An echocardiogram (also known as Echo) is a safe and painless procedure. This procedure helps the cardiologist and your primary care physician diagnose heart problems. Echocardiogram uses ultrasound via a transducer placed gently on the chest, picking up sound waves to create images of the heart. The Echo will show the size of the heart, the chambers and valves.

A stress test helps the doctor determine how well your heart handles increased work and will evaluate the heart rhythm while the patient is exercising. While walking on the treadmill, EKG leads are placed on the chest to record rhythm, heart rate and blood pressure changes. For those patients who are unable to exercise adequately, a drug is administered to mimic the effect of exercise on the heart.

Pulmonary function tests provide a way to evaluate how well your lungs are working. There are a series of tests you may be given. The testing time may take one hour or more. These tests can help explain shortness of breath, type of lung problem, the effects of smoking or if you are at risk of breathing problems during general anesthesia.

An electroencephalogram (EEG) is a recording of the electrical activity of the brain. EEG is a diagnostic tool used to evaluate seizure disorders, metabolic disorders, stroke, infections of the central nervous system, degenerative disorders, head trauma, headache, brain tumors and brain death. The EEG test is a painless procedure, which takes about 1-1⁄2 hours. The patient may be required to sleep during a portion of the test.