If you just got the call and your doctor wants you to have a heart MRI scan. But you are afraid to get it done as you still wonder what is a heart MRI scan, and what does it show? This blog will brush off all your worries and explain everything about this scan. So that you can remain calm during the process.
A heart MRI scan is one of the most important scans in the medical field ad has made several diagnoses easier and quicker for better recovery. It uses powerful magnets and radio waves to produce detailed heart images without putting the patient under the knife.
From blocked arteries to other myocardial problems, MRI scans are quite powerful to scan all underlying issues. Here, we’ll explain a heart MRI scan, what it can show, and who should have one.
What Is A Heart MRI Scan?
MRI scans of the heart can provide your doctor with a wealth of information about the health of your heart. They can help to identify problems such as blocked arteries, heart muscle damage, and fluid accumulation around the heart. It is even powerful enough to show how your blood flows.
In contrast to any other diagnostic technique, a heart scan MRI does not use ionizing radiation. It is considered the best yet safest alternative for expecting women as it causes no harm to the fetus and the mother. However, the gynecologist advises the women to wait until their first trimester as a precautionary measure.
What Does a Heart MRI Scan Show?
The MRI scan is completely non-invasive, meaning it does not involve needles or surgical procedures. The process is painless and takes only a few minutes to completely scan the heart conditions. It can show complications with the cardiovascular systems and the surrounding vital organs.
A heart MRI scan is significant for the early diagnosis and treatment of several heart problems. It can help cardiologists to see exactly what is causing a patient’s symptoms and to plan the best course of treatment. A heart MRI scan helps the doctor in detecting the following:
·      Myocarditis
Health professionals refer to the inflammation of the myocardium as myocarditis. The myocardium is the scientific name of the heart muscle. A heart MRI scan helps the doctor in detecting it and treat the condition.
·      Congenital Heart Disease
Congenital heart diseases are a set of diseases in a body by birth. These diseases include problems like a hole in the heart. Some genetic diseases are acute and have appropriate cures and treatments. In contrast, the others are chronic and fatal.
·      Cardiomegaly
Cardiomegaly is an enlarged heart condition that leads to a shortage of breath. The condition also indicates the straining of the patient’s heart. However, the cardiologist uses a heart MRI scan to view the symptoms and abnormal heart growth.
There can be several reasons for causing cardiomegaly. Some examples include excessive alcohol consumption, hypertension, and a history of myocardial arrest.
·      Dyspnea
The condition of shortness of breath is dyspnea. Cholesterol accumulation in the veins and arteries causes this condition in patients. The professionals also refer to dyspnea as air hunger.
Common Signs Of A Heart Arrest
Heart attacks and myocardial attacks have various signs and symptoms. It is critical to understand the suddenly changing heartbeat rate of your body.
·      Heart Palpitations
Heart palpitation is a condition when the heart skips a beat. Moreover, the sign is quite common in heart patients. The heart rate of a normal person is consistent with smooth blood flow. However, if you feel your heart rhythm getting out of control, it may be a sign that you’re having a cardiac arrest and need immediate medical attention.
·      Fatigue
Fatigue is yet another sign of a heart attack. But, this sign is most common in women, particularly overweight ones. Fatigue begins several months before the woman gets a heart attack. So, the patient needs to consult a cardiologist soon after experiencing shortness of breath or fatigue.
·      Excessive Sweat
Abnormal sweating is also a very important and common sign of cardiac arrest. In contrast to females, the sign is more common in males. It is an early sign of heart problems and diseases.
Forced heart pumping through clogged arteries is the main reason for causing excessive sweating in the patient. However, in case of cold sweats and unstoppable night sweating, it is important to consult an expert without wasting any further time.
Things To Remember While Preparing For A Heart MRI Scan
Preparing for a heart MRI scan is not rocket science. It requires some simple steps to prepare for a heart MRI scan. You will need to drink some water and then drink a contrast agent. The contrast agent will help the radiologist see the pictures of your heart better. In some cases, the doctor may advise the patient not to eat or drink for four hours before the scan.
Before beginning the scan, the patient must remove any metal from the body, as the MRI has a large magnet. These metal objects can cause disturbance during the process, sometimes even risking the patient’s life.
However, it includes things like jewelry, eyeglasses, and dental braces. The patient is requested to take their usual clothes off and wear a gown for better diagnosis and precise results.
It is better to inform your cardiologist if you have a pacemaker, as it may be a bit risky to perform an MRI when you have any device installed inside your body. It will help him in deciding a safer diagnostic method for you. As heart MRI uses magnets, it is dangerous for the patient to undergo diagnosis by wearing pacemakers or any other metal.
Some cardiologists often recommend an alternative diagnostic like an abdominal CT Scan to patients with pacemakers.
In other cases, some patients have advanced pacemakers with an option to reprogramme the device to avoid any kind of disturbance during the heart MRI Scan.
How To Perform A Heart MRI Scan
The process of the heart MRI scan is painless for the patients. To begin with, for performing a heart MRI scan, the patient is instructed to lie down on the diagnostic table. The table is then slid into the scanner for further diagnosis.
It is essential for the patient to stay still during the practice. Later, the MRI machine creates a strong magnetic field around the body, which causes the atoms in the body to spin.
Radio waves are then sent through the body, and these atoms vibrate at different frequencies depending on their location. This information is collected by sensors in the scanner and used to create images of the heart.
The doctor requires a specific type of dye to stain the heart. The contrast agent is gadolinium-based and causes minor allergic reactions in some patients’ bodies.
Potential Risks Of A Heart MRI Scan
An MRI scan of the heart is a safe and non-invasive procedure that can give your doctor a detailed view of your heart and its surrounding structures. It is often used to diagnose and treat a wide range of congenital and adaptive heart conditions and can help to assess the risk of a heart attack or stroke.
Although a heart MRI scan is a harmless and simple diagnostic practice, it involves fewer risks and can sometimes be chronic. These include:
- Claustrophobia (fear of enclosed spaces)
- Discomfort from the magnets
- Allergic reaction to the contrast dye
However, for women who are expecting, they need to inform their doctors beforehand. It will help mitigate any kind of risk associated with the MRI heart scan.
Benefits of a Heart MRI Scan
Like every diagnostic technique, there are various benefits of heart MRI scans as well. Some of the most highlighted ones include:
- Detailed images of the heart for the diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases
- Detection of anomalies in the valves, myocardium, and blood vessels
- Assessment of heart function and damage
- Identification of potential sources of embolism (clots)
- The contrast used is less allergic than those used during other imaging techniques.
Conclusion
A heart MRI scan is a procedure that allows your cardiologist to see inside your heart in much greater detail than can be seen with other imaging tests. The MRI scan uses powerful and sturdy magnets to get precise results
Since, It’s a safe procedure, you don’t have to worry about any after-effects. However, It is better to inform the doctor about the entire medical history, pregnancy conditions, and complications (if any).
If you are looking for the best yet the most reliable place to get heart MRI scans, AQMDI is the leading diagnostic imaging center based in New Jersey with all the equipment ready and sanitized well for you!