Tilt-table test
Find a heart specialistIf you often feel faint or light-headed and your doctor can’t find an explanation for your symptoms, you may be a good candidate for a tilt-table test.
What is a tilt-table test?
A tilt-table test checks your heart’s electrical activity and blood pressure while we move you into different physical positions. Our special testing table moves you from a lying-down to almost-standing position.
This movement recreates conditions that may cause you to faint and helps your doctor check your heart’s electrical activity and blood pressure while you move into different physical positions. These movement changes may cause you to faint.
If your doctor determines you need a tilt-table test, there are some things you’ll need to know before your appointment. You'll see your primary care doctor or cardiologist for personalized guidelines to prepare for the test including:
- Refraining from eating or drinking anything before the test
- Giving instructions on how to get ready for the test
- Answering your questions and concerns
Your tilt-table test will take place at one of our conveniently located labs. The testing process takes 90 minutes, but you may need to be in the hospital for up to three hours total. You're able to wear jewelry and dentures during this test.
During the test, we’ll attach electrodes to your chest, legs and arms and connect them to an electrocardiogram (EKG) monitor, which records your heart’s electrical activity. We’ll also monitor your blood pressure and insert an IV line into your arm so we can take blood samples.
The table has a footrest and safety belts that we’ll secure over your knees and chest to make sure you don’t fall as we move you up and down.
At any time, let us know if you feel fainting symptoms and we can flatten the table to help you feel better. If you don’t feel any fainting symptoms, we may give you IV medication to make your heart beat harder and faster, which may bring on symptoms. The effects wear off quickly.
Placing your trust in our team
People from around eastern Wisconsin and northeastern Illinois choose our hospitals and clinics for our track record of safety and excellence. You can feel confident with our:
- National ranking: U.S. News & World Report consistently ranks our heart program among the best in the country. We’re dedicated to improving and transforming heart care.
- Top team: Our experienced technicians and nurses work closely with your doctor to perform your tilt-table test. They check your comfort level and explain testing procedures throughout the process.
- Advanced electrophysiology lab: We use the latest high-tech diagnostic equipment in our testing lab.
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