Heart health tests
Doctors can use many different tests to see if scleroderma is affecting your heart. Find out more about the most common ones.
3 min read
Looking at:
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How well your heart is beating—its rhythm (electrocardiogram [ECG or EKG]).1
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The structure of your heart and how well it can pump your blood (echocardiogram [or echo]).2
These tests can also help your doctor exclude other diseases that might be causing your symptoms.
What to expect:
In most cases, you will be lying down for these tests.
For an electrocardiogram
The doctor/nurse will stick sensors to your chest and these will record the electrical signals from your heart.1
For an echocardiogram
The doctor/nurse will hold a device against your chest.2 It uses sound waves to create images of your heart as it moves.
Sometimes, longer term heart monitoring is needed. A small device you carry with you will take your measurements each day and night.
The doctor/nurse might also ask you to do a more specialised test at a specialist heart clinic or a hospital.2
Understanding your results:
Heart health tests are not used to diagnose scleroderma, but results can indicate if the heart is affected. It can also be used to exclude other diseases.
You may also like to read:
Symptoms of scleroderma
Treatment
Monitoring scleroderma
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Blood Pressure Association. Electrocardiogram (ECG) and high blood pressure. Available: https://www.bloodpressureuk.org/your-blood-pressure/getting-diagnosed/getting-a-blood-pressure-check/further-health-tests/ [Accessed December 2021].
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NHS Choices. Echocardiogram. Available: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/echocardiogram/ [Accessed December 2021].
"Try and get as much information as you can from your doctor. He or she is the expert. Take notes and don't be afraid to ask."
– Mike