Types of heart disease diagnostic tests

If you think you suspect heart disease, you should familiarize yourself with the types of diagnostic tests for heart disease. Usually, if the doctor does not diagnose the problem with a clinical examination or needs to confirm the diagnosis, one of the diagnostic tests for heart disease will be prescribed for you. In this article, we are going to review the types of diagnostic tests for heart disease. or the size of the heart, lungs, or blood vessels, and then may be referred for other, more specific tests based on the results of the X-ray images. ### Electrocardiogram An electrocardiogram, or EKG, is the most common test used to screen for heart problems. This test uses small electrodes attached to the chest to measure the electrical activity of the heart. To detect a possible heart attack, echo can help identify the extent of damage... ### Echo heart stress test In fact, there are different types of echo stress testing that can be classified as non-invasive or minimally invasive heart disease diagnosis methods... However, all stress tests are designed to measure your heart's response to stress, and each falls into one of two categories: #### Sports stress test During an exercise stress test, you are asked to exercise on a treadmill or stationary bike while your heart rate and rhythm are monitored... An exercise stress test, also known as a stress echo, uses an echocardiogram to take pictures of your heart... Similar to an exercise stress test, a dobutamine stress test examines your heart's response to stress, but instead of exercise, it uses an injection of a drug that mimics the effects of exercise on the heart... This test They also use nuclear imaging or echocardiography.. A cardiac CT scan is a non-invasive test that uses a CT scan to image the heart's arteries to determine if they are blocked or narrowed by plaque buildup.. This test is sometimes called a coronary calcium scan because the CT uses the presence of calcium deposits in the plaque to determine the level of blockage and then the extent of the blockage detected.. Severely diseased coronary artery found... ### Magnetic resonance imaging Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, or cardiac MRI, is a noninvasive test that uses magnets and radio waves to produce detailed images of structures in and around the heart. A cardiac MRI can be used to evaluate blood flow in the heart to determine whether an artery is blocked or parts of the heart have been damaged by a heart attack. Some heart disease tests are more invasive than others. Two common types of tests that fall into this category are: ### Cardiac catheterization Cardiac catheterization is an imaging procedure performed under sedation.. A health care provider can be used to confirm the presence of heart disease and determine whether further intervention is needed.... Because of the low risk of complications, a doctor usually performs noninvasive tests such as an EKG or stress test before using these invasive procedures.. into a blood vessel in the wrist or groin.. To perform this test, radioactive dye is inserted into the Injection catheter and X-ray images are taken during the movement of the contrast material in the heart and main vessels.. ### Electrophysiology If you have a history of syncope, are at risk for arrhythmia or sudden cardiac death, or simply need some cardiac procedures, your specialist may recommend an electrophysiology (EP) test. Like a cardiac catheterization, an EP study uses a catheter inside the heart. However, the catheter used in an EP study uses a specialized electrode to measure the ventricles of the heart.