Cardiac Health Screening & Cardiology (Heartscan)

Overview

The Cardiac Health Screening & Cardiology center at Gangnam Heartscan Healthcare Center provides dedicated, non-invasive cardiovascular diagnostics designed to detect coronary artery disease, valvular disorders, arrhythmias, and structural heart conditions at an early stage. Collaborating across Cardiology, Internal Medicine, and Diagnostic Radiology, our team of 16 board-certified specialists performs and interprets every cardiac examination with clinical precision. Patients can review individual specialist profiles on our Medical Staff Directory including Cardiology Specialist Dr. Jaegi Ko.

Key Diagnostic Programs

• Coronary Artery CT Angiography: High-speed 128-channel MDCT imaging to evaluate coronary artery stenosis, plaque burden, and vascular calcification.
• Echocardiogram (Cardiac Ultrasound): Cardiologist-read ultrasound evaluating heart valves, myocardial contractility, pericardial structures, ischemic heart disease, and endocarditis.
• Electrocardiogram (ECG): Standard resting 12-lead ECG screening for cardiac rhythm abnormalities and conduction disturbances.
• 24-Hour Holter ECG Monitoring: Continuous ambulatory heart-rhythm recording over 24 hours to capture intermittent arrhythmias during daily activities.
• Exercise Stress Test: Dynamic assessment of cardiac reserve, blood pressure response, and ischemic changes under graded physical exertion.
• Cardiovascular Risk Management: Integrated early-diagnosis and individualized clinical management pathway covering hypertension, suspected angina, myocardial infarction risk, and arrhythmias.

Clinical Diagnostic Summary Table

Parameter / Examination	Clinical Purpose	Preparation / Protocol
128-Channel Coronary CT Angiography	Evaluates coronary artery stenosis, non-calcified plaque, and calcium score	Fasting for 6 hours prior; kidney function and contrast allergy check
Transthoracic Echocardiogram	Real-time Color Doppler assessment of cardiac valves, chambers, and ejection fraction	No fasting required; non-invasive radiation-free chest ultrasound
Resting 12-Lead & 24-Hour Holter ECG	Detects baseline conduction defects and intermittent ambulatory arrhythmias	Comfortable two-piece attire; daily symptom log during 24-hour recording
Graded Exercise Stress Test	Evaluates exercise-induced myocardial ischemia and hemodynamic response	Light meal 2–3 hours prior; athletic shoes and medication review

Preparation & Examination Flow

1. Pre-Screening Medical History Review: Assessment of cardiovascular symptoms, family history, current medications, and prior cardiac records.
2. Resting Baseline Diagnostics: Measurement of blood pressure, resting ECG, and baseline laboratory biomarkers.
3. Specialized Cardiac Imaging & Functional Testing: Completion of echocardiography, exercise stress testing, or 128-channel coronary CT angiography in a coordinated one-stop workflow.
4. Specialist Consultation & Risk Stratification: Direct review of imaging findings and personalized cardiovascular prevention or follow-up recommendations via our Consultation & Inquiry Desk.

Important Clinical Considerations

• Patients scheduled for contrast-enhanced Coronary Artery CT Angiography should follow fasting guidelines prior to the scan and inform the medical team of any history of contrast allergy, asthma, kidney disease, or diabetes medication use (such as metformin).
• Individual examination components and contrast administration are determined following clinical evaluation by the attending physician, and potential contrast side effects (such as transient warmth, mild rash, or hypersensitivity reactions) are reviewed before testing.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should a patient consider comprehensive cardiac screening?

Comprehensive cardiac screening is clinically recommended for adults with cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, smoking history, or a family history of premature coronary artery disease, as well as individuals experiencing chest discomfort, exertional shortness of breath, or unexplained palpitations.

How do Coronary CT Angiography and Echocardiography complement each other?

Coronary Artery CT Angiography visualizes the anatomical lumen, plaque buildup, and calcification inside the coronary blood vessels using 128-channel MDCT, whereas Echocardiography uses radiation-free ultrasound to evaluate real-time heart valve motion, chamber blood flow, and ventricular pumping function.