Update August 2023 Data Incident Update Learn More
Attention Seasonal Visitor Guidelines Now in Effect Learn More

Heart and Lung Health

Prairie Heart Institute at HSHS Good Shepherd Hospital.

Hands and heart

From welcoming a new life to celebrating a life well lived and all the moments in between, your heart beats for those you love. We know that a healthy heart is as important to them as it is to you. From high cholesterol to high blood pressure and comprehensive heart and vascular care, our team will be right by your side with expert, compassionate care focused on getting you back to those who matter most. 

If you would like to learn more about these services or if have questions about insurance and scheduling, please call 217-774-3961 ext 5502.

Heart & Lung Health Procedures

The Apnea Link device is a single-channel screening tool for sleep apnea that measures airflow through a nasal cannula connected to a pressure transducer, providing an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) based on recording time. 
BiPAP (also referred to as BPAP) stands for Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure, and is very similar in function and design to a CPAP machine (continuous positive airway pressure). Similar to a CPAP machine, A BiPAP machine is a non-invasive form of therapy for patients suffering from sleep apnea. 
A cardiac event recorder is a battery-powered portable device that you control to tape-record your heart’s electrical activity when you have symptoms. There are two types of event recorders: a loop memory monitor and a symptom event monitor. Cardiac event recorders and other devices that record your ECG as you go about your daily activities are also called ambulatory electrocardiographic monitors. 
Chest physical therapy (CPT), or postural drainage and percussion (PD & P), uses gravity and percussion (clapping on the chest and/or back) to loosen the thick, sticky mucus in the lungs so it can be removed by coughing. Unclogging the airways is key to keeping lungs healthy. 
A Holter monitor is a small, wearable device that keeps track of your heart rhythm. Your doctor may want you to wear a Holter monitor for one to two days. During that time, the device records all of your heartbeats. A Holter monitor test is usually performed after a traditional test to check your heart rhythm (electrocardiogram), especially if the electrocardiogram doesn't give your doctor enough information about your heart's condition. Your doctor uses information captured on the Holter monitor to figure out if you have a heart rhythm problem. If standard Holter monitoring doesn't capture your irregular heartbeat, your doctor may suggest a wireless Holter monitor, which can work for weeks. 

An incentive spirometer is a device used to help your lungs recover after surgery or a lung illness. Using your incentive spirometer after surgery will help you keep your lungs clear. 
A nebulizer changes liquid medicine into fine droplets (in aerosol or mist form) that are inhaled through a mouthpiece or mask. Nebulizers can be used to deliver bronchodilator (airway-opening) medications such as albuterol, Xopenex or Pulmicort (steroid). 

A nebulizer may be used instead of a metered dose inhaler (MDI). It is powered by a compressed air machine and plugs into an electrical outlet. 
Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) are lung tests. They show how well your lungs work. They’re noninvasive, which means that the doctor doesn’t cut you or put any tools inside your body. 
An electrocardiogram (EKG) is a test that measures the electrical activity of the heartbeat. With each beat, an electrical impulse (or “wave”) travels through the heart. This wave causes the muscle to squeeze and pump blood from the heart. A normal heartbeat on ECG will show the timing of the top and lower chambers. 
An electroencephalogram (EEG) is a test that detects electrical activity in your brain using small, metal discs (electrodes) attached to your scalp. Your brain cells communicate via electrical impulses and are active all the time, even when you're asleep. This activity shows up as wavy lines on an EEG recording. An EEG is one of the main diagnostic tests for epilepsy. An EEG can also play a role in diagnosing other brain disorders. 
A stress test, also called an exercise stress test, shows how your heart works during physical activity. Because exercise makes your heart pump harder and faster, an exercise stress test can reveal problems with blood flow within your heart. A stress test usually involves walking on a treadmill or riding a stationary bike your heart rhythm, blood pressure and breathing are monitored. Or you'll receive a drug that mimics the effects of exercise. Your doctor may recommend a stress test if you have signs or symptoms of coronary artery disease or an irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia). The test may also guide treatment decisions, measure the effectiveness of treatment or determine the severity if you've already been diagnosed with a heart condition. 
You may be put on a mechanical ventilator if a condition makes it very difficult for you to breathe or get enough oxygen into your blood. Mechanical ventilators are machines that act as bellows to move air in and out of your lungs. Your doctor can set the ventilator to control how often it puts air into your lungs and how much air you get.