Should Patients With AFib Take Blood Thinners?
If you’ve been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (AFib), one of the first things your cardiologist may discuss is the risk of stroke. The use of blood thinners is designed to help reduce those risks.
What is a Cardiac PET Scan?
Diagnostic tests are routinely performed to obtain valuable information regarding a person’s general health. Tests like ultrasounds and EKGs obtain data that helps doctors reach accurate conclusions about the symptoms a patient may be having. Every test is unique in some way. Here, we discuss the cardiac PET scan, what it is, and for whom this test might be ordered.
What Is The PET Scan?
PET stands for positron emission tomography. The scan is a type of imaging test that is performed with a special dye, called contrast media. This dye has radioactive tracers, which make it easier to observe the movement of blood using specific imaging. For the scan, the patient lies on an exam table. The contrast dye is injected into a vein, and the table is then moved into a tunnel-shaped machine. The internal walls of the tunnel track the radioactive dye and produce high-quality images of internal structures. In this case, the heart. The images that are captured during the cardiac PET scan then create a three-dimensional map of the heart.
Why A PET Scan Is Performed
The cardiac PET scan enables the cardiologist to know more about the heart muscle. Specifically, this test provides an accurate measurement of blood flow between the heart and cardiac arteries. A PET scan also picks up injured or dead heart tissue, which can help us diagnose coronary artery disease and tissue damage that has resulted from a heart attack. Using the information from a PET scan, the cardiologist can determine if a patient is a good candidate for angioplasty or another surgical procedure to address clogged or blocked arteries.
Who Gets A PET Scan
This type of test may be ordered to:
- Assess for cardiovascular disease in symptomatic patients or those with specific risk factors for disease, such as high cholesterol or family history.
- To monitor heart health through a course of treatment after the diagnoses of coronary artery disease.
- To evaluate the condition of diagnosed artery blockages and assess the benefit of bypass surgery or stents.
- To observe the condition of the heart following a heart attack as treatment options are being considered.
Imaging is a vital aspect of cardiology, and we utilize various tests for the greatest good of our patients. Do you need cardiac care? Call 516-437-5600 to schedule a visit to our Lake Success, Richmond Hill, or Forest Hills office.
You Might Also Enjoy...
Why do Statins Sometimes Cause Muscle Pain?
Statins are among the most commonly used medications in the world for good reason. They’re proven to lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. But what about side effects, namely muscle aches and pains? Here’s more about that.
4 Heart Attack Symptoms Women Often Dismiss
When most people picture a heart attack, they imagine sudden, crushing chest pain. While that’s the classic symptom, heart attacks can look very different, especially in women. Here’s what you should know.
Why Stress Tests Matter Even When You Feel Fine
So, you’re feeling fine, but you’ve reached a certain age, have a concerning family history of early heart disease, or don’t exercise like you should. Here’s why it might be time for a stress test. In fact, your life might depend on it.
Varicose Veins Beyond Cosmetics: When They Signal Heart Problems
Most people think of varicose veins as a cosmetic concern that might keep you from wearing shorts or skirts, and that is often the case. However, there may be more going on beneath the surface than you realize.
What Heart Failure Actually Feels Like in Early Stages
When people hear “heart failure,” they often imagine dramatic symptoms—collapsing suddenly, chest pain, or gasping for air. But the truth is, heart failure usually begins quietly. Many people don’t realize they have it until it progresses.