- 7/24 Live Call Center
Cardiology is the medical specialty focused on the heart and the cardiovascular system. It involves the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels. These conditions include coronary artery disease, heart failure, arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats), and valve disorders. The field covers a broad spectrum, from congenital heart defects present at birth to acquired conditions like heart attacks.
Send us all your questions or requests, and our expert team will assist you.
Detecting coronary artery disease early provides the best chance for effective treatment and prevention of heart attacks. Doctors use a combination of methods to diagnose this condition, ranging from simple conversations about your health history to advanced imaging technologies that can look inside your body. The diagnostic process is like solving a puzzle; no single piece gives the whole picture, but together they reveal the state of your heart health.
The goal of diagnosis is to determine if plaque is present, how severely it is blocking the arteries, and whether the heart muscle is getting enough blood. Tests are typically done in a stepped approach, starting with the least invasive and moving to more complex procedures if needed. Understanding these tests can help alleviate anxiety, as many of them are painless and routine.
The journey to a diagnosis begins in the doctor’s office. Your doctor will ask detailed questions about your symptoms. They will want to know exactly what your chest pain feels like, when it happens, and what makes it go away. They will also review your medical history to identify risk factors such as smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, and a family history of heart disease. This conversation helps the doctor estimate your risk level.
During the physical exam, the doctor will listen to your heart and lungs with a stethoscope. They listen for abnormal heart sounds, irregular rhythms, or the sound of fluid in the lungs, which can indicate heart strain. They will check your blood pressure and measure your weight. They may also monitor the pulses in your wrists and feet to ensure proper blood flow to your extremities, as blocked leg arteries often coexist with blocked heart arteries.
If your doctor suspects heart disease, they will likely order noninvasive imaging tests. An echocardiogram, or “echo,” is one of the most common. It uses sound waves (ultrasound) to create a moving picture of your heart. It allows the doctor to see the heart beating and pumping blood. If a part of the heart muscle is moving weakly, it may mean that the artery supplying that area is blocked.
Another advanced option is a coronary CT angiogram. This is a powerful X-ray scan that creates detailed 3D images of your heart and its arteries. It can detect calcium deposits in the artery walls, which are a sign of plaque buildup. This test is very useful for ruling out heart disease in people who have chest pain but a low risk of having blockages. It is quick and painless, similar to having a regular X-ray but with more sophisticated equipment.
This test involves a technician moving a wand-like device called a transducer across your chest. It uses no radiation and is completely safe. It shows the size and shape of your heart and how well the valves and chambers are working.
A cardiac CT scan can visualize the arteries directly. Before the scan, you may be given a contrast dye through an IV to make the arteries show up clearly. It provides a “calcium score,” which helps predict the risk of a future heart attack.
Because symptoms of coronary artery disease often only appear when the heart is working hard, a resting heart test might look normal even in a sick patient. To solve this, doctors use stress tests. The goal is to make the heart beat faster and harder to see if blood flow can keep up with the increased demand. The most common type is an exercise stress test, where you walk on a treadmill while hooked up to a heart monitor. The speed and incline increase gradually until your heart reaches a target rate.
If you cannot exercise due to joint problems or other issues, a chemical stress test can be done. In this version, you receive a medication through an IV that simulates the effects of exercise on the heart. During the stress test, the doctor watches for chest pain, shortness of breath, or changes in the heart’s electrical rhythm that suggest a lack of blood flow. Often, stress tests are combined with imaging (like an echo or nuclear scan) to see exactly which part of the heart is struggling.
Send us all your questions or requests, and our expert team will assist you.
An electrocardiogram, commonly called an ECG or EKG, is one of the quickest and simplest tests for heart problems. It records the electrical signals that make your heart beat. Sticky patches called electrodes are placed on your chest, arms, and legs. These are connected by wires to a machine that traces the electrical activity on paper. The test takes only a few minutes and is completely painless.
An ECG can show if your heart is beating too fast, too slow, or irregularly. It can tell if you’re having a heart attack or have had one before. It can also show signs that the heart is working under strain or is not getting enough oxygen. However, a normal ECG does not rule out coronary artery disease, which is why further testing is often needed.
If non-invasive tests suggest significant blockages, or if you are having severe symptoms, your doctor will likely recommend coronary angiography. This is an invasive procedure, but it provides the most accurate and detailed picture of your arteries. It is performed in a hospital catheterization lab. A long, thin, flexible tube called a catheter is inserted into a blood vessel in your wrist or groin and guided up to your heart.
Once the catheter is in place, a special contrast dye is injected through it into the coronary arteries. This dye shows up clearly on X-ray video. As the dye flows through the arteries, the doctor can see exactly where blockages are located and how narrow the arteries have become. This “roadmap” allows the doctor to decide immediately on the best treatment, whether it be medication, a stent, or bypass surgery.
You are usually awake but sedated during an angiogram. You won’t feel the catheter moving inside your body. You might feel a warm flush when the dye is injected. The procedure typically takes less than an hour, and recovery involves lying still for a few hours to let the insertion site heal.
The angiogram reveals the precise location and severity of blockages. It shows if an artery is 50% blocked or 99% blocked. This information is critical for planning lifesaving interventions like angioplasty or surgery.
Blood tests are a routine part of diagnosing and managing heart disease. They give doctors a look at the chemical environment of your body. A standard lipid panel measures your cholesterol levels, including LDL (bad), HDL (good), and triglycerides. High levels of LDL are a major risk factor for plaque buildup. Doctors also check blood sugar levels to screen for diabetes, which damages arteries.
In emergency situations, blood tests look for cardiac biomarkers, such as troponin. Troponin is a protein found inside heart muscle cells. When heart muscle is damaged, as in a heart attack, troponin leaks into the bloodstream. Detecting elevated troponin levels helps doctors confirm if a heart attack has occurred. Other tests might measure inflammation markers like C-reactive protein (CRP), which can indicate a higher risk of heart disease.
Stress tests are generally very safe. They are performed in a controlled environment with medical professionals watching your heart rate and blood pressure every second. If you experience chest pain or severe distress, the test is stopped immediately.
Not necessarily. An ECG only records a snapshot of your heart’s electrical activity at rest. You can have significant blockages in your arteries that do not affect the resting electrical pattern. That is why stress tests and imaging are often needed for a full picture.
An echocardiogram is a noninvasive ultrasound taken from outside the body to see heart muscle movement. An angiogram is an invasive procedure using a tube inside the body to see the arteries directly with dye. Angiograms are more accurate for seeing blockages.
The contrast dye can be hard on the kidneys, especially if you already have kidney problems. Doctors check your kidney function beforehand. Drinking plenty of fluids after the procedure helps flush the dye out of your system quickly.
Results for ECGs and echoes are often available the same day. Blood test results usually come back within hours or a day. During an angiogram, the doctor sees the results in realtime and will usually discuss them with you immediately after the procedure.
Heart disease, frequently linked to clogged arteries, stands as the leading cause of death worldwide, highlighting the need for awareness about heart health. It accounts
Did you know that chronic stress can significantly increase the risk of developing ischemic heart disease? Research shows that long-term stress can cause myocardial ischemia.
Ischemia leads to myocardial infarction. Spot dangerous symptoms early. Vital knowledge about blood flow helps prevent this deadly heart event. Myocardial ischemia happens when the
Coronary artery disease affects millions worldwide. Many need treatment to improve heart health. The question is, when does a blockage need a stent? Knowing the
Heart disease is a big problem worldwide, with coronary artery disease being a major cause of illness and death. Over 700,000 Americans have heart attacks
Spot coronary artery disease early. Detect bad signs like chest pain. Acting fast is vital to prevent a dangerous and deadly heart attack. Ischemic heart
Your Comparison List (you must select at least 2 packages)
