Heart Health: Seeing the Heart in New Ways

How Advanced Imaging is Changing Cardiac Care

By Vikas Veeranna, MD and Peter Shaw, MD 

Fellowship-trained Advanced Imaging Cardiologists at Elliot Heart and Vascular Center

Many patients are surprised by how much we can now see without surgery or invasive testing. Over the past decade, advanced cardiac imaging has transformed how we diagnose and manage heart disease. At The Elliot Heart and Vascular Center, we offer one of the few programs in New Hampshire with this level of expertise and technology.

Why Cardiac MRI is the Gold Standard in Heart Imaging

Cardiac MRI lets us see the heart in amazing detail—how it looks, how it works, how well it pumps, and whether there are changes in the heart muscle that could affect future health. It is considered the gold standard for evaluating heart function.

Unlike other tests, cardiac MRI provides a clear, three-dimensional picture of the heart without radiation. It uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves to produce detailed images. This technology helps answer specific questions that echocardiograms, nuclear stress tests, or CT scans cannot always answer.

With cardiac MRI, we can identify scar tissue from past heart attacks, detect inflammation, measure chamber size and function, and detect conditions like amyloidosis—caused by abnormal proteins in the heart. For patients with inherited heart disease, this precision helps detect early changes before symptoms appear.

Advanced Cardiac Imaging in New Hampshire

At The Elliot, advanced cardiac imaging—especially cardiac MRI—is fully integrated into a comprehensive cardiovascular care model. This level of diagnostic precision and collaboration, typically seen at major academic centers, is available right here in southern New Hampshire.

What makes this integration impactful is the seamless coordination between imaging specialists, cardiologists, and cardiac surgeons. Each scan is tailored to the patient’s needs, ensuring accurate and meaningful results. In the past, patients had to travel for this caliber of testing. Now, they can receive it locally without sacrificing quality or continuity of care.

Advanced Imaging Guides Treatment

Cardiac MRI doesn’t just diagnose – it guides treatment. In heart failure, it can show whether symptoms stem from blocked arteries, a weakened heart muscle, or inflammation. Each cause requires a different approach, and MRI helps pinpoint the issue without invasive procedures.

It also monitors treatment effectiveness. In patients undergoing chemotherapy, MRI can detect early signs of heart strain, allowing timely adjustments. It can also help determine whether a patient may benefit from a defibrillator, ablation, or surgery.

Early Detection and Prevention of Heart Disease

Advanced imaging allows us to move toward prevention. When we identify risk or early changes before symptoms develop, we can intervene sooner and protect the heart from future damage.

The CDC lists high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, obesity, and inactivity as key risk factors. These often strain the heart silently. Imaging shows how these factors affect the heart muscle before a heart attack or heart failure occurs.

In New Hampshire, heart disease accounts for about one in four deaths annually. Continued awareness and access to advanced diagnostics are vital for our region.

Women also need to be aware of their risk. While somewhat protected during childbearing years, that advantage fades. After age 65, women’s risk equals men’s, and by 75, it exceeds it. Pregnancy complications like preeclampsia or gestational diabetes also increase future risk. Awareness and early evaluation make a real difference.

The Team Approach at The Elliot

Advanced imaging is part of an integrated heart and vascular team. We collaborate daily with interventional cardiologists, electrophysiologists, cardio-oncologists, heart failure specialists, and cardiovascular surgeons. If imaging shows a patient needs a procedure or closer follow-up, we connect them quickly with the right specialist. This coordination ensures smooth transitions from diagnosis to treatment to recovery.

At The Elliot, patients receive more than just a test. They benefit from a connected, collaborative care experience focused on precision, communication, and long-term heart health.

Taking Charge of Your Heart Health

Imaging is just one piece of the heart health puzzle, but it is a powerful one. Our advice: know your numbers like blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol. Talk to your provider about family history and any symptoms, even minor ones. If you are at higher risk or already seeing a cardiologist, ask if advanced imaging could offer more insight.

Early, personalized information helps you and your care team make confident, informed decisions. That is what modern heart care is all about.