Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. The American Heart Association estimates that more than 71 million Americans, or one in five people in this country, have one or more types of cardiovascular disease. Among the types of cardiovascular disease are high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, stroke, rheumatic fever/rheumatic heart disease, congenital cardiovascular defects and congestive heart failure.

The Heart Institute at Summerlin Hospital cares for patients in a thorough and professional manner using advanced technologies, including:

Cardiac Catheterization Lab— radiological equipment and dyes are injected into arteries to diagnose and treat heart disease. Interventional tools such as balloons and stents are fed through a catheter into the coronary arteries to reduce stenosis, the narrowing of blood vessels, and increase blood flow.

Echocardiography—uses ultrasound waves to produce accurate images of the heart in action, allowing cardiologists to evaluate the heart's performance, its chambers and valves.

Electroencephalogram (EEG)—monitors the brain's electrical activity to help diagnose strokes, seizures and other conditions.

Electrocardiogram (EKG)—traces electro-activity in the heart to help diagnose cardiac problems.

Holter Monitor Testing—monitors heartbeats for a 24-hour period while a patient engages in his or her daily routine. Wires attached to the chest record heart activity and irregularities that might otherwise be difficult to detect.

Pacemaker Analysis— tests the functioning capacity of implanted pacemakers.

Treadmill Exercise Stress Testing—measures the heart's performance while under the stress of physical activity.

Ultrasound with Doppler—tracks changes in a patient's cardiac output and fluid volume, which are critical indicators of how well the heart is transporting blood and oxygen to the organs.

Arrhythmia, or abnormal rhythms of the heart, can signal a cardiovascular problem. Advanced treatment for arrhythmia is available in Summerlin Hospital's electrophysiology (EP) laboratory, where cardiac specialists evaluate and treat patients who have heart rhythm disturbances. EP studies can help physicians identify the types and locations of arrhythmias. Radiofrequency ablation procedures, also performed in the lab, can help interrupt faulty electrical signals in the heart.

Summerlin Hospital's EP lab also offers three-dimensional cardiac mapping to provide precise mapping of cardiac rhythm problems. This technology is beneficial for patients who have complex heart rhythm problems.