 Diagnosis of Angina / Ischaemic Heart Disease
To help determine the cause of chest pain and discomfort, the doctor and healthcare providers will first take a medical history and do a physical exam.
To determine if the patient has angina, the doctor may do several tests. An electrocardiogram, or EKG, is used to record heart rhythms.
A stress EKG may also be done. During this test, the patient is asked to exercise on a treadmill or a bicycle while their EKG is being taken. Changes in the EKG pattern help the doctor determine if the patient has coronary artery disease. An EKG is pain free and has no complications. Complications are rare during a stress EKG. The exercise you may be asked to do could cause angina, if this happens you should inform the physician or technologist doing the test. However, if any problems would arise, immediate treatment is always available. Patients who cannot exercise may be given a medication to cause the heart to beat faster. This medication helps to simulate or imitate exercising.
An echocardiogram is another test that measures the structure and function of the heart. The doctor analyzes images of the heart function on a screen. The echocardiogram is also typically painless.
Another test, called a nuclear scan, is used to study heart function. A small amount of radioactive material is injected into a vein, and then a camera takes pictures of the heart. The parts of the heart that are not getting enough oxygen show up in the picture.
If initial tests show that there may be blockage in the blood vessels of the heart, the doctor may recommend angiography.
During angiography, the doctor inserts a thin tube, called a catheter, into an artery in the groin or arm. The catheter is guided to the heart, and dye is injected into the coronary arteries. X-ray images are then taken which can show blocked heart arteries.
Angiography requires local anesthesia and is usually an outpatient procedure, which means you will go home after the test is completed. Because of the different types of angina and heart diseases, it is important to check with your doctor when you feel chest pain to find out what is causing it. Next page: Treatment Options
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