Cardiology

Cardiovascular Conditions We Treat

You can find advanced treatment for a wide range of heart and cardiovascular conditions at our Lakewood Ranch and Bradenton locations. Some of these conditions include:

Angina

Angina is a term that refers to chest pain caused when the heart doesn’t get enough blood and oxygen. Hypertension, poor diet and lack of physical activity, family history, stress and other risk factors can cause angina.

Arrhythmia

A heart arrhythmia is an irregular heartbeat that may be too fast, too slow or an abnormal pattern.

Cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathy is a condition that affects the muscles of the heart, making it weak and less efficient in pumping blood to the body.

Congenital Heart Disease

Congenital heart disease is a heart abnormality that is present at birth. A defect in the heart’s structure or function usually causes this type of disease. Some types of congenital heart disease may not be diagnosed until adulthood.

Coronary Heart Disease

Coronary heart disease occurs when the blood vessels that supply oxygen and nutrients to the heart become narrow or blocked. Also called coronary artery disease, this disease can often lead to chest pain or a heart attack.

Heart Failure

Heart failure occurs when the heart is unable to pump blood well enough to meet the body’s needs. Some symptoms of heart failure include congested lungs, angina and difficulty breathing.

Heart Valve Disease

Heart valve disease occurs because of damage to the heart valves that causes them to stop functioning properly. When a heart valve fails to function properly, the heart may not be able to pump enough blood throughout the body.

High Cholesterol

High cholesterol, or hyperlipidemia, means that there is too much cholesterol in the blood. This may lead to clogged arteries and other health problems.

High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is when the force of blood against the walls of the blood vessels is too high. This causes strain to the heart and blood vessels over time, increasing the risk of heart disease and other health problems.

Pericarditis

Pericarditis is the inflammation of the tissue surrounding the heart. It can cause chest pain that worsens with deep breaths or when lying down.

Cardiology Services and Treatments We Provide

We provide comprehensive cardiac diagnostic services and treatments to identify and understand your heart condition.

Diagnostic Services

Early detection and accurate diagnosis of cardiovascular conditions are crucial for effective treatment. Advanced technology and imaging techniques enable healthcare professionals to check cardiac function and blood flow and detect blockages and abnormalities.

To stay ahead of any problems, we offer the following diagnostic services:

64-slice CT Scanning

CT scanning uses a machine to take pictures of the heart and blood vessels using multiple X-ray beams.

Cardiac Event Monitoring

Cardiac event monitoring uses a device that records the heart’s electrical activity over an extended period of time. This helps doctors monitor and detect abnormal heart rhythms or other heart-related issues. These issues may not show up during a short-term test.

Carotid Ultrasound

Carotid ultrasound is an imaging test that uses sound waves to create pictures of the carotid arteries. It assesses blood flow and detects blockages in the arteries.

Consultative Cardiology

These services allow cardiologists to provide consultations and advice to patients and other healthcare providers.

Coronary Calcium Score

This score is a measure of the amount of calcium buildup in the coronary arteries. This can indicate the presence of plaque and potential blockages.

Coronary CTA

Coronary CTA is an imaging test that uses CT scanning to take detailed pictures of the coronary arteries. It helps doctors assess the presence of blockages or narrowing in the arteries and evaluate the overall condition of the heart.

Electrocardiogram (ECG)

These tests record the electrical activity of the heart using small sensors to create a graph of the heart’s rhythm. 

Electrophysiology Studies

These tests assess the electrical activity and function of the heart. Doctors insert catheters into blood vessels to diagnose and treat abnormal heart rhythms.

HeartFlow® FFRCT Analysis 

HeartFlow® FFRCT Analysis uses data from a CT scan to assess blood flow and find possible blockages.

Heart Catheterizations

These procedures enable doctors to measure pressure, collect blood samples, inject contrast dye for imaging or perform procedures to open blocked arteries.

Holter Monitoring

This test involves wearing a portable device to continuously record the heart’s electrical activity for at least 24 hours.

Nuclear Stress Tests

Doctors inject a small amount of radioactive material into the bloodstream to evaluate blood flow to the heart muscle. Images are taken before and after to assess how well the heart functions under stress.

Pacemaker and Defibrillator Clinics

These clinics offer monitoring, evaluations and adjustments for patients to ensure these devices are working properly.

Peripheral Angiography

This procedure uses X-ray imaging and contrast dye to visualize the blood vessels in areas outside the heart. This helps doctors monitor blood flow and blockages, and plan interventions.

Stress Testing

Stress testing evaluates how well the heart responds to increased physical activity or stress. This type of test can detect abnormalities that may not be present at rest.

Cardiology Treatments

Once we diagnose your cardiovascular condition, our medical team will create a personalized treatment plan. These treatments depend on the severity of the condition. Options may involve lifestyle changes, medication management or the following procedures and surgeries:

• Angioplasty
• Cardiac rehabilitation
• Cardiac resynchronization therapy
• Catheter ablation
• MitraClip
• Pacemaker and implantable defibrillators
• Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR)
• Valvuloplasty
• Watchman™ LAAC implant