Allina Health

Cardiologists are doctors who identify, treat and help you manage conditions like angina, heart attack, heart rhythm problems, high blood pressure, peripheral artery disease (PAD) and stroke.

These cardiologists from Minneapolis Heart Institute® bring heart health care to the Twin Cities west metro.

Angina

Angina is chest pain caused by poor blood flow through the blood vessels of the heart muscle.

Learn more about angina in our health encyclopedia or heart health manual.

Heart attack

Heart attack happens when an artery that feeds your heart muscle becomes blocked with plaque (fatty deposits) or by a clot. When the blood cannot flow to the heart, damage or death to the heart muscle may occur.

Learn more about heart attack in our heart health manual.

Heart rhythm problems

Arrhythmia or dysrhythmia is an irregular heartbeat or rhythm. There are many kinds.

Learn more about heart rhythm problems in our heart health manual.

High blood pressure

Blood pressure is the amount of pressure within the walls of your arteries. High blood pressure is increased pressure against artery walls.

Learn more about high blood pressure in our heart health manual.

Peripheral artery disease (PAD)

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) occurs when plaque clogs the arteries in your legs, reducing blood flow to your legs and feet.

Learn more about PAD in our heart health manual.

Stroke

A stroke results when blood and oxygen flow to the brain is stopped or interrupted. This happens because of a ruptured or blocked blood vessel.

Learn more in our stroke manual.

Cardiovascular consultations

The number one killer in the United States, cardiovascular disease affects the heart and blood vessels. Our experts can identify, treat and help you manage cardiac conditions.

Licensed dietitian

An integral part of our care team, licensed dietitians help patients make heart-healthy lifestyle changes.

Preventive Cardiology Clinic

The Preventive Cardiology Clinic offers programs for adults who are at risk for heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular diseases — as well as for people who have experienced cardiovascular problems.

Cardiac Device Clinic: Pacemaker and ICD follow up

If a pacemaker or ICD (implantable cardioverter defibrillator) helps regulate your heartbeat, we can make sure your cardiac device is working properly. Our experts will evaluate your cardiac device and adjust settings so that you benefit the most.

Cardiac, Thoracic and Transplant Surgery

Minneapolis Heart Institute®'s nationally recognized surgical team specializes in the diagnosis and surgical treatment of cardiothoracic (heart and lung) diseases. 

Center for Advanced Heart Failure Treatment

The Center for Advanced Heart Failure Treatment brings together a team who specializes in heart failure and understands how to manage it. It offers a full range of treatments including stem cell therapy, specialized surgeries, ventricular assist devices (VAD), and heart transplants.

Complex Heart Valve Disorder

Comprehensive treatment for heart valve disorders which can prevent a heart valve from opening fully or closing tightly.

Genetic Arrhythmia Center

The Genetic Arrhythmia Center was established in 2008 to serve patients and families affected by rare genetic heart conditions. It aims to bring hope and answers and to prevent a life-threatening event from occurring in other family members.

Electrophysiology (Heart Rhythm Management)

A full range of services and treatment options is available for the diagnoses and treatment of heart rhythm problems (also known as arrhythmias.)

HeartScan Minnesota

At a cost of $100, a heart scan is a low-cost, non-invasive test that detects heart disease in its earliest stages when it is still possible to slow, stop or reverse it.

OPTIMIST (OPTions In Myocardial Ischemic Syndrome Therapy )

The OPTIMIST Program offers new approaches to improve quality of life for individuals who have coronary artery disease with complex blockages that make angioplasty or surgery difficult or impossible, and for those with chronic angina who do not respond to common treatments.

Pulmonary Hypertension Program

The Pulmonary Hypertension Program provides comprehensive assessment and management for all types of pulmonary hypertension.

Vascular & Endovascular Services

Vascular & Endovascular Services provides comprehensive care to individuals with vascular health conditions and diseases.

Women's heart health

Four out of five Minnesota women are at risk for heart disease. This program tailors cardiovascular care to fit the specific needs of women.

Pacemaker

When you have a rhythm problem with your heart (usually when it beats too slowly or if both sides of your heart don't beat together), you may need a pacemaker. A pacemaker is a medical device that can help your heart beat regularly.

Learn more about pacemakers in our heart health manual.

ICD (implantable cardioverter defibrillator)

If your heart is beating too fast or irregularly, your doctor may decide that you need a device that gives your heart an electrical shock to restore your heart to a regular rhythm. This device is called an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD).

Learn more about ICDs in our heart health manual.

Coronary CT angiography

This new tool uses a special type of CT scanner to get a three-dimensional view of your blood vessels. This allows doctors to see whether plaque has built up in the artery wall that may cause a future heart attack or symptoms.

Echocardiogram (heart ultrasound)

An echocardiogram uses sound waves to create a moving picture of the heart.

Exercise stress test

An exercise stress test is a screening tool to test the effect of exercise on your heart. It provides an overall look at the health of your heart.

Stress echocardiograms

Stress echocardiography uses ultrasound imaging to determine how the heart muscles respond to stress. It is mainly used to diagnose and evaluate coronary artery disease.

Holter/Event monitoring

A Holter monitor will record your heart rhythm during your everyday activities. For this test, you will wear a portable EKG machine. You will have a Holter monitor for 24 or 48 hours.

Also called nuclear ventriculography, this test uses safe, radioactive materials called tracers to show the heart chambers.

Peripheral vascular imaging

A noninvasive peripheral vascular exam measures blood pressure and blood flow using sound waves created by a device called a doppler. You will have a test done while you rest and while you exercise on a treadmill. This test helps tell if there are blockages in the leg arteries. This test takes about 30 minutes when looking at leg veins, and 45 minutes or longer when looking at the leg arteries.

Abbott Northwestern Hospital first in Minnesota to be designated as an Accredited Chest Pain Center

The accreditation recognizes our commitment to rigorous processes proven to reduce heart disease deaths.

Level One Heart Attack Program

One network, 30 partnerships, thousands of lives

In 2003, 30 community hospitals throughout Minnesota partnered with the Minneapolis Heart Institute® to change how heart attacks would be treated. That network of 30 hospitals plays a critical role in the program's success. The program is now the gold standard, nationally, for how heart attacks should be quickly diagnosed and treated.

Heart attack deaths have decreased by 50 percent — since the implementation.

The Level One program is the cornerstone all of Minneapolis Heart Institute®'s Cardiovascular Emergency Services.

"Cool It" - Therapeutic hypothermia for cardiac arrest

Cooling the core body temperature of a patient resuscitated after cardiac arrest is to 33 degrees Celcius can reduce the risk of permanent brain damage. Minneapolis Heart Institute® was the first in Minnesota to implement the "Cool It" protocol. For more about "Cool It," go to mplsheart.com.

Acute aortic dissection (AAD)

Aortic dissection requires prompt diagnosis and the Minneapolis Heart Institute® has worked to educate its 30 hospital partners so they can do just that. Because of this education and rapid transportation arrangements, treatment times have decreased dramatically and AAD deaths have been reduced by 50 percent.

Acute limb ischemia

Minneapolis Heart Institute® has worked with its 30 hospital partners to ensure the quickest diagnosis and transport in an Acute Limb Ischemia emergency. The vascular surgery team at Abbott Northwestern's Vascular Center is highly experienced with this type of emergency.

Acute aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair

Following the lead established by the Level One Heart Attack program, Minneapolis Heart Institute ® established a protocol for emergency AAA repair. As a result, the average time required to diagnose AAA was reduced by more than 30 minutes, and the average time from diagnosis to treatment was reduced by more than one hour.

Non-STEMI and unstable angina

Abbott Northwestern's Chest Pain Program has created a more efficient way to treat Minneapolis Heart Institute® patients who have chest pain. The trademark of this program is clear identification of which patients require a transfer to Abbott Northwestern and which can remain in their community for testing and/or follow-up care.