To help determine if a patient has heart disease, the severity of the disease and the appropriate treatment options, St. Joseph-s Hospital Heart Institute offers many non-invasive diagnostic procedures, including: 

• Echocardiography Transthoracic Echocardiography and Transesophageal Echocardiography –modes of ultrasound that emit high frequency sound waves to create graphic images of the heart-s structures, pumping action and direction of blood flow. 
   
• ECG/EKG – a recording of the electrical activity of the heart used to determine whether or not a heart attack has occurred, what part of the heart may be damaged, an irregular heart beat or rhythm and if there is a decreased supply of blood or oxygen to the heart.
  
  
• Stress testing – includes both treadmill and a combination of treadmill and Dobutamine stress echocardiography testing. With echocardiography testing, ultrasound images of the heart are evaluated at the same time. Dobutamine is a drug administered in place of treadmill testing for patients who are unable to exercise. It increases the heart rate and blood pressure to help diagnose and evaluate coronary artery disease. 
  
  
• Holter monitoring – continuous, 24-hour electrocardiographic monitoring of the heart-s rhythm. 
  
  
• 30-day event monitoring – continuous, 30-day electrocardiographic monitoring of the heart-s rhythm to help determine the cause of dizziness, palpitations, syncopal episodes, etc.
  
  
• Tilt table testing – used to help rule out cardiac disease in patients with syncope.