Patient Education

LAKE COUNTY INTERNAL MEDICINE ASSOCIATES would like to be your partner in health care. Feel free to ask your questions and share your concerns with us. We will work with you to develop a wellness program for the care and treatment you need.

We welcome you to our practice and look forward to caring for you.

LAKE COUNTY INTERNAL MEDICINE ASSOCIATES provides a full range of medical services including the following:

Treadmill Stress Testing

Treadmill stress testing is a noninvasive procedure used to determine how well the heart can handle physical activity. This procedure may be used to diagnose heart conditions such as coronary artery disease, determine a safe level of exercise for patients or to determine the effectiveness of a procedure to improve circulation in patients with heart disease. This test may also be performed in patients over the age of 35 to screen for heart disease, especially before beginning a vigorous exercise program. ...

Nuclear Stress Test

Nuclear stress test, also known as myocardial perfusion imaging, is a diagnostic test performed to determine if the heart is receiving adequate blood supply under both stress and rest conditions. The test is done with the injection of a small amount of radioactive material into the bloodstream, which will circulate throughout the body and help to evaluate the blood flow and function of the heart. This procedure is performed to determine the risk of a heart attack and to show if there is a limited blow flow to the heart and determine the best treatment plan for serious heart conditions. ...

Holter Monitoring

A Holter monitor is a small, portable EKG device that records the electrical activity of your heart. Holter monitoring is used for patients whose heart conditions cannot be properly diagnosed through an electrocardiogram (EKG) or other traditional tests. The results of the monitoring are used to diagnose an arrhythmia or myocardial ischemia, conditions that may have no symptoms. ...

Echocardiography

Echocardiography, also known as an ultrasound of the heart, is a diagnostic test that uses sound waves to examine the heart. The test helps determine the size and shape of the heart, as well as how well its components are functioning. The results of the test are often used to diagnose high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, congenital heart defects, an aneurysm, or other heart conditions. ...

Carotid Ultrasound

A carotid ultrasound is an imaging procedure used to evaluate the carotid arteries that carry blood from the heart to the brain. This procedure is usually performed to diagnose carotid artery disease in patients who are beginning to show symptoms or are at a high risk for the condition, including patients at an advanced age or with diabetes or high cholesterol. The ultrasound shows detailed images of the structure of the carotid arteries. ...

Peripheral Artery Disease Screening

Peripheral artery disease is a narrowing and hardening of the arteries in the leg that is caused by a build up of plaque within the walls of the arteries. This condition can restrict blood flow and cause pain for patients, and may eventually lead to gangrene, stroke or heart attack. Most people with peripheral artery disease do not experience any symptoms and may be completely unaware that they have this condition. ...

Arterial Doppler

An arterial doppler is a non-invasive diagnostic test performed to evaluate blood flow in different areas of the arms and legs. Doppler technology uses sound waves to identify differences in blood pressure in various areas and to help diagnose narrowing or blockage of major arteries. Symptoms which may alert patients and doctors to possible trouble may include: ...

Doppler Ultrasound

A Doppler ultrasound is a noninvasive diagnostic imaging test that uses sound waves to evaluate blood flow through the major vessels. Abdominal ultrasound is also used during pregnancy to assess the health and development of the fetus.

Benefits of a Doppler Ultrasound

There are many benefits to a Doppler since it is the only type of ultrasound capable of evaluating blood vessels, does not utilize any ionizing radiation, and can be easily performed in the doctor's office. In the hands of a skilled practitioner, a Doppler ultrasound provides extremely accurate results, although is is occasionally possible for a bone to block part of an image. A Doppler ultrasound procedure is considered to be effectively risk-free. ...

Abdominal Sonogram

An abdominal sonogram is a diagnostic imaging test that helps physicians diagnose and treat potential maladies within the abdominal area. Unlike other ionizing-type wave imaging systems, sonograms capture images in real-time, allowing the technician and the patient to view the results immediately while the machine is imaging. ...

COLARIS® Testing

The COLARIS® test assesses a person's risk of developing hereditary colorectal cancer, and, for women, the risk of developing hereditary uterine or ovarian cancer. This genetic test is designed to be taken by those with a personal or family history of colorectal adenomas, and by those who develop colorectal or uterine cancer before the age of 50. Assuming mutations in certain gene markers are found, taking a COLARIS test may allow for a more proactive approach to possible later-in-life diagnoses of these and other cancers. ...

Helicobacter Pylori Breath Test

A Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) breath test is a common, safe method of testing for the infection. This bacteria grows in the stomach and upper portion of the small intestine, often causing no problems or symptoms. Yet, in some cases, H. pylori may lead to inflammation of the stomach lining or ulcers as well as increase the risk of developing stomach cancer. While H. pylori itself has no identifiable symptoms, the ulcers and/or gastritis that it may cause do produce discomfort as well as symptoms that may include nausea, indigestion, bloating, fullness and abdominal pain. ...

Medical Laboratories

Laboratories are a vital part of the world of medicine since modern medical laboratories do important diagnostic work for specialists in every medical field.

Types of Laboratory Testing

While many medical laboratories do a variety of tests, some laboratories specialize in particular types of testing. Laboratory testing can be conveniently broken down into the following categories: ...

Spirometry

A spirometry is a pulmonary exam used to diagnose conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD. It is also used to evaluate the overall function of the lungs for patients suffering from chronic lung conditions. This test measures the amount of air the lungs can hold, as well as how fast the air can be exhaled by asking the patient to breathe through a tube attached to a spirometer, which calculates the results. A bronchodilator may be given as part of this exam to more precisely detect any breathing obstructions. ...

Mandibular Advancement Device

A mandibular advancement device is a mouthpiece used to treat sleep apnea. Patients diagnosed with sleep apnea may have an airway that is either blocked or partially blocked that causes interrupted breathing while they sleep.

Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder that is characterized by repeated breathing interruptions during sleep that may occur hundred of times each night as a result of structural abnormalities or brain malfunctions. With normal breathing, air passes through the nose and past the flexible structures, such as the soft palate, uvula and tongue, in the back of the throat. When awake, these muscles hold this airway open. When people without sleep apnea sleep the muscles of their throat relax and the airway stays open. People diagnosed with sleep apnea have a blockage in the upper airway and airflow which causes the oxygen levels to drop in both in the brain and the blood. ...