Plan for your heart health at Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus.
In movies and TV shows, heart attacks are obvious and dramatic. In real life, it doesn’t always work that way.
One of the fundamental problems is often coronary artery disease (CAD), the most common form of heart disease. In CAD, blood flow is restricted when the arteries of the heart become clogged. Too little blood supply to the heart muscle can cause symptoms such as chest discomfort, shortness of breath, and in extreme cases, heart attack or sudden death. “CAD can also cause all kinds of abnormal heartbeats called cardiac arrhythmias, which can cause palpitations and fainting,” said Dr. says director Avinash Gupta.
The technology available at MMCSC helps eliminate the uncertainty surrounding heart attacks and related heart conditions. This test, called fractional flow preliminary computed tomography (FFR-CT), assesses how blood is flowing through the arteries of a patient’s heart and determines whether blockages exist, where they are located, and Determine how the blockage is affecting you. MMCSC is one of the few hospitals in New Jersey that offers this innovative technology. FFR-CT uses artificial intelligence software to non-invasively create a three-dimensional model of a patient’s heart artery, allowing doctors to determine with greater confidence whether there is a significant blockage in a patient’s heart artery. Allows you to make decisions with accuracy.
If your doctor suspects heart disease, various other tests may help determine what is happening. Non-invasive methods to detect inadequate blood flow include:
- An electrocardiogram (ECG) measures the electrical activity of the heart as it beats.
- An echocardiogram (echo) that uses ultrasound waves to create a video of the inside of the heart.
- A nuclear stress test is a stress test that uses measurements from electrocardiograms and image tests to evaluate heart function while increasing the heart rate through exercise or taking medications.
- Coronary artery calcium scoring is a simple, quick, and safe CT imaging test that detects calcium in the coronary arteries, from early plaque formation to severe plaque burden. This test, along with other risk assessment tools, allows clinicians to develop prevention strategies.
Each test has advantages and limitations. “Some patients may prefer one test over another,” says Dr. Gupta.
Before the advent of FFR-CT technology, the only way doctors could confirm for sure whether a particular coronary artery was blocked was by performing a procedure known as cardiac catheterization and angiography.
“Catheterization with angiography is the gold standard for diagnosing coronary artery disease,” says Dr. Gupta. “Unfortunately, unlike FFR-CT, catheterization is invasive.”
“Once you have had a stent or bypass surgery for a potential heart attack, that should not be the end of your treatment,” Dr. Gupta explains. “MMCSC provides patients with an excellent cardiac rehabilitation program to treat their underlying disease, arthrosclerosis, and prevent a second heart attack.”
So before a “real” cardiac event occurs in your life, know that MMCSC’s expert cardiology team and state-of-the-art technology are ready to take care of all your preventive and emergency needs.
To connect with New Jersey’s top cardiovascular specialists at Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus, call us. 888-724-7123 or visit us For more information, please visit our Heart and Vascular Care site.
