart Valve Diseases?
The three types of heart valve diseases are regurgitation, stenosis, and atresia. The type of heart valve disease you have depends on which valve is affected and in what way. Heart valve diseases can cause problems in any of the heart’s four valves: the aortic, mitral, pulmonary, and tricuspid valves. For example:
A bicuspid aortic valve is an aortic valve that forms with two flaps instead of three.
Mitral valve prolapse occurs when the mitral valve flaps bulge back (prolapse) or flop into the left atrium. This may prevent the valve from forming a tight seal.
Pulmonary atresia and tricuspid atresia result when the pulmonary or tricuspid valve openings do not form correctly when the heart is developing.
What are heart valves?
The heart valves control blood flow through and out of the heart. When they are working well, your heart valves operate in a smooth sequence to direct blood efficiently through the heart to the lungs and rest of the body. Each valve has a set of flaps that open and close with each heartbeat. The flaps make sure blood flows in the correct direction.
In a heart that has developed normally:
The aortic valve lies between the left ventricles and the aorta.
The mitral valve lies between the left atria and the left ventricle.
The pulmonary valve lies between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery.
The tricuspid valve lies between the right atrium and the right ventricle.
What are the types of heart valve problems?
Atresia
Atresia is a heart condition that may be present at birth (called a congenital heart defect) or, rarely, acquired later in life. It occurs when a heart valve has no opening at all. Instead, a solid piece of tissue forms between the chambers of the heart, which blocks the flow of blood. There are two main types of heart valve atresia:
Pulmonary atresia affects the pulmonary valve. In this condition, blood cannot flow from the heart to the lungs through the pulmonary artery.
Tricuspid atresia affects the tricuspid valve. In this condition, blood cannot flow from the right atrium to the right ventricle.
Regurgitation
Regurgitation, also known as backflow or insufficiency, happens when a valve does not seal tightly. This allows blood to leak backward rather than flowing forward through the heart or into an artery. Since some blood flows in the wrong direction, your heart cannot work efficiently to get blood to your body. Regurgitation can happen if valve flaps are not the right size or shape, or if the valve opening is stretched. You may be born with heart valve regurgitation or develop it over time.
Regurgitation is most often due to prolapse in the mitral valve. This occurs when the flaps of the heart valve sag and flop back into the left atrium.
Mitral valve prolapse does not always cause backflow. In fact, most people who have mitral valve prolapse do not experience backflow and never have any related symptoms or problems. However, when backflow occurs, it can get worse over time and lead to complications such as infection and increased pressure in the heart and lungs.
Stenosis describes a valve opening that is too small. The valve may be too narrow, or the flaps may have formed incorrectly before birth. For example, the aortic valve may form with two flaps instead of three. This is called a bicuspid aortic valve. This condition and others that cause stenosis can make it difficult for blood to pass through the valve, so the heart has to work harder to pump enough blood to the body.
Sometimes a valve has more than one problem or more than one valve is affected. Any of these problems can make your heart work harder and affect its ability to pump blood. If a valve condition is left untreated, it can get worse over time, putting you at risk for serious problems such as heart failure or stroke.
Learn the symptoms and when to go to the doctor if you think you may have a heart valve problem.
Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Causes
Streptococcus Pyogenes
Image by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Streptococcus Pyogenes
This scanning electron micrograph of Streptococcus pyogenes shows the characteristic cellular phenotype resembling chains of cocci.
Image by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
What Causes Heart Valve Diseases?
Your heart has four valves that open and close to allow blood to flow through. Heart valve diseases develop when these valves do not work properly. Problems with your heart valves can either be present at birth or be acquired over time.
Heart valve diseases at birth
Congenital heart valve diseases develop before a baby is born, because of problems in the way the heart forms. These valve conditions can occur alone or along with other congenital heart defects.
Valve diseases seen at birth may range from mild problems to life-threatening conditions in which blood flow is blocked because no heart valve ever formed (atresia). More commonly, a valve is too narrow and does not let enough blood flow through it (stenosis). Or, valve flaps that are the wrong size or shape cause the valve to leak (regurgitation).
Some congenital heart valve diseases are Inherited, which means the heart valve defect is caused by specific gene that are passed to a child from the parents. For example, bicuspid aortic valve is a type of inherited heart valve disease that can cause stenosis.
Acquired heart valve diseases
You may develop heart valve disease as you age, or because of medicine you take or a procedure you have.
Risk factors include:
Age: Older age can be a risk factor,especially if your lifestyle habits also raise your risk.
Family history: Mitral valve prolapse and bicuspid aortic valve problems can run in families. A family history of early coronary heart disease can also raise your risk of developing a heart valve disease.
Lifestyle habits: Risk factors for other types of heart disease may put you at risk for heart valve diseases, too. These include a lack of physical activity, unhealthy eating patterns, smoking, and obesity.
Medical devices: Defibrillators and pacemakers can rub against a valve and create scar tissue or stimulate the heart to beat out of rhythm, which can stretch a heart valve.
Other conditions: High blood pressure, diabetes, Autoimmune disorders such as lupus, and other heart conditions can raise your risk of heart valve diseases.
Radiation treatment for cancer can cause issues such as thickening and narrowing of heart valves.
Sex: At all ages, men are more likely than women to have certain heart valve conditions, such as aortic stenosis.
Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Additional Materials (6)
Valvular heart disease causes | Circulatory System and Disease | NCLEX-RN | Khan Academy
Video by khanacademymedicine/YouTube
Heart Valves
Illustration of Heart Valves. With the atria and major vessels removed, all four valves are clearly visible, although it is difficult to distinguish the three separate cusps of the tricuspid valve.
Image by OpenStax College
Understanding Heart Murmurs, Aortic and Mitral Valve Problems
"Rheumatic Heart Disease" by Emmanuel Rusingiza, MD, for OPENPediatrics
OPENPediatrics/YouTube
4:11
What is acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease? An explainer video for school staff
RHDAustralia/YouTube
Symptoms
What Is Mitral Valve Prolapse?
Image by National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NIH)
What Is Mitral Valve Prolapse?
The illustration shows a cross-section of a healthy heart, including the four heart valves. The blue arrow shows the direction in which oxygen-poor blood flows from the body to the lungs. The red arrow shows the direction in which oxygen-rich blood flows from the lungs to the rest of the body.
Image by National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NIH)
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Heart Valve Disease?
Call your doctor if your child has problems eating. If your child has a blue skin tone, weak pulse, or signs of shock, call 9-1-1 right away.
Symptoms can vary based on the type of heart valve disease. Symptoms in newborns are also different from symptoms in adults. Some symptoms are related to heart failure, which can be caused by problems with the heart valves.
Symptoms in newborns or young children
Signs of a heart valve condition may be present at birth. They can be seen as symptoms or may be detected during a newborn screening. Sometimes, signs of a heart valve defect may not appear until weeks or even months after birth.
Symptoms can include:
Not gaining weight or growing as they should: You may notice problems eating. Some children may get sweaty from the effort of eating.
Blue skin tone, especially the lips, fingers, and toes
Low levels of oxygen in the blood: Your doctor may find this using a pulse oximetry screening test.
Pale skin, rapid pulse or breathing, or cool, clammy hands: These are signs of shock, which is a medical emergency in newborns.
Weak pulse
Symptoms in adults
Symptoms of heart valve diseases that occur with older age may happen slowly. Many people mistake early signs of heart valve diseases — such as getting breathless while exercising or during typical activities — as normal signs of aging. You may also have no symptoms at all.
When symptoms of heart valve diseases occur, they can include:
Breathing problems, including rapid breathing or difficulty breathing, especially when climbing stairs, moving fast, or otherwise exerting yourself
Chest pain or discomfort, also called angina
Dizziness, fainting when standing up, or a short-term loss of consciousness
Feeling more tired than usual
Fever, which may signal an infection that can lead to heart inflammation (called endocarditis)
Feeling like your heart is beating too fast or skipping a beat
Heart murmur, an unusual sound that is heard between heartbeats
Swelling around the eyes, ankles, or abdomen
These symptoms are similar to other conditions. Your doctor can do a test to look at your heart, called an echocardiogram, to diagnose a heart valve problem.
Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Additional Materials (1)
Dr. Robert Bonow on Heart Valve Disease Symptoms
Video by American Heart Association/YouTube
2:09
Dr. Robert Bonow on Heart Valve Disease Symptoms
American Heart Association/YouTube
Diagnosis
Heart Valves
Image by Kjetil Lenes
Heart Valves
Heart Valve GIF-animation showing a moving echocardiogram; a 3D-loop of a heart viewed from the apex, with the apical part of the ventricles removed and the mitral valve clearly visible. Due to missing data the leaflet of the tricuspid and aortic valve is not clearly visible, but the openings are. To the left are two standard two-dimensional views taken from the 3D dataset. A Sketch explains the animation.
Image by Kjetil Lenes
How Are Heart Valve Diseases Diagnosed?
To diagnose a heart valve disease, your healthcare provider may review your medical history, do a physical exam, and order tests to check the shape of your heart and how well it works.
Medical history and physical exam
Your doctor will ask about your risk factors, your symptoms, and any related heart valve conditions that run in your family.
During a physical exam, your doctor may do the following:
Listen to your heart with a stethoscope for the sounds of a heart murmur or irregular rhythm.
Feel the strength of your pulse on your neck or arm.
Examine a newborn’s abdomen for signs of a liver that is larger than normal.
Echocardiography
The echocardiogram is the most common test to diagnose a problem with the heart valves.
Echocardiography, or echo, is a painless test that uses sound waves to create moving pictures of your heart. The pictures show the size and shape of your heart and how well your heart is pumping blood. A type of echo called Doppler ultrasound shows how well blood flows through your heart's chambers and valves.
A patient having echocardiography The patient lies on his left side. A sonographer moves the transducer on the patient’s chest, while viewing the echo pictures on a computer.
Echo can detect blood clots inside your heart, fluid buildup in the pericardium (the sac around the heart), tumors, and problems with the aorta. The aorta is the main artery that carries oxygen-rich blood from your heart to your body. Echo also can help your doctor find the cause of abnormal heart sounds, such as heart murmurs. Your doctor also might use echo to see how well your heart responds to certain heart treatments.
Other diagnostic tests and procedures
To diagnose heart valve disease, your doctor may do other tests in addition to echocardiography.
Electrocardiogram
An electrocardiogram, also called an ECG or EKG, is a simple, painless test that detects and records your heart’s electrical activity. An EKG can show how fast your heart is beating, whether the rhythm of your heartbeats is steady or irregular, and the strength and timing of the electrical impulses passing through each part of your heart. You may have an EKG as part of a routine exam to screen for heart disease.
An EKG may be recorded in a doctor’s office, an outpatient facility, in a hospital before major surgery, or as part of stress testing. For the test, you will lie still on a table. A nurse or technician will attach up to 12 electrodes to the skin on your chest, arms, and legs. Your skin may need to be shaved to help the electrodes stick. The electrodes are connected by wires to a machine that records your heart’s electrical activity on graph paper or on a computer. After the test, the electrodes will be removed.
An EKG has no serious risks. EKGs don’t give off electrical charges such as shocks. You may develop a slight rash where the electrodes were attached to your skin. This rash usually goes away on its own without treatment.
Chest X-ray
A chest X-ray is a fast and painless imaging test to look at the structures in and around your chest.
This test can help diagnose and check conditions such as pneumonia, heart failure, lung cancer, tuberculosis, sarcoidosis, and lung tissue scarring, called fibrosis. Doctors may use chest X-rays to see how well certain treatments are working and to check for complications after certain procedures or surgeries.
The test may be done in the doctor’s office, clinic, or hospital. You will stand, sit, or lie still for the test.
Chest X-rays have few risks. The amount of radiation used in a chest X-ray is very small. Talk to your provider if you are or could be pregnant.
Stress test
A stress test measures how healthy your heart is and how well it works during physical stress. Some heart problems are easier to identify when your heart is working hard to pump blood throughout your body, such as when you exercise.
Your doctor may recommend this test if you have symptoms of a heart problem, such as shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, and a rapid or irregular heartbeat. If your doctor does find a problem, the stress test also can help your doctor choose the right treatment plan and determine what types of physical activity are safe for you.
You may do a stress test in your doctor’s office or a hospital. The test usually involves physical exercise such as walking on a treadmill or riding a stationary bicycle. If you are not able to exercise, your doctor will give you medicine that will make your heart work hard and beat faster, as if you were exercising. Your doctor may ask you not to take some of your prescription medicines or to avoid coffee, tea, or any drinks with caffeine on the day of your test, because these may affect your results. Your doctor will ask you to wear comfortable clothes and shoes for the test.
For the stress test, your doctor will put sticky patches called electrodes on your chest and attach a blood pressure cuff to your arm and a pulse monitor to your finger or other part of your body. Your doctor will measure your heart activity and blood pressure before you start the test.
You will slowly start to exercise on a treadmill or stationary bicycle, and then gradually increase the treadmill speed or bicycle resistance until your heart is working at the target heart rate for your age. Most often, a stress test includes an electrocardiogram to measure your heart’s electrical activity as you exercise. Your doctor may also measure your blood oxygen level, blood pressure, and heart rate. During the test, you will exercise for 10 to 15 minutes. Your doctor will stop the test if you show any sign of a heart problem, or if you are too tired to continue the test. If you are not able to exercise, your doctor will give you medicine over a 10- to 20-minute period through an intravenous (IV) line into one of your blood vessels.
After the stress test, your doctor will measure your heart activity and blood pressure to make sure that both measurements are back within the normal range. You should be able to return to your normal activities right away.
Screening tests
Your doctor may suggest screening tests if you have known risk factors for a heart valve disease or as part of a routine visit. Finding heart valve diseases early can lead to treatments that may prevent or fix problems. Several screening tests can identify heart valve disease.
Prenatal screening is used during pregnancy to check a developing baby’s heart.
Newborn screening tests are recommended for all newborns in the United States. One of the most common heart screening tests for newborns uses pulse oximetry to measure how much oxygen is in the baby’s blood. Low blood oxygen levels may be a symptom of dangerous heart defects. This test involves attaching sensors to the baby’s hands and feet to measure oxygen levels. Low blood oxygen levels might alert doctors to a blocked valve or valve that is not working.
Screening after cancer treatment is important because you may have a higher risk of developing heart valve diseases after radiation treatments.
Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Additional Materials (2)
Valvular heart disease diagnosis and treatment | NCLEX-RN | Khan Academy
Video by khanacademymedicine/YouTube
Cardiac Stress Test
The image shows a patient having a stress test. Electrodes are attached to the patient's chest and connected to an EKG (electrocardiogram) machine. The EKG records the heart's electrical activity. A blood pressure cuff is used to record the patient's blood pressure while he walks on a treadmill.
Image by National Heart Lung and Blood Institute
9:46
Valvular heart disease diagnosis and treatment | NCLEX-RN | Khan Academy
A Doppler ultrasound is an imaging test that uses sound waves to evaluate the blood flow and blood pressure within the arteries and veins of any part of your body. The test shows the speed and direction of blood flow in real time.
A Doppler ultrasound is an imaging test that uses sound waves to evaluate the blood flow and blood pressure within the arteries and veins of any part of your body. The test shows the speed and direction of blood flow in real time.
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Use the slider below to see how your results affect your
health.
Your result is Normal.
A normal result indicates that you have no abnormalities that could affect the normal blood flow in the examined area. It also means that the blood pressure in your arteries is normal.
Related conditions
A Doppler ultrasound is an imaging test that uses sound waves to show blood moving through blood vessels. A regular ultrasound also uses sound waves to create images of structures inside the body, but it can't show blood flow.
Doppler ultrasound works by measuring sound waves that are reflected from moving objects, such as red blood cells. This is known as the Doppler effect.
There are different types of Doppler ultrasound tests. They include:
Color Doppler. This type of Doppler uses a computer to change sound waves into different colors. These colors show the speed and direction of blood flow in real time.
Power Doppler, a newer type of color Doppler. It can provide more detail of blood flow than standard color Doppler. But it cannot show the direction of blood flow, which can be important in some cases.
Spectral Doppler. This test shows blood flow information on a graph, rather than color pictures. It can help show how much of a blood vessel is blocked.
Duplex Doppler. This test uses standard ultrasound to take images of blood vessels and organs. Then a computer turns the images into a graph, as in spectral Doppler.
Continuous wave Doppler. In this test, sound waves are sent and received continuously. It allows for more accurate measurement of blood that flows at faster speeds.
Doppler ultrasound tests are used to help health care providers find out if you have a condition that is reducing or blocking your blood flow. It may also be used to help diagnose certain heart diseases. The test is most often used to:
Check heart function. It is often done along with an electrocardiogram, a test that measures electrical signals in the heart.
Look for blockages in blood flow. Blocked blood flow in the legs can cause a condition called deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
Check for blood vessel damage and for defects in the structure of the heart.
Look for narrowing of blood vessels. Narrowed arteries in arms and legs can mean you have condition called peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Narrowing of arteries in the neck can mean you have a condition called carotid artery stenosis.
Monitor blood flow after surgery.
Check for normal blood flow in a pregnant woman and her unborn baby.
You may need a Doppler ultrasound if you have symptoms of reduced blood flow or a heart disease. Symptoms vary depending on the condition causing the problem. Some common blood flow conditions and symptoms are below.
Symptoms of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) include:
Numbness or weakness in your legs
Painful cramping in your hips or leg muscles when walking or climbing stairs
Cold feeling in your lower leg or foot
Change in color and/or shiny skin on your leg
Symptoms of heart problems include:
Shortness of breath
Swelling in your legs, feet, and/or abdomen
Fatigue
You may also need a Doppler ultrasound if you:
Have had a stroke. After a stroke, your health care provider may order a special kind of Doppler test, called transcranial Doppler, to check blood flow to the brain.
Had an injury to your blood vessels.
Are being treated for a blood flow disorder.
Are pregnant and your provider thinks you or your unborn baby might have a blood flow problem. Your provider may suspect a problem if your unborn baby is smaller than it should be at this stage of pregnancy or if you have certain health problems. These include sickle cell disease or preeclampsia, a type of high blood pressure that affects pregnant women.
A Doppler ultrasound usually includes the following steps:
You will lie a table, exposing the area of your body that's being tested.
A health care provider will spread a special gel on the skin over that area.
The provider will move a wand-like device, called a transducer, over the area.
The device sends sound waves into your body.
The movement of blood cells causes a change in the pitch of the sound waves. You may hear swishing or pulse-like sounds during the procedure.
The waves are recorded and turned into images or graphs on a monitor.
After the test is over, the provider will wipe the gel off your body.
The test takes about 30-60 minutes to complete.
To prepare for a Doppler ultrasound, you may need to:
Remove clothing and jewelry from the area of the body that is getting tested.
Avoid cigarettes and other products that have nicotine for up to two hours before your test. Nicotine causes blood vessels to narrow, which can affect your results.
For certain types of Doppler tests, you may be asked to fast (not eat or drink) for several hours before the test.
Your health care provider will let you know if you need to do anything to prepare for your test.
There are no known risks to having a Doppler ultrasound. It is also considered safe during pregnancy.
If your results were not normal, it may mean you have:
A blockage or clot in an artery
Narrowed blood vessels
Abnormal blood flow
An aneurysm, a balloon-like bulge in the arteries. It causes the arteries to become stretched and thin. If the wall becomes too thin, the artery can rupture, causing life-threatening bleeding.
Results may also show if there is abnormal blood flow in an unborn baby.
The meaning of your results will depend what area of the body was being tested. If you have questions about your results, talk to your health care provider.
https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/doppler-ultrasound/ [accessed on May 31, 2019]
https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/aftercareinformation/pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=av2854 [accessed on Mar 17, 2019]
https://www.mayoclinic.org/doppler-ultrasound/expert-answers/faq-20058452 [accessed on Mar 17, 2019]
https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003775.htm [accessed on Mar 17, 2019]
https://www.healthline.com/health/doppler-ultrasound-exam-of-an-arm-or-leg [accessed on Mar 17, 2019]
https://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/glossary/glossary1.cfm?gid=96 [accessed on Mar 17, 2019]
http://www.imagingpathways.health.wa.gov.au/index.php/consumer-info/imaging-procedures/doppler-ultrasound [accessed on Mar 17, 2019]
Normal reference ranges can vary depending on the laboratory and the method used for testing. You must use the range supplied by the laboratory that performed your test to evaluate whether your results are "within normal limits."
Additional Materials (43)
Clogged Artery
Plaque lining the intima of an artery.
Image by Scientific Animations Inc.
Coronary Artery Disease
Figure A shows the location of the heart in the body. Figure B shows a normal coronary artery with normal blood flow. The inset image shows a cross-section of a normal coronary artery. Figure C shows a coronary artery narrowed by plaque. The buildup of plaque limits the flow of oxygen-rich blood through the artery. The inset image shows a cross-section of the plaque-narrowed artery.
Image by National Heart Lung and Blood Insitute (NIH)
Carotid ultrasonography
color flow ultrasonography (Doppler) of a carotid artery - scanner and screen
Image by Etan J. Tal
What Is Transesophageal Echocardiography?
Figure A shows a transesophageal echocardiography probe in the esophagus, behind the heart. Sound waves from the probe create high-quality pictures of the heart. Figure B shows an echocardiogram of the heart's lower and upper chambers (ventricles and atrium, respectively).
Image by National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NIH)
Image by Patrick J. Lynch, medical illustrator/Wikimedia
Atherosclerosis
The illustration shows an artery with normal blood flow (Figure A) and an artery containing plaque buildup (Figure B).
Image by National Heart Lung and Blood Insitute (NIH)
Schematic diagram of normal sinus rhythm for a human heart as seen on ECG.
Schematic representation of normal ECG trace (sinus rhythm) with waves, segments, and intervals labeled. The QT interval is marked by blue stripe at bottom.
Image by Created by Agateller (Anthony Atkielski), converted to svg by atom.
This browser does not support the video element.
Atherosclerosis
Obesity and Atherosclerosis : Atherosclerosis is a disease in which hard, fatty deposits called plaque build up inside your arteries. Being obese-defined as having a body mass index over 30--makes it much more likely that you'll develop atherosclerosis.
Video by TheVisualMD
Spectrum of Medical Imaging
This composite image was created in recognition of The Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE) designation of 2015 as the “International Year of Light.” Medical imaging scientists and engineers contribute to the quest for the improved human condition by providing imaging that spans the entire usable electro-magnetic spectrum (seen at bottom). From the humblest of beginnings with simple magnification of objects and focusing with lenses, to the biological observation of cells with rudimentary microscopes in the visible spectrum, medical imaging today has both extended away from the visible spectrum towards longer and shorter wavelengths (low and high energies) and exploited the hyperspectral nature of the visible which was once considered “commonplace” or rudimentary. Considering yet a different cross-section through the various imaging modalities across the spectrum, the medically useful information gained spans anatomic, physiologic, and molecular regimes. Systems and algorithms have been developed as single-modality acquisition systems, and also as multiple-modalities with conjoint reconstruction, each informing the other in the quest to optimize image quality and information content. In addition, the role of light-based technologies in enabling advanced computations in tomographic reconstructions, computer-aided diagnosis, machine learning (neural networks, deep learning, etc.) , and 3D visualizations as well as in data-enriched storage of medical images has further extended the potential knowledge “seen” through imaging. The breadth of the electromagnetic spectrum offers limitless opportunities for improvement and inquiry, in our quest to answer human life’s difficult questions. This montage was first published on the cover of the SPIE’s Journal of Medical Imaging (July-Sept. 2015, vol. 3, no. 3) and is but a small tribute to the multitude of medical imaging scientists who have contributed to the wealth of new knowledge as we interrogate the human condition. The gray-scale whole body images (from Left to Right) are acquired from longer wavelength modalities to shorter wavelength modalities spanning the (currently) usable electromagnetic spectrum. The background images include: a coronal Magnetic Resonance Image (MRI) T2 weighted image slice, a posterior surface Infra Red (IR) heat map, a coronal non-contrast Computed Tomography (CT) slice, and a coronal 18F-fluoro-deoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography (FDG-PET) slice. The selection of color inset images includes (from Top-to-Bottom, then Left to Right): [1] diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) used to image long white matter tracts within and around the human brain illustrating neuronal connectivity (coloring refers to bluish=vertical direction; green=horizontal A-P direction; red=horizontal lateral direction) (courtesy of Arthur Toga, PhD); [2] registered and superimposed coronal proton-MRI (gray-scale) and a hyper polarized 129Xe ventilation MRI scan (color scale) within the same patient’s lungs, prior to their receiving a bronchial stent (courtesy of Bastiaan Driehuys, PhD); [3] coronal slice through a microwave-based image reconstruction of the Debye parameter ε (epsilon) in a heterogeneously dense human breast phantom (courtesy of Susan Hagness, PhD); [4] juxtaposed optical image of the retina and vertical and horizontal Optical Coherence Tomograph (OCT) slices showing pigmentosa retinopathy (courtesy of Jean-Michel Muratet, MD); [5] functional 3-D photoacoustic imaging of melanoma (gray scale) in vivo, surrounded by highly optically absorptive blood vessels (red) (courtesy of Lihong Wang, PhD); [6] optical micrograph of HeLa cells stained for microtubules (blue) and co-stained with DAPI for actin visualization (red); HeLa cells are the world's first stem cell line, originally derived from the aggressive cervical cancer cells of Henrietta Lacks (courtesy Tom Deerinck/NCMIR); [7] visualization of the pelvis highlighting the colon, which is imaged with contrast x-ray computed tomography (CT), and after digital surface rendering can be used in virtual colonoscopy, thus avoiding a physical visible light-based colonoscopy; [8] registered and fused sagittal 99mTc-sestamibi dedicated molecular single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT, heat color scale) and low-dose CT slice (gray scale) of a patient’s uncompressed, pendant breast containing two surgically confirmed DCIS loci in the posterior breast (courtesy of Martin Tornai, PhD); [9] classic, early x-radiograph of Wilhelm Röntgen’s wife’s hand (adapted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/100_Photographs_that_Changed_the_World); [10] transverse pelvic CT (gray scale) with multiple superimposed simulated x-ray photon radiotherapy beams, and their cumulative 20Gy (red) deposited dose isocontours at the focus of a tumor (courtesy of Paul Read, MD, PhD); [11] false-colored scanning electron micrograph of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) particles (yellow) infecting a human H9 T-cell (turquoise) (adapted from http://biosingularity.com/category/infection/); [12] transverse 18F-dopa positron emission tomography (PET) slice through a Parkinson patient’s brain showing decreased in vivo quantitative uptake in the right caudate and putamen (courtesy of Christaan Schiepers, MD, PhD); [13] registered and fused transverse head CT (gray scale) and registered superimposed PET image (color) of a patient immediately after radio-therapeutic proton irradiation showing endogenously created 15O-positron emitter (2 min half-life) within the nasopharyngeal tumor focus (courtesy of Kira Grogg, PhD). [14] transverse (long axis) cardiac 99mTc-sestamibi SPECT slice illustrating thinned myocardial apical wall in a procedure performed thousands of times daily around the world (adapted from www.medscape.com). These images are but a small sampling of the breadth of the spectrum of light that is currently being investigated the world over by passionate scientists and engineers on a quest for the betterment of the human condition. All contributors for these images used herein have given their permission for their use, and are graciously thanked.
Image by Martin Tornai
Atherosclerosis - Stable vs. Unstable Plaque
Stable vs. Unstable Plaque
Image by BruceBlaus
Atherosclerosis - Normal vs. Partially-Blocked Vessel
Normal vs. Partially-Blocked Vessel
Image by BruceBlaus
New Compact Ultrasound
A new compact ultrasound-delivering device helps alleviate osteoarthritis of the knee. An osteoarthritic knee has damaged joint surfaces, inflammation and swelling. This creates a stagnant environment. Just like a saturated sponge will not accept more water, the osteoarthritic joint is slow to soak up nutrients. However, ultrasound delivered at a low volume for a long time through a newly designed compact transducer agitates remaining cartilage and tissues. The ultrasound penetrates the joint and tissues. It stimulates the joint thermally and mechanically and improves permeability, creating a dynamic environment conducive to healing. Similar to a sponge that has been wrung out, the treated knee is now able to absorb nutrients. The waste is removed and swelling subsides.
Image by Zina Deretsky, National Science Foundation
What Is Atherosclerosis?
Figure A shows a normal artery with normal blood flow. The inset image shows a cross-section of a normal artery. Figure B shows an artery with plaque buildup. The inset image shows a cross-section of an artery with plaque buildup.
Image by National Heart Lung and Blood Insitute (NIH)
Micrograph of the distal right coronary artery with complex atherosclerosis and luminal narrowing
Low magnification micrograph of the distal right coronary artery with complex atherosclerosis and luminal narrowing. Masson's trichrome.
Arteries have three layers (tunica intima, tunica media and tunica adventitia). These can be seen on the micrograph:
Adventitia (outermost layer) = green fluffy material (collagen),
Media (middle (muscular) part) = red (smooth muscle actin),
Intima (inner part, in contact with the blood) = green (collagen) with some red (smooth muscle actin).
Features of atherosclerosis seen on the micrograph:
The tunica intima is severely thickened; it measures up to approximately 1/3 of a millimetre. Normally, it is one cell layer thick (approximately 10 micrometres).
There is fragmentation of the internal elastic lamina (a very thin black wavy layer) between the intima and media.
There is a partial duplication of the internal elastic lamina.
There is smooth muscle infiltration of the intima (from the media), i.e. red staining of the intima.
There is significant luminal narrowing. The section of the artery shown has only 25-35% of the cross-sectional area it once had; the artery's original lumen was approximately where the double layer of elastin is seen (the internal elastic lamina).
Features that may be seen in atherosclerosis but are not evident in the micrograph:
Calcifications.
Cholesterol crystals.
Image by Nephron
Atherosclerosis - Glossary
Atherosclerosis disease progression. Progression of atherosclerosis to late complications.
Image by Npatchett
Atherosclerosis
Illustration of Atherosclerosis and plaque that may lead to Angina.
Image by OpenStax College
What Are the Risks of Echocardiography?
CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, TIKRIT, Iraq - Col. John Scott, of Silver Spring, Md., the only American pediatric cardiologist in Iraq, is joined by the father of Dayah to look at the boy's echocardiogram at the 47th Combat Support Hospital, Sept. 17. The examination was part of a diagnostic cardiovascular screening session designed to link potential sponsors from various non-governmental organizations to fund the children's heart surgery.
Image by U.S. Army photo by Spc. Jazz Burney, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team
Start with an Exam
Doctors may find evidence of atherosclerosis in the course of a physical exam. Signs may include:Whooshing sounds (bruits), heard with a stethoscope
Weak or absent pulse in affected regions
Decreased blood pressure in a limb
Poor wound healing in affected regions
Signs of an aneurysm in the abdomen or below the knee
Image by TheVisualMD
Diagnosing Atherosclerosis
Doctors may find evidence of atherosclerosis during a physical exam, such as sounds (bruits) heard through a stethoscope, weak pulse, or poor wound healing. If signs of atherosclerosis are present, diagnostic tests may be performed. These can include blood tests, electrocardiograms (EKGs), angiograms or other imaging tests, and Doppler ultrasounds. If signs of atherosclerosis are present, diagnostic tests may be performed. Diagnostic tests may include one or more of the following:
Image by TheVisualMD
Image by Kristoffer Lindskov Hansen, Michael Bachmann Nielsen and Caroline Ewertsen / https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Doppler_ultrasound_of_systolic_velocity_(Vs),_diastolic_velocity_(Vd),_acceleration_time_(AoAT),_systolic_acceleration_(Ao_Accel)_and_resistive_index_(RI)_of_normal_kidney.jpg
Ultrasonography of orchitis
Doppler ultrasound of the scrotum, in the axial plane, of a 70 year old man with left-sided pain in the region, as well as CRP elevation. It shows orchitis (as part of epididymo-orchitis) as a hypoechogenic and slightly heterogenic left testicular tissue (right in image), with an increased blood flow. There is also swelling of peritesticular tissue.
Image by Mikael Häggström, M.D. - Author info - Reusing imagesWritten informed consent was obtained from the individual, including online publication./Wikimedia
Carotid arterial ultrasound
A patient has an ultrasonic transducer placed against their neck during a carotid arterial ultrasound at Yokota Air Base, Japan, May 11, 2016. The transducer works on similar principals to radar and sonar systems, converting ultrasound waves into electrical signals. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman David C. Danford/Released)
Image by U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman David C. Danford/Released
Spectral Doppler
Medical spectral Doppler of common carotid artery By Daniel W. Rickey 2006
Image by Drickey/Wikimedia
Doppler ultrasound image of inferior vena cava
Pulsed wave Doppler ultrasound image of inferior vena cava
Echocardiography, animation of a mitral valve insufficiency in a dog, left apical view.
Image by Kalumet
Sensitive content
This media may include sensitive content
Vaginal Ultrasound
Vaginal Ultrasound
Image by BruceBlaus
Fetal Ultrasound
Ultrasound image (sonogram) of a fetus in the womb.
Image by BruceBlaus/Wikimedia
Transcranial Doppler
Transcranial Doppler Insonation of the Cerebral Circulation
Image by Runeaaslid at English Wikipedia
Angiogenesis of a breast tumor can be viewed in an Doppler ultrasound and in magnetic resonance imaging after contrast agent has been injected.
Tumor angiogenesis is the proliferation of a network of blood vessels that penetrates into cancerous growths, supplying nutrients and oxygen and removing waste products. Tumor angiogenesis actually starts with cancerous tumor cells releasing molecules that send signals to surrounding normal host tissues. This signaling activates certain genes in the host tissue that, in turn, make proteins to encourage growth of new blood vessels. Angiogenesis of a breast tumor can be viewed in an Doppler ultrasound and in magnetic resonance imaging after contrast agent has been injected.
Image by TheVisualMD
Tumor angiogenesis signaling activates certain genes in the host tissue that, in turn, make proteins to encourage growth of new blood vessels.
Tumor angiogenesis is the proliferation of a network of blood vessels that penetrates into cancerous growths, supplying nutrients and oxygen and removing waste products. Tumor angiogenesis actually starts with cancerous tumor cells releasing molecules that send signals to surrounding normal host tissues. This signaling activates certain genes in the host tissue that, in turn, make proteins to encourage growth of new blood vessels. Angiogenesis of a breast tumor can be viewed in an Doppler ultrasound and in magnetic resonance imaging after contrast agent has been injected.
Image by TheVisualMD
Doppler Ultrasound, Investigation
Image by Beeki/Pixabay
Sonoline fetal doppler - Ultrasound - 5412
Sonoline B fetal doppler - 3MHz Ultrasound
Image by Amada44
Ultrasound is partly reflected by blood cells and plasma back toward the speaker-microphone. Because the cells are moving, two Doppler shifts are produced—one for blood as a moving observer, and the other for the reflected sound coming from a moving source. The magnitude of the shift is directly proportional to blood velocity.
Schematic diagram of normal sinus rhythm for a human heart as seen on ECG.
Created by Agateller (Anthony Atkielski), converted to svg by atom.
2:23
Atherosclerosis
TheVisualMD
Spectrum of Medical Imaging
Martin Tornai
Atherosclerosis - Stable vs. Unstable Plaque
BruceBlaus
Atherosclerosis - Normal vs. Partially-Blocked Vessel
BruceBlaus
New Compact Ultrasound
Zina Deretsky, National Science Foundation
What Is Atherosclerosis?
National Heart Lung and Blood Insitute (NIH)
Micrograph of the distal right coronary artery with complex atherosclerosis and luminal narrowing
Nephron
Atherosclerosis - Glossary
Npatchett
Atherosclerosis
OpenStax College
What Are the Risks of Echocardiography?
U.S. Army photo by Spc. Jazz Burney, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team
Start with an Exam
TheVisualMD
Diagnosing Atherosclerosis
TheVisualMD
Kristoffer Lindskov Hansen, Michael Bachmann Nielsen and Caroline Ewertsen / https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Doppler_ultrasound_of_systolic_velocity_(Vs),_diastolic_velocity_(Vd),_acceleration_time_(AoAT),_systolic_acceleration_(Ao_Accel)_and_resistive_index_(RI)_of_normal_kidney.jpg
Ultrasonography of orchitis
Mikael Häggström, M.D. - Author info - Reusing imagesWritten informed consent was obtained from the individual, including online publication./Wikimedia
Carotid arterial ultrasound
U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman David C. Danford/Released
Angiogenesis of a breast tumor can be viewed in an Doppler ultrasound and in magnetic resonance imaging after contrast agent has been injected.
TheVisualMD
Tumor angiogenesis signaling activates certain genes in the host tissue that, in turn, make proteins to encourage growth of new blood vessels.
TheVisualMD
Doppler Ultrasound, Investigation
Beeki/Pixabay
Sonoline fetal doppler - Ultrasound - 5412
Amada44
Openstax
Cardiovasc Ultrasound LVNC 2
The original uploader was Dexcel at English Wikipedia./Wikimedia
7:01
Doppler Ultrasound Imaging for Detection of Deep Vein Thrombosis in Plastic Surgery Outpatients
ASJOnline/YouTube
12:25
Carotid Duplex Exam
Sonographic Tendencies/YouTube
6:59
Ultrasound Physics Scanning Modes Color Doppler
POCUS Geek/YouTube
27:32
Doppler Features, Pitfalls and Artifacts
Radiology Video/YouTube
58:32
Understanding Doppler
Radiology Video/YouTube
2:42
What is Doppler Ultrasound and its Usage?
ERemedium/YouTube
4:31
doppler ultrasound
DrER.tv/YouTube
venous duplex of varicose veins
BruceBlaus
Doppler ultrasound analyzer of blood velocity
Юрий Петрович Маслобоев / Yury Petrovich Masloboev
Electrocardiogram
Electrocardiogram
Also called: EKG, ECG
An electrocardiogram (EKG) is a test that measures electrical signals in your heart. An abnormal EKG can be a sign of heart damage or disease.
Electrocardiogram
Also called: EKG, ECG
An electrocardiogram (EKG) is a test that measures electrical signals in your heart. An abnormal EKG can be a sign of heart damage or disease.
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Use the slider below to see how your results affect your
health.
Your result is Normal.
EKG results are normal with a consistent heartbeat and rhythm.
Related conditions
An electrocardiogram (EKG) test is a simple, painless, and quick test that records your heart's electrical activity. Each time your heart beats, an electrical signal travels through your heart. The signal triggers your heart's four chambers to contract (squeeze) in the proper rhythm so that your heart can pump blood to your body.
An EKG recording of these signals looks like wavy lines. Your provider can read these lines to look for abnormal heart activity that may be a sign of heart disease or damage.
An EKG can show:
How fast your heart is beating
Whether the rhythm of your heartbeat is steady or irregular
The strength and timing of the electrical signals passing through each part of your heart
Sometimes information from an EKG can help measure the size and position of your heart's chambers.
An EKG is often the first test you'll have if you have signs of a heart condition. It may be done in your provider's office, an outpatient clinic, in a hospital before surgery, or as part of another heart test called a stress test.
An EKG test is also called an ECG. EKG is based on the German spelling, elektrokardiogramm. EKG may be preferred over ECG to avoid confusion with an EEG, a test that measures brain waves.
An EKG test is used to help diagnose and monitor many types of heart conditions and their treatment. These conditions include:
Arrhythmia
Cardiomyopathy
Coronary artery disease
Heart attack
Heart failure
Heart valve diseases
Congenital heart defects
EKG tests are mainly used for people who have symptoms of a heart condition or have already been diagnosed with a heart condition. They are not generally used to screen people who don't have symptoms unless they have an increased risk of developing heart disease. Your provider can explain your risk for heart disease and let you know if need to have an EKG test. In certain cases, your provider may have you see a cardiologist, a doctor who specializes in heart diseases.
You may need an EKG test if you have symptoms of a heart condition, including:
Chest pain
Rapid or irregular heartbeat
Shortness of breath
Dizziness
Fatigue
A decrease in your ability to exercise
You may also need an EKG to:
Find out if you had a heart attack in the past but didn't know it
Monitor your heart if you have a known heart condition
Check how well your heart treatment is working, including medicine and/or a pacemaker
Check your heart health:
Before having surgery
If you have an increased risk for developing heart disease because:
Heart disease runs in your family
You have another condition, such as diabetes, that makes your risk higher than normal
An EKG test only takes a few minutes. It generally includes these steps:
You will lie on an exam table.
A provider will place several electrodes (small sensors that stick to your skin) on your arms, legs, and chest. The provider may need to shave body hair to make sure the electrodes stay on.
The electrodes are attached by wires to a computer or a special EKG machine
You will lie very still while your heart's electrical activity is recorded on a computer or printed on paper by an EKG machine.
You don't need any special preparations for an EKG test.
There is very little risk to having an EKG. You may feel a little discomfort or skin irritation after the electrodes are removed. The EKG doesn't send any electricity to your body. It only records electrical signals from your heart, so there's no risk of electric shock.
Your provider will check your EKG results for a steady heartbeat and rhythm. If your results are not normal, it may be a sign of a heart condition. The specific condition depends on which part of your EKG wasn't normal.
You may need to have other heart health tests before your provider can make a diagnosis. Your provider can explain what your test results mean for your heart health and treatment.
An EKG is a "snapshot" of your heart's activity over a very short time. If you have heart symptoms that come and go, a regular EKG may not catch the problem. In that case, your provider may recommend that you wear a small portable EKG monitor that can record your heart for days or longer while you do your normal activities. You may also need a longer EKG recording if your provider wants to check how well your heart is working after a heart attack or to see if treatment is helping you.
There are many types of long-term EKG monitors. The two main groups are Holter monitors, which can be worn for up to two days, and event monitors, which may record your heart activity for weeks to years depending on the type.
A Holter monitor is about the size of a small camera. You usually wear it on a belt or strap around your neck for a day or two. Wires under your clothes attach to electrodes that stick to your chest. The monitor records your heart's electrical signals the whole time you're wearing it. You may be asked to keep a diary of your symptoms during the test period. After the test period, you remove the monitor and return it according to the instructions. A provider will review the recording of your heart's electrical activity from the monitor.
An event monitor records your heart's electrical activity when you press a button or when the device detects abnormal heart activity. There two main types of event monitors:
Event monitors that you wear or carry with you. You wear some monitors on your chest or wrist. Other monitors are designed to carry. If you have symptoms, you hold the monitor to your chest. These event monitors may be used for weeks to months. Some of them wirelessly transmit information about your heart to a provider. Others must be returned so a provider can examine the recorded information.
Event monitors that are inserted under the skin of your chest. These are called implantable event monitors. They are put under your skin during minor surgery that's often done in a doctor's office. These monitors can track your heart's electrical activity for years. You may need this type of EKG monitor if you had a stroke or frequent fainting, and your provider hasn't found the cause. Implantable monitors wirelessly transmit the information they record so your provider can regularly check it.
Electrocardiogram: MedlinePlus Medical Test [accessed on Mar 09, 2023]
Electrocardiogram: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia [accessed on Feb 04, 2019]
Normal reference ranges can vary depending on the laboratory and the method used for testing. You must use the range supplied by the laboratory that performed your test to evaluate whether your results are "within normal limits."
Additional Materials (35)
How to Read an Electrocardiogram (ECG): Introduction – Cardiology | Lecturio
Video by Lecturio Medical/YouTube
Major Types of Heart Block
Video by Jeff Otjen/YouTube
How An ECG Works
Video by LivingHealthyChicago/YouTube
This browser does not support the video element.
What are Arrhythmias?
Your heart is electric. In this video you'll see how your heart's electrical system works, and what happens when it malfunctions. Voyage inside the human body as Dr. Mehmet Oz and others explain the dangers of heart arrhythmias, including tachycardia, bradycardia, and atrial fibrillation.
Video by TheVisualMD
12 Lead ECG Explained, Animation
Video by Alila Medical Media/YouTube
Bundle Branch Block, Animation.
Video by Alila Medical Media/YouTube
QRS Transitional Zone. See link for real voice update in description!
Video by Alila Medical Media/YouTube
ECG Interpretation Basics - ST Segment Changes. See link for real voice update in description!
Video by Alila Medical Media/YouTube
Cardiac Axis Interpretation. See link for real voice update in description!
Video by Alila Medical Media/YouTube
Electrical system of the heart | Circulatory system physiology | NCLEX-RN | Khan Academy
Video by khanacademymedicine/YouTube
Cardiovascular | EKG Basics
Video by Ninja Nerd/YouTube
Cardiovascular | EKG's
Video by Ninja Nerd/YouTube
Normal sinus rhythm on an EKG | Circulatory System and Disease | NCLEX-RN | Khan Academy
Video by khanacademymedicine/YouTube
Cardiac Conduction System and Understanding ECG, Animation.
Video by Alila Medical Media/YouTube
Willem Einthoven and the ECG - Stuff of Genius
Video by Stuff of Genius - HowStuffWorks/YouTube
Electrocardiogram (ECG)
A useful tool for determining whether a person has heart disease, an electrocardiogram (ECG) is a test that records the electrical activity of the heart. An ECG, which is painless (no electricity is sent through the body), is used to measure damage to the heart, how fast the heart is beating and whether it is beating normally, the effects of drugs or devices used to control the heart (such as a pacemaker), and the size and position of the heart chambers.
Image by TheVisualMD
Cardiac cycle
Cardiac Cycle vs Electrocardiogram
Image by OpenStax College
Medical Checkups
Image by TheVisualMD
Electrocardiogram
Electrocardiograms (EKGs) are the most commonly given test used to diagnose coronary artery disease. They record the heart's electrical activity and show evidence of angina or heart attack.
Image by TheVisualMD
electrocardiogram-illustration made up from Medications
A normal tracing shows the P wave, QRS complex, and T wave. Also indicated are the PR, QT, QRS, and ST intervals, plus the P-R and S-T segments.
Image by CNX Openstax
What To Expect After an Electrocardiogram
Normal ECG/EKG complex with labels
Image by Derivative: Hazmat2 Original: Hank van Helvete
Cardiac Stress Test
The image shows a patient having a stress test. Electrodes are attached to the patient's chest and connected to an EKG (electrocardiogram) machine. The EKG records the heart's electrical activity. A blood pressure cuff is used to record the patient's blood pressure while he walks on a treadmill.
Image by National Heart Lung and Blood Institute
Relationship between the Cardiac Cycle and ECG
Initially, both the atria and ventricles are relaxed (diastole). The P wave represents depolarization of the atria and is followed by atrial contraction (systole). Atrial systole extends until the QRS complex, at which point, the atria relax. The QRS complex represents depolarization of the ventricles and is followed by ventricular contraction. The T wave represents the repolarization of the ventricles and marks the beginning of ventricular relaxation.
Image by CNX Openstax
The Electric Heart
Image by TheVisualMD
Electrocardiogram (EKG)
Electrocardiogram (EKG) is a test used to measure the electrical activity of the heart.
Image by U.S. National Library of Medicine
Comparison of Arrhythmia and Normal ECG
As the muscle tissue in an overstressed heart expands, it tears and scars. The resulting tissue - hardened and marred - does not conduct electricity well. The result is that the system can no longer be relied on to deliver the carefully synchronized pattern of jolts needed to keep the heart pumping smoothly. Doctors call it \"arrhythmia.\" The heart is literally \"skipping a beat.\" This can be measured by an electrocardiogram (ECG). In some cases, arrhythmia can mean simply that the heartbeat is too fast or too slow - a bothersome but not necessarily life-threatening condition. In the worst cases, the arrhythmia indicates a potentially lethal instability in the heart's electric system. The signals that control the heart's contractions get crossed and the heart spasms. If not corrected immediately, this fibrillation of the heart is often fatal. In the U.S., more than 1,000 people die every day from sudden cardiac death, or cardiac arrest.
Image by TheVisualMD
Heart Revealing Chamber and Valve
Your heart beats faster or slower depending on information from your brain, which monitors your body's need for blood. However, the basic rhythm of your heart is automatic; it does not depend on signals from your brain. Your heart cells can generate their own electrical signals, which trigger the contractions and cause the entire heart to pump in synchrony. A specialized bundle of muscle and nerve cells called the sinoatrial node (SA node) sits at the top of the right atrium and is the pacemaker of the heart. It generates the signal for the atria to contract and send blood to the ventricles. A similar node - the atrioventricular or AV node - sits at the atrioventricular septum near the bottom of the right atrium and relays the signal from the SA node to the ventricles to contract and pump blood out of the heart. An electrocardiogram (ECG) measures the electrical signals given off by these two nodes and their conduction through the heart. By looking at the frequency and the height of the peaks and valleys of these signals on an ECG, healthcare professionals get a very good idea of how well the electrical system of your heart is working.
Image by TheVisualMD
Electrocardigram
An electrocardiogram (EKG) detects and records the heart's electrical activity. When the electrical impulse passes through the atria a small peak is recorded (P), followed by a steep spike as it erupts through the ventricles (R), and then another small peak (T) as the wave passes through and the heart repolarizes (recharges) itself for the next beat.
Image by TheVisualMD
Electro- cardiogram
Electrocardiograms, or EKGs, record the electrical activity of the heart. Since injured heart muscle conducts electrical impulses abnormally, the EKG shows if the patient has had or is having a heart attack. It is usually the first test performed.
Image by TheVisualMD
SinusRhythmLabels
Schematic diagram of normal sinus rhythm for a human heart as seen on ECG. In atrial fibrillation, however, the P waves, which represent depolarization of the atria, are absent.
Image by Agateller (Anthony Atkielski)
How To Use an Automated External Defibrillator
The image shows a typical setup using an automated external defibrillator (AED). The AED has step-by-step instructions and voice prompts that enable an untrained bystander to correctly use the machine.
Image by National Heart Lung and Blood Institute
Who Needs an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator?
Lead II (2) ECG EKG strip of an AICD ICD converting a patient back into thier baseline cardiac ryhthm. The AICD fires near the end of the strip, where the straight line is seen.
Image by Public Domain
Cardiac Cycle
CG Animated Human Heart cut section showing the atria, ventricles and valves, synced with wiggers diagram.
Image by DrJanaOfficial/Wikimedia
Mammalian Heart and Blood Vessels
The beating of the heart is regulated by an electrical impulse that causes the characteristic reading of an ECG. The signal is initiated at the sinoatrial valve. The signal then (a) spreads to the atria, causing them to contract. The signal is (b) delayed at the atrioventricular node before it is passed on to the (c) heart apex. The delay allows the atria to relax before the (d) ventricles contract. The final part of the ECG cycle prepares the heart for the next beat.
Image by CNX Openstax
9:53
How to Read an Electrocardiogram (ECG): Introduction – Cardiology | Lecturio
Lecturio Medical/YouTube
9:23
Major Types of Heart Block
Jeff Otjen/YouTube
2:45
How An ECG Works
LivingHealthyChicago/YouTube
3:27
What are Arrhythmias?
TheVisualMD
3:27
12 Lead ECG Explained, Animation
Alila Medical Media/YouTube
3:48
Bundle Branch Block, Animation.
Alila Medical Media/YouTube
3:50
QRS Transitional Zone. See link for real voice update in description!
Alila Medical Media/YouTube
1:24
ECG Interpretation Basics - ST Segment Changes. See link for real voice update in description!
Alila Medical Media/YouTube
3:32
Cardiac Axis Interpretation. See link for real voice update in description!
Alila Medical Media/YouTube
9:43
Electrical system of the heart | Circulatory system physiology | NCLEX-RN | Khan Academy
khanacademymedicine/YouTube
52:29
Cardiovascular | EKG Basics
Ninja Nerd/YouTube
20:37
Cardiovascular | EKG's
Ninja Nerd/YouTube
8:53
Normal sinus rhythm on an EKG | Circulatory System and Disease | NCLEX-RN | Khan Academy
khanacademymedicine/YouTube
3:45
Cardiac Conduction System and Understanding ECG, Animation.
Alila Medical Media/YouTube
1:46
Willem Einthoven and the ECG - Stuff of Genius
Stuff of Genius - HowStuffWorks/YouTube
Electrocardiogram (ECG)
TheVisualMD
Cardiac cycle
OpenStax College
Medical Checkups
TheVisualMD
Electrocardiogram
TheVisualMD
electrocardiogram-illustration made up from Medications
GDJ
Electrocardiogram
CNX Openstax
What To Expect After an Electrocardiogram
Derivative: Hazmat2 Original: Hank van Helvete
Cardiac Stress Test
National Heart Lung and Blood Institute
Relationship between the Cardiac Cycle and ECG
CNX Openstax
The Electric Heart
TheVisualMD
Electrocardiogram (EKG)
U.S. National Library of Medicine
Comparison of Arrhythmia and Normal ECG
TheVisualMD
Heart Revealing Chamber and Valve
TheVisualMD
Electrocardigram
TheVisualMD
Electro- cardiogram
TheVisualMD
SinusRhythmLabels
Agateller (Anthony Atkielski)
How To Use an Automated External Defibrillator
National Heart Lung and Blood Institute
Who Needs an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator?
Public Domain
Cardiac Cycle
DrJanaOfficial/Wikimedia
Mammalian Heart and Blood Vessels
CNX Openstax
Fetal Echocardiogram
Fetal Echocardiogram
Also called: Fetal echo, Fetal echocardiography
A fetal echocardiogram (also called a fetal echo) uses sound waves to check the heart of your unborn baby. It is used to evaluate the position, size, structure, function and rhythm of your baby's heart.
Fetal Echocardiogram
Also called: Fetal echo, Fetal echocardiography
A fetal echocardiogram (also called a fetal echo) uses sound waves to check the heart of your unborn baby. It is used to evaluate the position, size, structure, function and rhythm of your baby's heart.
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Use the slider below to see how your results affect your
health.
Your result is Normal.
Your baby's heart structure, rhythm, and blood flow seems to be within normal parameters.
Related conditions
A fetal echocardiogram is an ultrasound of the fetus heart. This test provides a more detailed image of the baby's heart than other types of ultrasound and also traces the flow of blood through the heart chambers.
The test is usually done in the second trimester, between weeks 18 to 24.
You should have this test if any of the following risk factors are present:
If you or the baby’s father has a congenital heart defect
If you’ve been exposed to certain dangerous chemicals
If you have or have had particular diseases (including type I diabetes, lupus, and rubella)
If you’ve abused drugs or alcohol during pregnancy
If you’ve taken certain medications
It looks for abnormalities in the fetal heart structure, reveals the heart’s rhythm, and shows the route blood takes through the heart’s chambers and valves. To do this, it uses a color Doppler ultrasound, which is a technique that uses color to monitor the direction of blood flow. Red-orange indicates flow towards the top of the ultrasound transducer (probe), blue indicates flow away from the transducer.
The procedure is similar to that of other forms of ultrasound. It can be done through your abdomen (abdominal ultrasound) or through your vagina (transvaginal ultrasound).
Ultrasound exams are noninvasive and are very low risk when performed by skilled practitioners. You should be aware that some fetal heart problems can’t be seen before birth, even with a fetal echocardiogram.
https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/congenital-heart-defects/symptoms--diagnosis-of-congenital-heart-defects/fetal-echocardiogram-test [accessed on Sep 19, 2019]
https://www.healthline.com/health/fetal-echocardiography [accessed on Sep 19, 2019]
https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/specialties/heart-center-cardiology/services-we-offer/programs/echocardiography/fetal-echo [accessed on Sep 19, 2019]
Normal reference ranges can vary depending on the laboratory and the method used for testing. You must use the range supplied by the laboratory that performed your test to evaluate whether your results are "within normal limits."
Additional Materials (7)
Fetal Circulation
Fetal Circulation
Image by OpenStax College
Sensitive content
This media may include sensitive content
Photo of a photo
Annalisa McCormick, spouse of Airman 1st Class Kristopher McCormick, a 35th Civil Engineer Squadron pavement and equipment journeyman, takes a photo of her baby during an ultra sound appointment at Misawa Air Base, Japan, April 10, 2019. An ultrasound, also called a sonogram, monitors fetal development and screens for any potential medical concerns. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Collette Brooks)
Image by U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Collette Brooks
Vascular remodelling in the embryo
Embryonic Development of Heart
Image by OpenStax College
Ultrasound Transducer
A linear array ultrasonic transducer for use in medical ultrasonography
Image by Drickey at English Wikipedia
What is Echocardiography?
Video by Mayo Clinic/YouTube
Chapter- 23 of 24 Truncus arteriosus
Video by Echocardiography in Congenital Heart Disease/YouTube
Head-3D
Fetal Circulation
OpenStax College
Sensitive content
This media may include sensitive content
Photo of a photo
U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Collette Brooks
Vascular remodelling in the embryo
OpenStax College
Ultrasound Transducer
Drickey at English Wikipedia
4:14
What is Echocardiography?
Mayo Clinic/YouTube
25:46
Chapter- 23 of 24 Truncus arteriosus
Echocardiography in Congenital Heart Disease/YouTube
Head-3D
Chest X-Ray Test
Chest X-Ray Test
Also called: CXR, Chest X Ray, Chest Radiograph, Chest Radiography, Chest Film
A chest X-ray is an imaging test that uses electromagnetic waves to create pictures of the structures in and around the chest. The test can help diagnose and monitor conditions of the heart, lungs, bones, and chest cavity.
Chest X-Ray Test
Also called: CXR, Chest X Ray, Chest Radiograph, Chest Radiography, Chest Film
A chest X-ray is an imaging test that uses electromagnetic waves to create pictures of the structures in and around the chest. The test can help diagnose and monitor conditions of the heart, lungs, bones, and chest cavity.
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Use the slider below to see how your results affect your
health.
Your result is Normal.
X rays are electromagnetic waves. They use ionizing radiation to create pictures of the inside of your body. A chest x ray takes pictures of the inside of your chest. The different tissues in your chest absorb different amounts of radiation. Your ribs and spine are bony and absorb radiation well. They normally appear light on a chest x ray. Your lungs, which are filled with air, normally appear dark.
Related conditions
A chest x ray is a painless, noninvasive test that creates pictures of the structures inside your chest, such as your heart, lungs, and blood vessels. "Noninvasive" means that no surgery is done and no instruments are inserted into your body. This test is done to find the cause of symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, chronic cough (a cough that lasts a long time), and fever.
Chest x rays help doctors diagnose conditions such as pneumonia (nu-MO-ne-ah), heart failure, lung cancer, lung tissue scarring, and sarcoidosis (sar-koy-DO-sis). Doctors also may use chest x rays to see how well treatments for certain conditions are working. Also, doctors often use chest x rays before surgery to look at the structures in the chest.
Chest x rays are the most common x-ray test used to diagnose health problems.
Doctors may recommend chest x rays for people who have symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, chronic cough (a cough that lasts a long time), or fever. The test can help find the cause of these symptoms.
Chest x rays look for conditions such as pneumonia, heart failure, lung cancer, lung tissue scarring, or sarcoidosis. The test also is used to check how well treatments for certain conditions are working.
Chest x rays also are used to evaluate people who test positive for tuberculosis (tu-ber-kyu-LO-sis) exposure on skin tests.
Sometimes, doctors recommend more chest x rays within hours, days, or months of an earlier chest x ray. This allows them to follow up on a condition.
People who are having certain types of surgery also may need chest x rays. Doctors often use the test before surgery to look at the structures inside the chest.
Depending on your doctor's request, you'll stand, sit, or lie for the chest x ray. The technician will help position you correctly. He or she may cover you with a heavy lead apron to protect certain parts of your body from the radiation.
The x-ray equipment usually consists of two parts. One part, a box-like machine, holds the x-ray film or a special plate that records the picture digitally. You'll sit or stand next to this machine. The second part is the x-ray tube, which is located about 6 feet away.
Before the pictures are taken, the technician will walk behind a wall or into the next room to turn on the x-ray machine. This helps reduce his or her exposure to the radiation.
Usually, two views of the chest are taken. The first is a view from the back. The second is a view from the side.
For a view from the back, you'll sit or stand so that your chest rests against the image plate. The x-ray tube will be behind you. For the side view, you'll turn to your side and raise your arms above your head.
If you need to lie down for the test, you'll lie on a table that contains the x-ray film or plate. The x-ray tube will be over the table.
You'll need to hold very still while the pictures are taken. The technician may ask you to hold your breath for a few seconds. These steps help prevent a blurry picture.
Although the test is painless, you may feel some discomfort from the coolness of the exam room and the x-ray plate. If you have arthritis or injuries to the chest wall, shoulders, or arms, you may feel discomfort holding a position during the test. The technician may be able to help you find a more comfortable position.
When the test is done, you'll need to wait while the technician checks the quality of the x-ray pictures. He or she needs to make sure that the pictures are good enough for the doctor to use.
You don't have to do anything special to prepare for a chest x ray. However, you may want to wear a shirt that's easy to take off. Before the test, you'll be asked to undress from the waist up and wear a gown.
You also may want to avoid wearing jewelry and other metal objects. You'll be asked to take off any jewelry, eyeglasses, and metal objects that might interfere with the x-ray picture. Let the x-ray technician (a person specially trained to do x-ray tests) know if you have any body piercings on your chest.
Let your doctor know if you're pregnant or may be pregnant. In general, women should avoid all x-ray tests during pregnancy. Sometimes, though, having an x ray is important to the health of the mother and fetus. If an x ray is needed, the technician will take extra steps to protect the fetus from radiation.
Chest x rays have few risks. The amount of radiation used in a chest x ray is very small. A lead apron may be used to protect certain parts of your body from the radiation.
The test gives out a radiation dose similar to the amount of radiation you're naturally exposed to over 10 days.
Chest x rays show the structures in and around the chest. The test is used to look for and track conditions of the heart, lungs, bones, and chest cavity. For example, chest x-ray pictures may show signs of pneumonia, heart failure, lung cancer, lung tissue scarring, or sarcoidosis.
Chest x rays do have limits. They only show conditions that change the size of tissues in the chest or how the tissues absorb radiation. Also, chest x rays create two-dimensional pictures. This means that denser structures, like bone or the heart, may hide some signs of disease. Very small areas of cancer and blood clots in the lungs usually don't show up on chest x rays.
For these reasons, your doctor may recommend other tests to confirm a diagnosis.
https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/chest-x-ray [accessed on Aug 25, 2021]
https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003804.htm [accessed on Aug 25, 2021]
https://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info/chestrad [accessed on Aug 25, 2021]
https://www.emedicinehealth.com/chest_x-ray/article_em.htm [accessed on Aug 25, 2021]
Normal reference ranges can vary depending on the laboratory and the method used for testing. You must use the range supplied by the laboratory that performed your test to evaluate whether your results are "within normal limits."
Additional Materials (50)
Chest X-Ray Basics in 5 min
Video by Nick Smith/YouTube
How X-rays see through your skin - Ge Wang
Video by TED-Ed/YouTube
What causes Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and who is at Risk?
Chest X-ray of transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI syndrome) compared to chest X-ray of the same subject afterwards.
Image by Altaf Gauhar Haji, Shekhar Sharma, DK Vijaykumar and Jerry Paul
Tuberculosis X-ray
An anteroposterior X-ray of a patient diagnosed with advanced bilateral pulmonary tuberculosis. This AP X-ray of the chest reveals the presence of bilateral pulmonary infiltrate (white triangles), and caving forma.
Image by CDC / Der Lange
Respiratory Syncytial Virus
This highly-magnified, 1981 transmission electron microscopic (TEM) image, reveals some of the morphologic traits exhibited by a human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The virion is variable in shape, and size, with an average diameter between 120-300nm. RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia among infants and children, under 1-year of age.
Image by CDC/ E. L. Palmer
Q Fever Pneumonia X-ray
Combination of two x-rays (A) normal chest x-ray (B) x-ray documenting Q fever pneumonia.
Image by US Gov
Chest X Ray
A Lateral Chest X-Ray with the heart shadow outlined.
Image by US Army
Projectional radiography
Image relating focal spot size to geometric unsharpness in projectional radiography.
Image by Source images by Blausen Medical and LadyofHats (Mariana Ruiz Villarreal) Derivative by Mikael Haggstrom
Chest Radiograph
Chest X-Ray : Specialized test, like a computerized tomography (CT) scan or a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, may be needed to confirm the presence of an aneurysm.
Image by TheVisualMD
X-ray of Healthy Lung
This image shows an x-ray of healthy lungs.
Image by TheVisualMD
Cancer screening
Cancer Imaging: X-Rays : Chest X-rays can be used to show the presence of tumors, as for lung cancer, but they may also indicate problems associated with cancer. An X-ray may produce images suggestive of fluid accumulation, masses, or enlarged lymph nodes.
Image by TheVisualMD
Lung Cancer
Chest X-ray (Cancer): This is an x-ray image of a chest. Both sides of the lungs are visible with a growth on the left side of the lung, which could possibly be lung cancer.
Image by National Cancer Institute
Chest X Ray
Mediastinal structures on a chest radiograph.
Image by Mikael Haggstrom, from source images by ZooFari, Stillwaterising and Gray's Anatomy creators
CT Chest Scan of Pleura effusion
CT scan of chest showing loculated pleural effusion in left side. Some thickening of pleura is also noted. From my personal collection. Permission obtained from patient.
Image by Drriad
Chest X-ray (Cancer)
This is an x-ray image of a chest. Both sides of the lungs are visible with a growth on the left side of the lung, which could possibly be lung cancer.
Image by National Cancer Institute / Unknown Photographer
This browser does not support the video element.
CT Scans (VIDEO)
This video shows how modern science of scanning can expose the health condition of the patient. The video starts with a patient undergoing CT scanning, an x-ray procedure that combines many x-ray images with the aid of a computer to generate cross-sectional views and, if needed, three-dimensional images of the internal organs and structures of the body. Visible are the heart, lungs, and arteries of a patient.
Video by TheVisualMD
Chest X-Ray
Air-filled trachea and lungs Diaphragmatic domes Mediastinal structures Vascular markings
Arrows indicate costophrenic angles
Image by US Army
Gallstones
Gallstones as seen on plain x-ray.
Image by James Heilman, MD
Hemoptysis x-ray
Hemoptysis can be discovered with the help of radiology.
Image by Aidan Jones from Oxford, U.K.
X-ray of Lung with Pulmonary Edema
Within the lungs, the main airways (bronchi) branch off into smaller passageways, the smallest of which are called bronchioles. At the end of the bronchioles are tiny air sacs (alveoli). Pulmonary edema is a condition caused when excess fluid collects in these air sacs, making it difficult to breathe. Fluid in the lungs can be caused by pneumonia, acute respiratory distress and other conditions, but in most cases, the cause of pulmonary edema is heart problems (when a damaged heart can't pump enough blood and fluid leaks into the lungs).
Image by TheVisualMD
What To Expect During and After Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Surgery
A normal chest X-ray after placement of an ICD, showing the ICD generator in the upper left chest and the ICD lead in the right ventricle of the heart. Note the 2 opaque coils along the ICD lead.
Image by Gregory Marcus, MD, MAS, FACC
This browser does not support the video element.
Chest X-ray: NCI B-roll [video]
NCI B-roll of a patient receiving a Chest X-ray. This video is silent.
Video by National Cancer Institute (NCI)
X-Ray of Aneurysm within Chest frontal view
Most aneurysms are detected in the course of an exam, such as a physical exam or a chest X-ray, being performed for a different reason.
Image by TheVisualMD
Pleural Effusion: Tests
Pleural effusion Chest x-ray of a pleural effusion. The arrow A shows fluid layering in the right pleural cavity. The B arrow shows the normal width of the lung in the cavity. A pleural effusion: as seen on chest X-ray. The A arrow indicates fluid layering in the right chest. The B arrow indicates the width of the right lung. The volume of the lung is reduced because of the collection of fluid around the lung.Pleural effusion Chest x-ray of a pleural effusion. The arrow A shows fluid layering in the right pleural cavity. The B arrow shows the normal width of the lung in the cavity. A pleural effusion: as seen on chest X-ray. The A arrow indicates fluid layering in the right chest. The B arrow indicates the width of the right lung. The volume of the lung is reduced because of the collection of fluid around the lung.
Image by CDC InvictaHOG
Coccidioidomycosis
This anteroposterior (AP) chest x-ray revealed pulmonary changes indicative of pulmonary fibrosis in a case of coccidioidomycosis, caused by fungal organisms of the genus, Coccidioides. Because these changes also resemble those seen in other lung infections including tuberculosis, the findings uncovered with a chest x-ray needs to be coupled with serologic testing, as well as possible tissue biopsy. The degree of fibrotic changes, indicative of scarring found on x-ray, can be directly correlated to the severity of the fungal infection.
Image by CDC/ Dr. Lucille K. Georg
How Is Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) Diagnosed?
Chest X-Ray: Acute respiratory distress syndrome on plain Xray
Image by James Heilman, MD
How Are Asbestos-Related Lung Diseases Diagnosed?
Early Asbestosis in a Retired Pipe Fitter : Chest X-ray in asbestosis shows plaques above diaphragm
Image by Clinical Cases
Aspergillosis
This was a photomicrograph of a lung tissue specimen, harvested from a caged, sulfur-crested cockatoo, that depicted some of the histopathologic changes that had been caused by the fungal organism, Aspergillus fumigatus, in a case of avian pulmonary aspergillosis. Here, you are able see how the periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) stain, revealed A. fumigatus ultrastructural morphology including conidial heads and mycelium.
Image by CDC/ Dr. William Kaplan
Pleural Effusion - Defined
A large left sided pleural effusion as seen on an upright chest X-ray
Image by Drriad
Pleural Effusion: Tests
A large left sided pleural effusion as seen on an upright chest X-ray
Image by James Heilman MD
Breast implants
Chest X-ray showing breast implants
Image by James Heilman
Living With Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
No cure is available for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) yet. Your symptoms may get worse over time. As your symptoms worsen, you may not be able to do many of the things that you did before you had IPF.
However, lifestyle changes and ongoing care can help you manage the disease.
If you're still smoking, the most important thing you can do is quit. Talk with your doctor about programs and products that can help you quit. Also, try to avoid secondhand smoke. Ask family members and friends not to smoke in front of you or in your home, car, or workplace.
Image by Drriad
Symptoms and Spread of SARS (Severe acute respiratory syndrome)
A chest x-ray showing increased opacity in both lungs, indicative of pneumonia, in a patient with SARS.
Image by CDC
Chilaiditi syndrome
Chest X-ray showing obvious Chilaiditi's sign, or presence of gas in the right colic angle between the liver and right hemidiaphragm (left side of the image).
Piper's Sign: In days gone by the lateral chest x-ray (demonstrating greater opacity in the aortic arch and descending aorta than the thoracic spine) gave an indication to the degree of calcified plaque burden a patient had. This has been known as Piper's sign and can often be seen in elderly persons particularly those with concomitant osteoporosis.
Image by U4077905
Aspect of a bulky thymoma (red circle) on the chest x-ray.
Aspect of a bulky thymoma (red circle) on the chest x-ray.
Image by Stockholm
Lambert–Eaton myasthenic syndrome-Chest X-ray showing a tumor in the left lung (right side of the image)
Lambert–Eaton myasthenic syndrome-Chest X-ray showing a tumor in the left lung (right side of the image)
Image by Lange123 at German Wikipedia
Chest X-ray in influenza and Haemophilus influenza
Chest X-ray of a 76 year old woman, who developed cough and labored breathing. First testing showed influenza B virus, and later a nasopharyngeal swab detected Haemophilus influenzae. The H influenzae presumably developed as an opportunistic infection secondary to the flu. This X-ray was taken 2 weeks after cultures and start of antibiotics, showing delayed pneumonic infiltrates that were only vaguely visible on initial (not shown) X-rays.
Image by Mikael Häggström
Chest X-ray in influenza and Haemophilus influenzae, lateral
Chest X-ray of a 76 year old woman, who developed cough and labored breathing. First testing showed influenza B virus, and later a nasopharyngeal swab detected Haemophilus influenzae. The H influenzae presumably developed as an opportunistic infection secondary to the flu. This X-ray was taken 2 weeks after cultures and start of antibiotics, showing delayed pneumonic infiltrates that were only vaguely visible on initial (not shown) X-rays.
Image by Mikael Häggström
Fungal Parasites and Pathogens
(a) Ringworm presents as a red ring on skin; (b) Trichophyton violaceum, shown in this bright field light micrograph, causes superficial mycoses on the scalp; (c) Histoplasma capsulatum is an ascomycete that infects airways and causes symptoms similar to influenza. (credit a: modification of work by Dr. Lucille K. Georg, CDC; credit b: modification of work by Dr. Lucille K. Georg, CDC; credit c: modification of work by M. Renz, CDC; scale-bar data from Matt Russell)
Image by CNX Openstax
This anteroposterior (AP) chest x-ray revealed radiologic evidence of pulmonary pneumocystosis in the form of bilateral pulmonary interstitial infiltrates. This infection was due to the presence of an opportunistic fungal infection by the fungal organism Pneumocystis jirovecii, formerly known as Pneumocystis carinii. (This image was provided by Jonathan W.M. Gold. M.D., Assoc. Dir. Special Microbiology Lab, Assist. Attending Physician, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and Assist. Prof. of Medicine, Cornell Univ. Med. College, New York.)
Pneumocystis jirovecii is the causative agent of Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP), one of the most frequent and severe opportunistic infections in immunocompromised patients. Pneumocystis organisms represent a large group of species of atypical fungi with universal distribution and pulmonary tropism, and each species has a strong specificity for a given mammalian host species.
Image by CDC/ Jonathan W.M. Gold, MD
Chest X-ray PA inverted and enhanced
Chest X-ray PA inverted and enhanced
Image by Stillwaterising
Chest X-Ray of Canadian dollar coin in esophagus of child
PA view Chest X-Ray of Canadian dollar coin in esophagus of child. Released per permission of mother.
Image by Samir (talk)
Chest X Ray
Structures shown: Air-filled trachea and lungs Diaphragmatic domes Mediastinal structures Vascular markings. Arrows indicate costophrenic angles
Image by US Army
Thoracic diaphragm
X-ray of chest, showing top of diaphragm.
Image by OpenStax College
Chest X Ray
Roentgenogram or Medical X-ray image. May not be to scale.
Aspect of a bulky thymoma (red circle) on the chest x-ray.
Stockholm
Lambert–Eaton myasthenic syndrome-Chest X-ray showing a tumor in the left lung (right side of the image)
Lange123 at German Wikipedia
Chest X-ray in influenza and Haemophilus influenza
Mikael Häggström
Chest X-ray in influenza and Haemophilus influenzae, lateral
Mikael Häggström
Fungal Parasites and Pathogens
CNX Openstax
This anteroposterior (AP) chest x-ray revealed radiologic evidence of pulmonary pneumocystosis in the form of bilateral pulmonary interstitial infiltrates. This infection was due to the presence of an opportunistic fungal infection by the fungal organism Pneumocystis jirovecii, formerly known as Pneumocystis carinii. (This image was provided by Jonathan W.M. Gold. M.D., Assoc. Dir. Special Microbiology Lab, Assist. Attending Physician, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and Assist. Prof. of Medicine, Cornell Univ. Med. College, New York.)
CDC/ Jonathan W.M. Gold, MD
Chest X-ray PA inverted and enhanced
Stillwaterising
Chest X-Ray of Canadian dollar coin in esophagus of child
Patrick J. Lynch, medical illustrator; C. Carl Jaffe, MD, cardiologist.
7:02
Reading a chest X-ray
Osmosis/YouTube
Chest X-ray of transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI syndrome) compared to chest X-ray of the same subject afterwards.
Altaf Gauhar Haji, Shekhar Sharma, DK Vijaykumar and Jerry Paul
Cardiac MRI Test
Cardiac MRI Test
Also called: Heart MRI, Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging, CMR, Cardiac MRI Scan
A cardiac MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is an imaging test that uses radio waves, magnets, and a computer to create detailed pictures of your heart. The test can provide detailed information on the type and severity of heart disease to help diagnose and treat heart problems.
Cardiac MRI Test
Also called: Heart MRI, Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging, CMR, Cardiac MRI Scan
A cardiac MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is an imaging test that uses radio waves, magnets, and a computer to create detailed pictures of your heart. The test can provide detailed information on the type and severity of heart disease to help diagnose and treat heart problems.
A cardiac MRI is a painless imaging test that uses radio waves, magnets, and a computer to create detailed pictures of your heart. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a safe, noninvasive test that creates detailed pictures of your organs and tissues. "Noninvasive" means that no surgery is done and no instruments are inserted into your body.
Cardiac MRI creates both still and moving pictures of your heart and major blood vessels. Doctors use cardiac MRI to get pictures of the beating heart and to look at its structure and function. These pictures can help them decide the best way to treat people who have heart problems.
Cardiac MRI is a common test. It's used to diagnose and assess many diseases and conditions, including:
Coronary heart disease
Damage caused by a heart attack
Heart failure
Heart valve problems
Congenital heart defects (heart defects present at birth)
Pericarditis (a condition in which the membrane, or sac, around your heart is inflamed)
Cardiac tumors
Cardiac MRI can help explain results from other tests, such as x rays and computed tomography scans (also called CT scans).
Doctors sometimes use cardiac MRI instead of invasive procedures or tests that involve radiation (such as x rays) or dyes containing iodine (these dyes may be harmful to people who have kidney problems).
Cardiac MRI takes place in a hospital or medical imaging facility. A radiologist or other doctor who has special training in medical imaging oversees MRI testing. Cardiac MRI usually takes 30 to 90 minutes, depending on how many pictures are needed. The test may take less time with some newer MRI machines.
The MRI machine will be located in a special room that prevents radio waves from disrupting the machine. It also prevents the MRI machine's strong magnetic fields from disrupting other equipment.
Traditional MRI machines look like long, narrow tunnels. Newer MRI machines (called short-bore systems) are shorter, wider, and don't completely surround you. Some newer machines are open on all sides. Your doctor will help decide which type of machine is best for you. Cardiac MRI is painless and harmless. You'll lie on your back on a sliding table that goes inside the tunnel-like machine.
The MRI technician will control the machine from the next room. He or she will be able to see you through a glass window and talk to you through a speaker. Tell the technician if you have a hearing problem.
The MRI machine makes loud humming, tapping, and buzzing noises. Some facilities let you wear earplugs or listen to music during the test. You will need to remain very still during the MRI. Any movement can blur the pictures. If you're unable to lie still, you may be given medicine to help you relax.
The technician might ask you to hold your breath for 10 to 15 seconds at a time while he or she takes pictures of your heart. Researchers are studying ways that will allow someone having a cardiac MRI to breathe freely during the exam, while achieving the same image quality.
A contrast agent, such as gadolinium, might be used to highlight your blood vessels or heart in the pictures. The substance usually is injected into a vein in your arm using a needle. You may feel a cool sensation during the injection and discomfort when the needle is inserted. Gadolinium doesn't contain iodine, so it won't cause problems for people who are allergic to iodine.
Your cardiac MRI might include a stress test to detect blockages in your coronary arteries. If so, you'll get other medicines to increase the blood flow in your heart or to increase your heart rate.
You'll be asked to fill out a screening form before having cardiac MRI. The form may ask whether you've had any previous surgeries. It also may ask whether you have any metal objects or medical devices (like a cardiac) in your body.
Some implanted medical devices, such as man-made heart valves and coronary stents, are safe around the MRI machine, but others are not. For example, the MRI machine can:
Cause implanted cardiac pacemakers and defibrillators to malfunction.
Damage cochlear (inner-ear) implants. Cochlear implants are small, electronic devices that help people who are deaf or who can't hear well understand speech and the sounds around them.
Cause brain aneurysm (AN-u-rism) clips to move as a result of the MRI's strong magnetic field. This can cause severe injury.
Talk to your doctor or the MRI technician if you have concerns about any implanted devices that may interfere with the MRI.
Your doctor will let you know if you shouldn't have a cardiac MRI because of a medical device. If so, consider wearing a medical ID bracelet or necklace or carrying a medical alert card that states that you shouldn't have an MRI.
If you're pregnant, make sure your doctor knows before you have an MRI. No harmful effects of MRI during pregnancy have been reported; however, more research on the safety of MRI during pregnancy is needed.
Your doctor or technician will tell you whether you need to change into a hospital gown for the test. Don't bring hearing aids, credit cards, jewelry and watches, eyeglasses, pens, removable dental work, or anything that's magnetic near the MRI machine.
Tell your doctor if being in a fairly tight or confined space causes you anxiety or fear. If so, your doctor might give you medicine to help you relax. Your doctor may ask you to fast (not eat) for 6 hours before you take this medicine on the day of the test.
Some newer cardiac MRI machines are open on all sides. If you're fearful in tight or confined spaces, ask your doctor to help you find a facility that has an open MRI machine.
Your doctor will let you know whether you need to arrange for a ride home after the test.
Cardiac MRI has few risks. In rare instances, the contrast dye may harm people who have kidney or liver disease, or it may cause an allergic reaction.
The doctor supervising your scan will provide your doctor with the results of your cardiac MRI. Your doctor will discuss the findings with you.
Cardiac MRI can reveal various heart diseases and conditions, such as:
Coronary heart disease
Damage caused by a heart attack
Heart failure
Heart valve problems
Congenital heart defects (heart defects present at birth)
Pericarditis (a condition in which the membrane, or sac, around your heart is inflamed)
Cardiac tumors
Cardiac MRI is a fast, accurate tool that can help diagnose a heart attack. The test does this by detecting areas of the heart that don't move normally, have poor blood supply, or are scarred.
Cardiac MRI also can show whether any of the coronary arteries are blocked. A blockage prevents your heart muscle from getting enough oxygen-rich blood, which can lead to a heart attack.
Currently, coronary angiography is the most common procedure for looking at blockages in the coronary arteries. Coronary angiography is an invasive procedure that uses x rays and iodine-based dye.
Researchers have found that cardiac MRI can sometimes replace coronary angiography, avoiding the need to use x-ray radiation and iodine-based dye. This use of MRI is called MR angiography (MRA).
Echocardiography (echo) is the main test for diagnosing heart valve disease. However, your doctor also might recommend cardiac MRI to assess the severity of valve disease.
A cardiac MRI can confirm information about valve defects or provide more detailed information about heart valve disease.
This information can help your doctor plan your treatment. An MRI also might be done before heart valve surgery to help your surgeon plan for the surgery.
Researchers are finding new ways to use cardiac MRI. In the future, cardiac MRI may replace x rays as the main way to guide invasive procedures such as cardiac catheterization.
Also, improvements in cardiac MRI will likely lead to better methods for detecting heart disease in the future.
https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/cardiac-mri [accessed on Aug 25, 2021]
https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003795.htm [accessed on Feb 25, 2022]
Additional Materials (32)
What To Expect During Cardiac MRI
Aberrant subclavian artery in MRI / MRA. Maximum intension projection.
Image by National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute / NIH
MRI of Aneurysm within Chest lateral cross section
Specialized test, like a computerized tomography (CT) scan or a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, may be needed to confirm the presence of an aneurysm.
Image by TheVisualMD
Enlarged right ventricle with poor function in a patient with repaired tetralogy of Fallot by CMR
Enlarged right ventricle with poor function in a patient with repaired tetralogy of Fallot by CMR
Image by Jccmoon (talk)
Having a Cardiac MRI scan
Video by Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Trust/YouTube
MRI and CT Scan the differences
Video by Vijayan Ragavan/YouTube
British Heart Foundation - Your guide to a cardiac MRI, heart disease test
Video by British Heart Foundation/YouTube
Seeing Inside the Heart with MRI
Video by Mayo Clinic/YouTube
Cardiac MRI flow visualization
Cardiac MRI flow visualization
Image by Vasanawala
Cardiac MRI streamlines
Cardiac MRI streamlines visualization
Image by Vasanawala
Aberrant subclavian artery in MRI / MRA. Maximum intension projection.
Aberrant subclavian artery in MRI / MRA. Maximum intension projection.
Image by Hellerhoff
Spectrum of Medical Imaging
This composite image was created in recognition of The Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE) designation of 2015 as the “International Year of Light.” Medical imaging scientists and engineers contribute to the quest for the improved human condition by providing imaging that spans the entire usable electro-magnetic spectrum (seen at bottom). From the humblest of beginnings with simple magnification of objects and focusing with lenses, to the biological observation of cells with rudimentary microscopes in the visible spectrum, medical imaging today has both extended away from the visible spectrum towards longer and shorter wavelengths (low and high energies) and exploited the hyperspectral nature of the visible which was once considered “commonplace” or rudimentary. Considering yet a different cross-section through the various imaging modalities across the spectrum, the medically useful information gained spans anatomic, physiologic, and molecular regimes. Systems and algorithms have been developed as single-modality acquisition systems, and also as multiple-modalities with conjoint reconstruction, each informing the other in the quest to optimize image quality and information content. In addition, the role of light-based technologies in enabling advanced computations in tomographic reconstructions, computer-aided diagnosis, machine learning (neural networks, deep learning, etc.) , and 3D visualizations as well as in data-enriched storage of medical images has further extended the potential knowledge “seen” through imaging. The breadth of the electromagnetic spectrum offers limitless opportunities for improvement and inquiry, in our quest to answer human life’s difficult questions. This montage was first published on the cover of the SPIE’s Journal of Medical Imaging (July-Sept. 2015, vol. 3, no. 3) and is but a small tribute to the multitude of medical imaging scientists who have contributed to the wealth of new knowledge as we interrogate the human condition. The gray-scale whole body images (from Left to Right) are acquired from longer wavelength modalities to shorter wavelength modalities spanning the (currently) usable electromagnetic spectrum. The background images include: a coronal Magnetic Resonance Image (MRI) T2 weighted image slice, a posterior surface Infra Red (IR) heat map, a coronal non-contrast Computed Tomography (CT) slice, and a coronal 18F-fluoro-deoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography (FDG-PET) slice. The selection of color inset images includes (from Top-to-Bottom, then Left to Right): [1] diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) used to image long white matter tracts within and around the human brain illustrating neuronal connectivity (coloring refers to bluish=vertical direction; green=horizontal A-P direction; red=horizontal lateral direction) (courtesy of Arthur Toga, PhD); [2] registered and superimposed coronal proton-MRI (gray-scale) and a hyper polarized 129Xe ventilation MRI scan (color scale) within the same patient’s lungs, prior to their receiving a bronchial stent (courtesy of Bastiaan Driehuys, PhD); [3] coronal slice through a microwave-based image reconstruction of the Debye parameter ε (epsilon) in a heterogeneously dense human breast phantom (courtesy of Susan Hagness, PhD); [4] juxtaposed optical image of the retina and vertical and horizontal Optical Coherence Tomograph (OCT) slices showing pigmentosa retinopathy (courtesy of Jean-Michel Muratet, MD); [5] functional 3-D photoacoustic imaging of melanoma (gray scale) in vivo, surrounded by highly optically absorptive blood vessels (red) (courtesy of Lihong Wang, PhD); [6] optical micrograph of HeLa cells stained for microtubules (blue) and co-stained with DAPI for actin visualization (red); HeLa cells are the world's first stem cell line, originally derived from the aggressive cervical cancer cells of Henrietta Lacks (courtesy Tom Deerinck/NCMIR); [7] visualization of the pelvis highlighting the colon, which is imaged with contrast x-ray computed tomography (CT), and after digital surface rendering can be used in virtual colonoscopy, thus avoiding a physical visible light-based colonoscopy; [8] registered and fused sagittal 99mTc-sestamibi dedicated molecular single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT, heat color scale) and low-dose CT slice (gray scale) of a patient’s uncompressed, pendant breast containing two surgically confirmed DCIS loci in the posterior breast (courtesy of Martin Tornai, PhD); [9] classic, early x-radiograph of Wilhelm Röntgen’s wife’s hand (adapted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/100_Photographs_that_Changed_the_World); [10] transverse pelvic CT (gray scale) with multiple superimposed simulated x-ray photon radiotherapy beams, and their cumulative 20Gy (red) deposited dose isocontours at the focus of a tumor (courtesy of Paul Read, MD, PhD); [11] false-colored scanning electron micrograph of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) particles (yellow) infecting a human H9 T-cell (turquoise) (adapted from http://biosingularity.com/category/infection/); [12] transverse 18F-dopa positron emission tomography (PET) slice through a Parkinson patient’s brain showing decreased in vivo quantitative uptake in the right caudate and putamen (courtesy of Christaan Schiepers, MD, PhD); [13] registered and fused transverse head CT (gray scale) and registered superimposed PET image (color) of a patient immediately after radio-therapeutic proton irradiation showing endogenously created 15O-positron emitter (2 min half-life) within the nasopharyngeal tumor focus (courtesy of Kira Grogg, PhD). [14] transverse (long axis) cardiac 99mTc-sestamibi SPECT slice illustrating thinned myocardial apical wall in a procedure performed thousands of times daily around the world (adapted from www.medscape.com). These images are but a small sampling of the breadth of the spectrum of light that is currently being investigated the world over by passionate scientists and engineers on a quest for the betterment of the human condition. All contributors for these images used herein have given their permission for their use, and are graciously thanked.
Image by Martin Tornai
Cardiac Cycle
CG Animated Human Heart cut section showing the atria, ventricles and valves, synced with wiggers diagram.
Image by DrJanaOfficial/Wikimedia
Magnetic Resonance Angiography
Figure A shows the heart's position in the body and the location and angle of the MRI pictures shown in figure C. Figure B is an MRI angiogram, which is sometimes used instead of a standard angiogram. Figure C shows MRI pictures of a normal left ventricle (left image), a left ventricle damaged from a heart attack (middle image), and a left ventricle that isn't getting enough blood from the coronary arteries (right image).
Image by National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NIH)
Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging perfusion
Animated sagittal MRI slice of my beating heart
Image by Bionerd
Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging perfusion
Animated image of an MRI of the heart, showing a large myxoma plunging to and fro from atrium to ventricle across the mitral valve.
Image by Jccmoon at English Wikipedia
Low-field MRI system for cardiac and lung imaging
Video by NHLBI/YouTube
Annual report : National Institutes of Health. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Advisory Council
At head of title, 1976: National Heart, Blood Vessel, Lung, and Blood Program
Title varies slightly
Reports describe the activities of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Description based on: 9th (Sept. 1981)
Subjects: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Advisory Council; Heart; Heart; Lungs; Lungs; Blood; Blood; Cardiology; Cardiovascular Diseases; Hematology; Lung Diseases
Document by
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Advisory Council
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. cn
/Wikimedia
Cardiac magnetic resonance Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia
A short axis view of the heart showing a cine cardiac magnetic resonance. In this case, the scan demonstrates features of Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia with fatty infiltration of the left and right ventricles.
Image by Jccmoon at English Wikipedia/Wikimedia
Cardiac MRI vector
Cardiac MRI vector visualization
Image by Vasanawala/Wikimedia
Cardiac MRI: What you should know if your doctor orders a cardiac MRI
Video by Cleveland Clinic/YouTube
Tests and Procedures~Cardiac MRI
Video by CardioSmart/YouTube
Cardiac MRI
Video by MRI Michigan/YouTube
Indications for Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Video by Medmastery/YouTube
Seeing Inside the Heart With MRI - Mayo Clinic
Video by Mayo Clinic/YouTube
Cardiac Stress Perfusion MRI Scan
Video by UHP_NHS/YouTube
New Cardiac MRI Leads to Better Diagnosis
Video by NationwideChildrens/YouTube
Looped MRI video of a healthy 13 year old female's heart beating.
Looped MRI video of a healthy 13 year old female's heart beating.
Image by Alith3204
Sensitive content
This media may include sensitive content
John survived death: Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation
John Boudreaux is a colonel in the U.S. Air Force. In 2016, he suffered a critical sudden cardiac arrest. He was dead for several minutes. Less than 6% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims survive the trip to the hospital. John's doctors gave him less than 1%. Today, as a group commander at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico, he bears the scars that remind him for every one of him, there are 99 others buried in the ground. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Lane T. Plummer)
Image by U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Lane T. Plummer
Lp-PLA2, Coronary heart disease
Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. There is no single biomarker that can perfectly predict a person's risk of heart disease; half of all people who suffer heart attacks have normal cholesterol. This is why researchers have developed additional biomarkers for heart disease, such as Lp-PLA2 (or lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2), an enzyme linked to the inflammation of blood vessels. Individuals with high levels of Lp-PLA2 are at much higher risk of heart attack and stroke even if their cholesterol levels are normal.
Image by TheVisualMD
Coronary Artery Blockage
This video shows blockage that can occur within coronary arteries of the heart. Coronary arteries is a network of blood vessels that delivers the heart its own supply of blood. Here, the video reveals an angiogram of a patient showing blockages in the 4 coronary arteries.
Image by TheVisualMD
Coronary catheterization
Representative Reconstructed Images of CTO Lesions at the Left Anterior Descending Coronary Artery (LAD) and Right Coronary Artery (RCA).1A, 1D: Coronary angiography (CAG) image; 1B, 1E: Multiplanar reconstruction images; 1C, 1F: Three-dimensional volume rendering (Tree) image.
Also called: Cardiac Stress Test, Cardiac Diagnostic Test
Stress tests shows how well your heart works when it's pumping hard. They can find problems with blood flow to your heart muscle and other heart conditions. Reduced blood flow can be a sign of a serious heart disease.
Stress Tests
Also called: Cardiac Stress Test, Cardiac Diagnostic Test
Stress tests shows how well your heart works when it's pumping hard. They can find problems with blood flow to your heart muscle and other heart conditions. Reduced blood flow can be a sign of a serious heart disease.
Stress tests show how well your heart works when it's pumping hard. Some heart diseases are easier to find when your heart is working its hardest to pump blood through your body. So stress tests check your heart while you exercise on a treadmill or stationary bicycle. If you're not able to exercise, medicine can be used to make your heart work harder , as if you were exercising.
There are different types of stress tests. They all check:
Blood flow in your heart
Your blood pressure
The rate and rhythm of your heartbeat
The strength of the electrical signals that control your heartbeat
Some stress tests also take pictures of your heart at rest and when it's working hard. The pictures provide more detail about how your heart is working.
Stress tests are most often used to find the cause of symptoms that may be from a heart problem.
The tests can help diagnose certain heart conditions, including:
Coronary artery disease (CAD)
Angina
Arrhythmia
Heart failure
Heart valve diseases
Cardiomyopathy
Stress testing is also used:
To find out how serious a known heart condition is, including the chance that you'll have a heart attack in the future.
To help make treatment decisions for a heart condition.
You may need a stress test if you have symptoms that could be from a heart condition. Symptoms may include:
Chest pain or discomfort without a known cause
Shortness of breath
Irregular or rapid heartbeat that may feel like a fluttering in your chest
Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
You may also need a stress test to check your heart health if you:
Have a heart condition with new or worsening symptoms.
Are going to have surgery. Your health care provider may want to see if your heart is strong enough for the operation.
Are being treated for heart disease. The test can show how much treatment is helping, including heart surgery.
Have a high risk for heart disease. Your risk may be higher than normal if you have a family history of heart disease and/or certain conditions, such as diabetes, that are linked to heart disease.
Plan to start an exercise program. If you have a heart condition or a high risk for a heart condition, a stress test can show what level of exercise is safe for you. (Always talk with your provider before starting any strenuous, new exercise.)
Stress tests may be done with or without imaging (pictures of your heart). The most common type of test is an exercise stress test. It doesn't include pictures. But the main steps of an exercise stress test are part of all stress tests:
You'll have a blood pressure cuff on your arm to check your blood pressure.
Electrodes will be placed on your body for an electrocardiogram test (also called EKG or ECG). Electrodes are small sensors that stick to your skin. Wires connect the electrodes to a computer or an EKG machine that records the electrical activity in your heart during the stress test.
If you're unable to exercise: An intravenous (IV) line will be inserted into a vein in your arm. You'll get medicine through the IV. The medicine will make your heart work harder for 10 to 20 minutes while an EKG records your heart's electrical activity. Medicine can be used instead of exercise for all types of stress tests.
If you can exercise: You'll walk on a treadmill or ride a stationary bicycle. On a treadmill, the speed will slowly increase. The treadmill may also tilt so you feel like you're walking uphill. On a bicycle, the resistance will slowly increase, so it's harder to pedal.
You'll exercise for about 10 to 15 minutes until you reach a target heart rate based on your age and fitness level. But you may stop the test sooner if:
You develop chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, fatigue or other symptoms
The EKG shows a problem with your heart
After all types of stress tests, you'll be monitored for 10-15 minutes or until your heart rate returns to normal.
Stress tests with pictures include stress echocardiograms, nuclear stress tests, and cardiac (heart) MRI stress tests. These tests have extra steps:
A stress echocardiogram or "echo" takes moving pictures of your heart using doppler ultrasound. The pictures show the size and shape of your heart and blood flow through your heart. Pictures will be taken before and after your heart has worked its hardest. You'll lie on your left side on a table as a provider moves an ultrasound device on your chest. If you exercise on a bicycle, the second set of pictures may be taken while you're pedaling.
A nuclear stress test takes pictures of your heart using a small amount of a radioactive substance called a "tracer" and a special camera that scans your heart. A provider injects the tracer into your bloodstream through an IV line that's placed in a vein. Your heart and blood vessels absorb the tracer, which makes them show up more clearly in the pictures.
Pictures are taken while you lie on a table before and after your heart has worked its hardest. After the test, the tracer naturally leaves your body in your urine (pee). Drinking lots of water will help remove it faster.
A cardiac MRI stress test takes the most detailed pictures of your heart using radio waves, magnets, and a computer. It is a newer test that's mostly used for very serious heart problems. For an MRI stress test:
A provider may inject dye into your bloodstream through an IV line placed in your arm. Some cardiac MRIs, but not all, use dye to help show very small details on the pictures.
Pictures of your heart may be taken before and after your heart has worked hard. To take the pictures, you'll lie on a table that slides into a large, tunnel-like MRI machine. You'll hear loud sounds as the machine takes pictures. If you're exercising for the test, you may use a treadmill near the MRI, or you may exercise while lying in the MRI machine using special devices to move your arms or legs.
Wear comfortable shoes and clothing for exercise. Your provider will tell you what else to do before a stress test. You'll usually need to fast (not eat or drink) and stop smoking for at least a few hours before the test. You may need to avoid drinks with caffeine, such as coffee, tea, and colas, for a longer period of time.
If you take medicines or supplements, ask your provider if you should take them as usual. Don't stop taking any medicine unless your provider tells you to. If your test uses MRI, tell your provider about any metal you have in your body. An MRI can heat certain metal and cause burns.
Stress tests are usually safe. You will be closely watched during the test. If a problem develops, you'll be treated quickly. Medicines that make your heart work harder sometimes cause symptoms such as chest pain, dizziness, or nausea. An IV may bruise your arm.
The tracers and dyes used in nuclear and MRI stress tests may cause an allergic reaction, but this is rare. If you are or could become pregnant or are breastfeeding, talk with your provider before you have these tests.
A normal test result means no blood flow problems were found. Your heart is working well.
If your test result was not normal, it may mean you have heart disease. Ask your provider to explain what condition you may have. You may need more tests to find out how serious your condition is.
Stress Tests: MedlinePlus Medical Test [accessed on Mar 09, 2023]
Exercise Tolerance Test
Exercise Tolerance Test
Also called: Treadmill Stress Testing, Exercise Stress Test, Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test, CPX Test
Exercise tolerance testing is a form of cardiac stress testing that uses treadmill exercise with electrocardiogram (EKG) and blood pressure monitoring. The test is used to determine a patient’s functional capacity, assess the probability and extent of coronary artery disease (CAD) as well as assess risks, prognosis and effects of therapy.
Exercise Tolerance Test
Also called: Treadmill Stress Testing, Exercise Stress Test, Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test, CPX Test
Exercise tolerance testing is a form of cardiac stress testing that uses treadmill exercise with electrocardiogram (EKG) and blood pressure monitoring. The test is used to determine a patient’s functional capacity, assess the probability and extent of coronary artery disease (CAD) as well as assess risks, prognosis and effects of therapy.
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Use the slider below to see how your results affect your
health.
Your result is Negative.
A normal test is when the blood pressure and heart rate increase appropriately to graded exercise. Some normal physiologic and EKG changes may occur during exercise.
Related conditions
Fatigue, dyspnea, diaphoresis, flushing
Incremental increase in blood pressure and heart rate
Minor EKG changes
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Use the slider below to see how your results affect your
health.
-11
5
Your result is Low risk.
Low risk (score > 5) indicates a 5-year survival of 97%. No need for further investigation with coronary angiography.
Related conditions
This test allows your doctor to learn how your heart reacts to exercise. As you walk on the treadmill, an EKG (electrocardiogram) will check your heart’s electrical activity. The EKG may show if your heart lacks blood flow or has abnormal heartbeats during exercise. The stress test also helps your doctor decide if you need further tests to evaluate your heart.
Before the test begins, your nurse or doctor will explain it to you. Feel free to ask questions and voice concerns at this time. When you understand what will happen, you will be asked to sign a consent for the test to be performed.
To monitor your heart during exercise, adhesive patches, called electrodes, will be put on your chest. Your chest will be cleansed with alcohol and shaved in some areas (if necessary) before these electrodes are placed.
You will be asked about symptoms you have had with exercise in the past. Describe, as completely as you can, any chest discomfort, breathing problems, lightheadedness or dizziness, fluttering in the chest, weakness, fatigue, or anything else you think may be relevant. Also, mention anything you feel while you are being prepared for the test.
A nurse or doctor will be with you throughout the test. Your heart rate and rhythm and your blood pressure will be checked during the test.
Generally, the treadmill’s pace and incline will increase every 3 minutes. It is important that you describe anything you feel as you exercise. If you become short of breath, the nurse may ask you to rate it as “mild,” “moderate,” or “severe.” If you have chest discomfort, you will be asked to describe it as best you can and rate it on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 is very mild; 10 is very severe). There is no right or wrong number. This helps your doctor know how you are doing and gives us a better way to compare how you feel before and after the test.
Keep walking until you are told to stop or until you cannot walk any longer. Let the nurse know when you need to slow down. Keep walk-ing as the treadmill slows. Do not jump off.
While you rest, your heart will continue to be monitored.
Inform the doctor or nurse about any temporary or permanent condition that could affect your ability to move, walk, bear weight, or keep your balance. If possible, discuss this when you are first scheduled for the test. It is also important that the doctor and/or nurse conducting the test have this information.
Carefully follow your doctor’s instructions about medications. Some medications should be stopped for 48 hours before the test; others should not be stopped. If you do not have clear instructions about all your medications (including those for your heart, blood pressure, or other medications), contact your doctor or nurse a few days before the test.
Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine 8 hours before the test. Do not eat 2 hours before the test, and do not drink liquids 1 hour before the test. If your exercise test is combined with heart imaging (such as a thallium scan), follow the specific instructions for that test.
Try to be as well rested as possible. You may need to reschedule the test if you feel unwell (for example, if you have a cold). If you do not feel you can give your maximum exercise effort, contact your nurse or doctor before the test.
Wear loose, comfortable clothing with a separate top and bottom. Women should wear bras. Wear comfortable, flat shoes that will not slip off while you are walking.
After the procedure:
You can eat and drink as usual.
Depending on how you feel, you may go about your normal routine or take it easy if the test tired you.
Do not take a hot shower for at least an hour after the test. Your blood vessels expand with exercise and need time to return to normal. A hot shower may expand them more, causing low blood pressure and dizziness.
Procedures/Diagnostic Tests. Exercise tolerance test. National Institutes of Health Clinical Center. [accessed on Dec 11, 2018]
Vilcant V, Zeltser R. Treadmill Stress Testing. [Updated 2018 Oct 27]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2018 Jan-. [accessed on Dec 11, 2018]
Am Fam Physician. 2017 Sep 1;96(5):293-299. Exercise Stress Testing: Indications and Common Questions. Garner KK, Pomeroy W, Arnold JJ. [accessed on Dec 11, 2018]
Am Fam Physician. 1999 Jan 15;59(2):401-10. Ordering and understanding the exercise stress test. Darrow MD. [accessed on Dec 11, 2018]
Harvard Men's Health. Cardiac exercise stress testing: What it can and cannot tell you. [accessed on Dec 11, 2018]
Normal reference ranges can vary depending on the laboratory and the method used for testing. You must use the range supplied by the laboratory that performed your test to evaluate whether your results are "within normal limits."
Stress Echocardiography
Stress Echocardiography
Also called: Echocardiography Stress Test, Stress Echo
Stress echocardiography, or echo, is a test that uses sound waves to create moving pictures of your heart. A stress echo is done as part of a stress test. Some heart problems, such as coronary heart disease, are easier to diagnose when the heart is working hard and beating fast.
Stress Echocardiography
Also called: Echocardiography Stress Test, Stress Echo
Stress echocardiography, or echo, is a test that uses sound waves to create moving pictures of your heart. A stress echo is done as part of a stress test. Some heart problems, such as coronary heart disease, are easier to diagnose when the heart is working hard and beating fast.
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Use the slider below to see how your results affect your
health.
Your result is Normal.
A normal result means that blood flow through the coronary arteries is probably normal.
Related conditions
https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007150.htm [accessed on Feb 23, 2022]
https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/stress-tests/ [accessed on Feb 23, 2022]
https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/echocardiography [accessed on Feb 23, 2022]
Normal reference ranges can vary depending on the laboratory and the method used for testing. You must use the range supplied by the laboratory that performed your test to evaluate whether your results are "within normal limits."
Treatment
Artificial heart valve
Image by Dr. Mirko Junge
Artificial heart valve
1. Starr-Edwards Valve, Steel ball
Image by Dr. Mirko Junge
How Are Heart Valve Diseases Treated?
Heart valve disease is a lifelong condition. However, many people have heart valve defects or disease but don’t have symptoms. The condition may stay the same throughout your life and not cause any problems. Or, the condition may slowly get worse until you start to notice symptoms. If not treated, heart valve disease can cause heart failure or other life-threatening conditions.
Your healthcare provider may recommend healthy lifestyle changes or medicine first to treat symptoms, which may delay problems. Eventually, you may need to have your faulty heart valve repaired or replaced. After repair or replacement, you’ll still need certain medicines and regular checkups with your doctor.
Heart-healthy lifestyle changes
Healthy lifestyle changes include:
Choosing heart-healthy foods
Aiming for a healthy weight
Managing stress
Getting regular physical activity
Quitting smoking
Before starting any exercise program, ask your doctor about what level of physical activity is right for you.
Medicines
Your doctor may prescribe medicines to relieve the symptoms of your heart valve disease, prevent it from getting worse, or treat other heart problems that can affect your heart valves. These may include:
Medicines to control high blood pressure, such as diuretics and vasodilators, to ease pressure on the heart and reduce the amount of work the heart must do to pump blood
Medicines to control the heart rate
Blood thinners to treat or prevent blood clots
Antibiotics to treat infections that cause heart inflammation or prevent rheumatic fever
Prostaglandin for newborns to keep certain pathways of the heart open and maintain blood flow to the body
Heart valve repair
Your doctor may recommend heart valve repair if you have new symptoms of heart valve disease or your current symptoms get worse.
The various ways that heart surgeons repair heart valves are listed below. While most require surgery, some minimally invasive options are becoming available.
Fixing valve flaps: Surgeons may sew flapstogether, reshape flaps, patch tears, reattach loose flaps, or split apart flaps that have fused. These procedures are called valvuloplasty.
Inflating a balloon: This allows blood to pump blood through a valve or stretch a valve opening. Valvuloplasty may also involve a balloon.
Placing a stent: This allows blood to flow or plugs a leaking valve.
Implanting a device to treat mitral valve regurgitation: This can be used for people who should not have open-heart surgery.
Removing calcium deposits: Obstructions such as clumps of bacteria or tumors can also be removed.
Repairing supporting structures: Replacing or shortening the cords that give the valves support allow the valve to close properly.
Tightening or strengthening the valve base: This prevents the tissue from sagging or leaking. Surgeons may attach a plastic ring. These procedures are called annuloplasty.
Heart valve repair can improve symptoms, but sometimes problems return.
Possible complications of heart valve repairs include valve damage or leakage, blood vessel injury, cardiac compression, and stroke.
Heart valve replacement
Sometimes faulty or diseased heart valves cannot be repaired and must be replaced.
Your surgeon will replace the faulty or diseased valve with either a mechanical or a biological heart valve. Your team of doctors will work with you to determine whether a mechanical or a biological valve is best for you, depending on your age, risk factors, and other medical conditions.
Biological valves, also called tissue valves, are made from animal tissue and may have man-made parts as well. Although tissue valves do not require blood thinners, they do not last as long and may have to be replaced.
Mechanical valves are made from carbon or other sturdy material, so they last longer than biological valves and usually do not have to be replaced. However, mechanical valves require you to take blood-thinning medicines for the rest of your life. These valves may also carry additional risks during pregnancy.
Valves can be replaced during open-heart surgery or with a minimally invasive procedure using a catheter — a thin tube threaded through a blood vessel to the heart. A common example of the procedure using a catheter is transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). TAVR, which is sometimes called transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), replaces the aortic valve to treat aortic stenosis.
Your doctor will discuss which heart treatment is best for your circumstances.
The risks of heart valve replacement include stroke, blood clots, damage and bleeding where the catheters were inserted, and injury to the kidneys or the heart. Sometimes the new valve leaks because it does not fit well.
Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Additional Materials (10)
Four Basic Treatment Options for Heart Valve Patients
Video by American Heart Association/YouTube
Valvular heart disease diagnosis and treatment | NCLEX-RN | Khan Academy
Video by khanacademymedicine/YouTube
Aortic Valve Replacement Animation
Video by Heath and Beauty/YouTube
Treatment Options for Heart Valve Replacement
Video by American Heart Association/YouTube
Pulmonary Valve Replacement without Surgery | UCLA
Video by UCLA Health/YouTube
Tissue replacement heart valve
Video by British Heart Foundation/YouTube
Transcatheter aortic replacement heart valve
Video by British Heart Foundation/YouTube
Mechanical replacement heart valve
Video by British Heart Foundation/YouTube
Artificial heart valve
Artificial Heart Valve StFrancis
Image by BruceBlaus
Tissue engineered heart valve
Tissue engineered heart valve
Image by HIA
3:57
Four Basic Treatment Options for Heart Valve Patients
American Heart Association/YouTube
9:46
Valvular heart disease diagnosis and treatment | NCLEX-RN | Khan Academy
khanacademymedicine/YouTube
6:16
Aortic Valve Replacement Animation
Heath and Beauty/YouTube
3:19
Treatment Options for Heart Valve Replacement
American Heart Association/YouTube
3:55
Pulmonary Valve Replacement without Surgery | UCLA
UCLA Health/YouTube
0:10
Tissue replacement heart valve
British Heart Foundation/YouTube
0:10
Transcatheter aortic replacement heart valve
British Heart Foundation/YouTube
0:10
Mechanical replacement heart valve
British Heart Foundation/YouTube
Artificial heart valve
BruceBlaus
Tissue engineered heart valve
HIA
What Happens If Left Untreated?
How Is Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) Diagnosed?
Image by James Heilman, MD
How Is Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) Diagnosed?
Chest X-Ray: Acute respiratory distress syndrome on plain Xray
Image by James Heilman, MD
How Can Untreated Heart Valve Diseases Affect Your Health?
If a heart valve disease is left untreated, it can lead to serious or life-threatening complications. Learn more about the following conditions and the symptoms to watch for:
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
Arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats) or other conduction disorders
Blood clots
Bloodstream infections, including septic shockexternal link
Expanding, bulging, or tearing of the aorta
Heart failure
Infective endocarditis, a type of heart inflammation
Liver damage
Pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs)
Stroke
Cardiac arrest
Talk to your doctor about your risk.
Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Additional Materials (1)
ARDS
Acute respiratory distress syndrome on plain Xray
Image by James Heilman, MD
ARDS
James Heilman, MD
Prevention
Streptococcus pyogenes
Image by CDC
Streptococcus pyogenes
This illustration depicts a photomicrograph of a specimen revealing numbers of chain linked Streptococcus pyogenes bacteria.
Image by CDC
Can Heart Valve Diseases Be Prevented?
You can take steps to help prevent some causes of congenital heart valve disease, although not all are preventable. Talk to your doctor about any vitamins you may need and how to avoid infections such as rubella during pregnancy.
Your doctor may also talk to you about steps you can take to lower your risk for acquired heart valve diseases.
Make heart-healthy lifestyle changes. These include eating a heart-healthy diet, being physically active, aiming for a healthy weight, quitting smoking, and managing stress.
Practice good skin and dental hygiene. This can help protect you from infections that cause endocarditis, a type of heart inflammation that can damage the heart valves.
Take medicinesas prescribed to prevent a heart attack, high blood pressure, or heart failure. If you have strep throat, finish all of your prescribed medicine to treat it. This helps prevent rheumatic feverexternal link, which can damage the heart valves.
Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Additional Materials (8)
The Importance of Tracking Heart Valve Disease Symptoms
Video by American Heart Association/YouTube
Strep Throat
Video by Best Docs Network/YouTube
How dangerous are strep infections?
Video by Moleculera Labs/YouTube
Be Active — Keep Your Heart Healthy!
Video by NHLBI/YouTube
How Exercise Improves Heart Health – Healthfirst Healthy Living
Video by Healthfirst/YouTube
Heart healthy foods to consume — and what to avoid
Video by Business Insider/YouTube
Overweight and Heart Disease, Show Your Heart Some Love
Video by National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)/YouTube
How to eat a heart-healthy diet
Video by Sunnybrook Hospital/YouTube
4:14
The Importance of Tracking Heart Valve Disease Symptoms
American Heart Association/YouTube
1:14
Strep Throat
Best Docs Network/YouTube
1:54
How dangerous are strep infections?
Moleculera Labs/YouTube
0:53
Be Active — Keep Your Heart Healthy!
NHLBI/YouTube
1:55
How Exercise Improves Heart Health – Healthfirst Healthy Living
Healthfirst/YouTube
1:22
Heart healthy foods to consume — and what to avoid
Business Insider/YouTube
1:05
Overweight and Heart Disease, Show Your Heart Some Love
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)/YouTube
10:59
How to eat a heart-healthy diet
Sunnybrook Hospital/YouTube
Pregnancy
Open Mitral Valve / Closed Mitral Valve
Open Mitral Valve / Closed Mitral Valve
Interactive by TheVisualMD
Open Mitral Valve / Closed Mitral Valve
Open Mitral Valve / Closed Mitral Valve
1) Open Mitral Valve
2) Closed Mitral Valve - The four main valves of your heart are called: tricuspid, mitral, aortic, and pulmonary. These valves separate the chambers of your heart and maintain the direction of blood flow throughout the body. The thump-thump of your heartbeat is the sound made by the closing valves. The first thump is the closing of the valves between the atria and the ventricles (mitral and tricuspid); the second thump is the closing of the valves between the ventricles and the arteries (aortic and pulmonary). If the valves are damaged or don't work properly, blood can leak back into the chambers. When the valves are too narrow, they can prevent blood from leaving the chambers and increase the heart's work.
Interactive by TheVisualMD
Pregnancy and Heart Valve Diseases
Many women with heart valve diseases have healthy pregnancies and children. But some heart valve diseases may make it harder to get pregnant or cause problems during pregnancy. If you are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant, it is important to talk to your doctor about how to keep you and your baby as safe as possible during pregnancy.
Before you become pregnant
If possible, before you get pregnant, talk to your healthcare provider about your heart valve disease and any symptoms you may have. Some types of heart valve conditions can make pregnancy more high-risk. For example, if you have narrowed heart valves (stenosis) or if you have had valve replacement surgery, you will need special care during pregnancy and delivery.
Your healthcare provider may also recommend an echocardiogram or a stress test before you get pregnant. Serious disease may require treatment before you become pregnant.
Some medicines, such as blood thinners, may not be safe to take during pregnancy. Your doctor may recommend a different medicine to take while trying to get pregnant and during pregnancy.
Risks of heart valve diseases in pregnancy
When you are pregnant, serious or untreated heart valve disease increases your risk for some complications:
Arrhythmia
Blood clots
Miscarriage
Preterm birth
Cesarean delivery
Postpartum bleeding
Some Inherited heart valve diseases may be passed on to your child. Ask your doctor for information about your condition so you can better understand the risks.
Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Additional Materials (1)
Living with Valve Disease: Two Patients and their Heart Surgeon Share their Stories
Video by Alliance for Aging Research/YouTube
5:56
Living with Valve Disease: Two Patients and their Heart Surgeon Share their Stories
Send this HealthJournal to your friends or across your social medias.
Heart Valve Diseases
Heart valves make sure blood flows in then out of your heart. Heart valve disease occurs if one or more of your heart valves don't work well. The three types of heart valve diseases are regurgitation, stenosis, and atresia. Learn more about different types, causes, symptoms, and treatments of heart valve diseases.