Coronary Heart Disease Diagnosis
Unfortunately, many people don't know they have coronary heart disease until they experience angina (temporary chest pain or discomfort usually occurring during exertion or emotional stress) or have a heart attack.
However, if your doctor suspects you may have CHD or coronary heart disease symptoms, or is assessing your risk of developing the disease, he or she may arrange a number of tests to determine your heart health and, if required, the best treatment(s) for you.
Coronary heart disease diagnosis tests might include:
Electrocardiogram (ECG) and/or 'stress ECG'
During an ECG test, electrical leads are placed on your chest, arms and legs. These leads detect small electrical signals and produce a tracing on graph paper illustrating the electrical impulses travelling through the heart muscle. Sometimes, an additional ECG test is done while you are exercising on an exercise bike or treadmill. This is known as an 'exercise ECG' or 'stress ECG', and is a common form of what is sometimes called a 'stress test'.
Echocardiogram
This test uses ultrasound waves that come from a small hand piece placed on your chest. These waves bounce back to a detector and produce a picture of the heart as it beats, allowing your doctor to see both the structure of your heart and how well it is working.
Coronary angiogram
This is a special X-ray that shows whether your coronary arteries are narrowed or blocked. Under a local anaesthetic, a small tube (catheter) is inserted into an artery in your arm or groin and guided into the heart. Dye is injected through the catheter into the coronary arteries and X-rays are taken, giving detailed information about the condition of your coronary arteries.