Stress Management

Coronary Heart Disease

Tests for Coronary Heart Disease

There is no one simple test. Depending on individual considerations, some or all of the following procedures may be needed. These tests are used to establish coronary heart disease, to determine its extent and severity, and to rule out other possible causes of the symptoms.

A doctor may use some tests to see how advanced the coronary heart disease is. The only certain way to diagnose and assess the extent of coronary heart disease is coronary angiography; other tests can indicate a problem but do not show exactly where it is.

Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) 

An electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) is a graphic record of the electrical activity of the heart as it contracts and rests. Abnormal heartbeats and some areas of damage, inadequate blood flow, and heart enlargement can be detected on the records.

Stress Test

A stress test (also called a treadmill test or exercise ECG) is used to record the heartbeat during exercise. This is done because some heart problems only show up when the heart is working hard. In the test, an ECG is done before, during, and after exercising on a treadmill; breathing rate and blood pressure may be measured as well. Exercise tests are useful but are not completely reliable; false
positives (showing a problem where none exists) and false negatives (showing no problem when something is wrong) are fairly common.

Nuclear Scanning

Nuclear scanning is sometimes used to show damaged areas of the heart and expose problems with the heart's pumping action. A small amount of radioactive material is injected into a vein, usually in the arm. A scanning camera records the nuclear material that is taken up by heart muscle (healthy areas) or not taken up (damaged areas).

Coronary Angiography (Arteriography)

Coronary angiography (or arteriography) is a test used to explore the coronary arteries. A fine tube (catheter) is put into an artery of an arm or leg and passed through the tube into the arteries of the heart. The heart and blood vessels are then filmed while the heart pumps. The picture that is seen, called an angiogram or arteriogram, will show problems such as a blockage caused by atherosclerosis.

Source: National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of NIH

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