Another EPS test, called “tilt table” testing, is used to evaluate unexplained fainting or severe lightheadedness that may or may not be rooted in coronary problems.

During the tilt table test, patients lie on a table and have their blood pressure and heart rate monitored. Then, the table is raised simulating a change in position from lying down to standing up. This causes blood pressure to drop, allowing doctors to evaluate the cardiovascular response to the change in gravity. If the heart doesn’t respond properly, by slightly increasing heart rate and constricting blood vessels in the legs, the falling blood pressure can cause fainting and signal that the patient is suffering from a cardiovascular condition.

For a referral to an expert cardiologist for a tilt table test at St. Luke’s and Roosevelt Hospitals in New York City, call 1 (877) 996-9334.