Cardiac MRI

A high-definition model of your heart

What is a cardiac MRI?

A cardiac MRI is a very specialist test to assess the structures within the heart.

Not only does a cardiac MRI allow us to visualise the anatomy of the heart, but it also allows us to assess the function of the heart and assess the tissues within the heart.

About cardiac MRI

In this video, Dr Joban Sehmi explains what you need to know about a cardiac MRI.

Supplementary information about cardiac MRI

Here, we’ve summarised the most important points about cardiac MRI

A cardiac MRI scan uses an MRI machine to create magnetic and radio waves which create detailed pictures of the inside of your heart. 

It is used to assess heart problems that you may have been born with, heart muscle conditions, damage to your heart muscle if you’ve had a heart attack or have been diagnosed with heart failure, and to assess heart valve disease. Cardiac MRI scans also look at the blood supply to your heart.

It is for patients who are breathless, have chest pain, have heart failure, have an abnormal ECG or those who have had a heart attack.

The MRI scanner looks like a large tunnel. Once you’re in the machine itself, it is rather noisy, and so we will give you protective headphones. The technician carrying out the MRI will be in constant contact with you via the headphones.

The scan itself lasts about 45 minutes to an hour, and towards the end of the scan, we administer a dye into your arm through a small tube so that more detailed images can be taken.

After the scan, we will monitor you for about 15 to 20 minutes to ensure that you’re well and you have no adverse effects from the dye. After which, you’ll be allowed to go home.

The cardiac MRI is not a painful experience.

The only adverse effect some patients describe is a small prick when we administer the dye.

You must lie in a very contained tunnel, so if you have extreme claustrophobia, you must let us know first.

Cardiac MRI gives your doctor a wealth of information about the health of your heart.

Cardiac MRI is considered the best method to accurately assess the size and function of the chambers within the heart.

In addition, cardiac MRI allows your doctor to look for scarring within your heart muscle. The pattern and extent of scarring will help your doctor accurately diagnose your condition and assess suitability for specific treatments.

Cardiac MRI can also be used to assess for clogging up of the arteries of the heart. The heart is stressed using a medication injected into a vein, and dye is used to see how blood flows within the heart muscle.

There is a small risk of an allergic reaction to the dye that is used.

Patients with significant kidney disease can develop a condition which affects the skin and internal organs, but this is very rate.

Which of these two people describe you best?

Whether you have heart disease or if you’re at risk, we have a plan that can help you live a long and healthy life

You’re at risk of heart disease

Worried about your risk of heart disease? Why wait to get diagnosed. Take action now to curb your risk and avoid medical or surgical treatment. Take our heart disease risk assessment. This easy online tool will guide you to what we think you should do next.

You have heart disease

If you’ve been diagnosed with heart disease and want to maximise how you manage this disease, book an appointment with us. We’ll carry out the tests we need to give us all the data to map out a plan for you so you can live a healthier and longer life and avoid premature medical or surgical treatment.

What Avatar’s average day is like after treatment

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What avatar’s average day is like before treatment

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Good vs evil

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Many Beats gives you a map to turn your life around and avoid developing heart disease

Insurers

We are happy to be assured by the following private medical insurance providers

It’s the wonderful words of our patients that make this job so worthwhile

Excellent bedside manner / patient care, thoughtful analysis and care. Great cardiologists!

J. T.

Dr Elghamaz was professional and compassionate in equal measure. He made me feel completely at ease and explained in detail exactly my situation answering all questions kindly and in a language I understood – not medical jargon. A complete gentleman under whose care I have every confidence.

R. R.

I called Dr Chahal’s secretary to get advice and an appointment for a stress echocardiogram as quickly as possible. Dr Chahal called me himself, to explain the procedure, and he managed to fit me in quickly, as I requested. On the day, he and his colleague carried out the test quickly, efficiently and kindly, explaining what they were doing and why. I would certainly recommend them as true healthcare professionals.

M. S.

Dr Elghamaz was very efficient, thorough and personable and made me feel at ease through through the process of undergoing several tests and then discussing results with myself and my husband to ensure we understood everything and were comfortable.

L. S.

Highly recommended. Professional, honest, put me at ease. Wonderful experience all around.

L. O.

Dr Elghamaz goes above and beyond for his patients. As well as being kind, he is extremely thorough, and I feel very comfortable knowing he is in charge of my care.

C. W.
Dr Sehmi is a fusion of the best of the old and new schools of medicine. Whilst reassuringly up to date with the latest evidence-based practice and comfortable with all the leading-edge technology of his field, he has always listened to my fears and given informed answers to all my questions.
S. L.

I had a really positive experience when I saw Dr Navin Chandra in his clinic. He took time to really listen to my problems and then explained what was wrong in simple terms. I had all my tests performed swiftly and have started to feel much better!

P.B.

Having been referred for specialist Cardiology review, I was very fortunate to be assigned Dr Sehmi as my Consultant. From the outset, his level of interest in my personal case has been exceptional. I have had several consultants for a variety of reasons over the years but Dr Sehmi is the first where a consultant has proactively followed up in between appointments to determine progress.

N. T.

I was admitted under Cardiology and Dr Chandra was my Consultant. He quickly got to the heart of the problem and he and his team didn’t miss a step. Later that evening Dr Chandra took the time to see my partner and his patience and knowledge gave us the answers to our many questions.

R. K.

Affiliations and memberships

We are happy to be associated with the following esteemed organisations

Live a longer and healthier life

Book an appointment and we’ll test your heart so we can map out a plan to give you the best chance of maximising your longevity

How it works

3 easy steps to get on the road to heart health

GET AN APPOINTMENT

Booking an appointment is easy with our online scheduler. Simply choose a date and time that suits you and we’ll let you know how to visit.

GET TESTED

Typically, we’ll set you up to take specific tests that will give us the information we need to make an accurate assessment of your heart’s health and recommend a plan.

LIVE LONGER

With your cardiologist-vetted plan, we’ll support you in the long term so you can build the habits that will enable you to live a longer and healthier life.

Heart Health Programmes

We offer a selection of packages that can help people at risk of heart disease or those who might already be diagnosed.

Get a video consultation

Discover your heart disease risk

More information on heart disease

We’ve produced many informative videos and blog posts so you can educate yourself about heart disease risk factors, symptoms, tests and treatments.

Read more about heart disease

Educate yourself further about your heart health by reading the links below

To learn more about cardiovascular disease, including the causes and prevention techniques, click here.

The NHS has an informative write-up on cardiovascular diseases, which can be found here.

A great test that tells the myths and facts about your heart health can be found here.

If you would like an excellent overview of the symptoms of heart attacks, please click here.

If you would like to learn more about all the types of heart diseases, please click here for more information.

Are you at risk of heart disease?

Take our quick self-test to discover if you’re at risk of heart disease and if you should seek the support of a cardiologist

About the cardiologists

The Many Beats team consists of not one, but four highly experienced consultant cardiologists

Dr Navtej Chahal

Consultant Cardiologist

PhD FESC FACC

Navtej is a Consultant Cardiologist at Many Beats. He also consults at the London Northwest NHS Trust and the Royal Brompton Hospital, London having qualified from Guy’s and St Thomas’ Medical School in 2001. He is an Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer at Imperial College London

Dr Navin Chandra

Consultant Cardiologist

MD, MRCP, MBBS, BSc

Navin is a Consultant Cardiologist at Many Beats. He is also a Consultant Cardiologist at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust and an Honorary Consultant Cardiologist at Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust. He qualified from Guy’s, King’s & St. Thomas’s in 2004...

Dr Ahmed Elghamaz

Consultant Cardiologist

FRCP, MB BCh

Ahmed is a Consultant Cardiologist at Many Beats. He also consults at Northwick Park Hospital and London North West Healthcare University Hospitals NHS Trust and is an Honorary Consultant Cardiologist at Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust. He completed his junior…

Dr Joban Sehmi

Consultant Cardiologist

BSc, MBBS, MRCP, PhD

Joban is a Consultant Cardiologist at Many Beats. His NHS practice is at West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS trust. He sees patients privately at Spire in Bushey and Bishops Wood Hospital in Northwood. He trained in medicine at Guy’s and St. Thomas’ medical school and qualified in 2003 with numerous academic awards…