What cardiac screening tools do the doctors at the CSC use?
An Electrocardiogram (ECG), which looks at the electrical conduction pathways around the heart. Small stickers known as electrodes are placed on the client's chest and the wires connect to an ECG machine whilst you lie still. A printout of the hearts electrical activity is obtained for evaluation by the cardiologist. This test is painless, non-invasive and takes a matter of a few minutes to perform.

An Echocardiogram (ECHO) is an ultrasound test (such as offered to pregnant women), which looks at the structure of the heart. From the information provided on screen, measurements are taken which give a guide to muscle thickness and size of the chambers o the heart. Again, this test in non-invasive and painless and takes approximately 20 minutes to perform.

Both these tests are performed with the client lying down on a couch or bed. For both tests clients will need to be undressed to the waist. Where possible, a female technician will be used for juvenile females.

Click here for a link to a video of CRY Patron David Walliams having an ECG and Echocardiogram

Multi Day ECG Holter monitoring. The Lifecard CF Holter offers as standard 7-day full disclosure ECG recording. This recording is then downloaded into our simple ECG scanning software called Lifescreen. Lifescreen can then be used to scan the 7 days, identify events and document them in a simple overview report. The most significant 24 hours can then be easily exported into Pathfinder for a comprehensive Holter analysis. All this from the same recording. The result is a simple overview report and a detailed Holter report in one application and visit by the patient.

Exercise Stress Test, sometimes called a treadmill test or exercise test, helps CSC doctors find out how well your heart handles from moderate to hard exercise. As your body works harder during the test, it requires more oxygen, so the heart must pump more blood. The test can show if the blood supply is reduced in the arteries that supply the heart, and will also provide useful information about how well the electrical channels within the heart work whilst under pressure. It also helps doctors know the kind and level of exercise appropriate for the athlete to safely exercise at.