How Coronary Artery Disease Is Diagnosed
Your heart receives oxygen-rich blood from your left and right coronary arteries. For a number of reasons, plaque may build up within them. It begins as a small accumulation, but forms a blockage over time. This is called atherosclerosis. Eventually, the blockage will begin to hamper the flow of blood to your heart muscle. This is known as coronary artery disease (CAD). When that happens, you might experience angina (severe chest pain) or heart attack as the muscle sustains damage.
If you experience these symptoms, your doctor will perform multiple tests in order to diagnose CAD (a single test is unlikely to yield conclusive results). Below, we’ll describe the types of tests most doctors use.
Electrocardiogram
An electrocardiogram (commonly known as an EKG) allows your physician to examine the electrical activity taking place within your heart. It will study the pace with which the sinus node generates the electrical impulses that cause your atria and ventricles to contract. The test is painless and can provide valuable clues regarding whether CAD is present.
Stress Test
A stress test is performed while you exercise. Your physician will place you on a treadmill or stationary bike in order to cause your heart to work harder and beat more quickly. While you exercise, the organ needs more oxygenated blood. The stress test attempts to identify rising blood pressure, shortness of breath, or even mild arrhythmias. All of these are signs that your blood is not flowing as quickly as it should through your coronary arteries.
Echocardiography
An echocardiography can be performed to examine the function of your heart’s valves and chambers. It relies upon sound waves to construct an image of the muscle. If the chambers are not contracting properly, it suggests poor blood flow. It may also suggest valvular problems or erratic impulses generated from the sinus node.
Coronary Calcium Scan
A coronary calcium scan (also referred to as an electron-beam computed tomography scan) looks for calcifications within the arterial walls. They usually show up as specks and can represent an early warning sign of CAD.
Coronary Angiography
A coronary angiography is performed after your doctor has already conducted other tests and suspects CAD is present. A special dye is injected through cardiac catheterization. The procedure involves a catheter being threaded into the affected coronary artery while the dye enters your bloodstream. Then, X-rays are taken of the dye’s progress as it moves through your arteries.
Coronary artery disease is common in the U.S. It is the leading cause of death for both genders. This may be due, in part, to lifestyle choices, including those which influence diet and exercise. If you suspect you may have CAD or atherosclerosis, ask your doctor to perform the above tests. The earlier you can identify it, the better likelihood you’ll avoid angina or heart attack.
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