Heart Disease Diagnosis

Recently Answered

• QHow are young people screened for heart disease?

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  A St Francis Medical Center answered

  There are clinics where cardiologists screen young adults and athletes for heart disease. The American College of Cardiology (ACC) and other organizations provide doctors with specific guidelines for screening young people for heart disease. Today we know so much more about this problem than we did in the past. With screening, we hope the rate of sudden cardiac death among our younger population will decrease.

  Screening tests may include:

  • physical exam
  • electrocardiogram EKG
  • genetic testing
  • imaging tests to check for birth defects and heart structure problems

  If a doctor thinks a young person has a high risk for heart disease after performing a physical exam, it very important for that person to have a more thorough evaluation and appropriate tests.

  Trinity Health is a Catholic health care organization that acts in accordance with the Catholic tradition and does not condone or support all practices covered in this site. In case of emergency call 911. This site is educational and not a substitute for professional medical advice, always seek the advice of a qualified health care provider.

• QWhat is cardiac computed tomography (CT)?

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  A Memorial Hospital of Tampa answered

  A cardiac computerized tomography (CT) scan makes three-dimensional pictures of the heart.

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• QWhat is a signal-averaged electrocardiogram (SAEKG)?

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  A Lakeview Regional Medical Center answered

  A signal-averaged electrocardiogram (SAEKG) averages the electrical signals coming from the EKG to tell us more accurate information about the heart.

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• QWhy are women more likely to be misdiagnosed when they have heart disease?

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  A Dr. David C. Fiore, MD , Family Medicine, answered on behalf of Univ. of Nev. School of Medicine, Family Medicine

  One of the biggest reasons women are misdiagnosed when they have heart disease is that they may not have the classic symptoms of chest pain and shortness of breath. Women sometimes (or at least, more commonly than men) have just fatigue or vague complaints of "not feeling well."

  Another reason is that heart disease is less common in women before menopause. So, doctors may not think of it as a cause of your symptoms if you haven't yet reached this phase of life.

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• QWhat is a heart computerized tomography (CT) scan?

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  A HCA Virginia answered

  A computerized tomography (CT) heart scan is a non-invasive test that provides pictures of your heart’s arteries to detect signs of plaque, which may indicate you are at risk for heart disease. The result of a heart scan is called a coronary calcium score. If your calcium score indicates you are at risk for a heart attack your physician will create a treatment plan to lower your risk.

• QWhat are advantages and disadvantages of radial-artery catheterization?

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  A Brigham and Women's Hospital answered

  Cardiac catheterization is most commonly performed by entering the circulatory system through a blood vessel in the groin (the femoral artery). However, many patients have their procedure performed through the radial artery which courses through the wrist.

  Catheterizations through the radial artery have several advantages:

  • Patient comfort is significantly improved. Because the entry site is at the wrist, patients are able to sit up and walk immediately after their procedure whereas patients having their procedures via the femoral artery approach will often require up to six hours of bed rest. As result, there are fewer issues with back discomfort and patients are able to eat comfortably after their procedure.
  • Patients who are scheduled for same day discharge can be discharged at an earlier time period than if their procedure was performed through the femoral approach since the post-procedure recovery is shorter than with the femoral approach.
  • The radial approach is safer than the femoral approach for the majority of patients undergoing cardiac catheterization. Because the artery is smaller and very close to the skin, important bleeding is significantly reduced compared to the femoral approach.

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• QHow does an electrophysiological (EP) study assess heart problems?

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  A Brigham and Women's Hospital answered

  There are several ways in which electrophysiological (EP) studies may be performed to assist in diagnosing electrical conduction system abnormalities of the heart. For example, a dysrhythmia/arrhythmia (an abnormal rhythm) may be stimulated by the electrical signal, in which case medication may be given to treat the dysrhythmia. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of the medication given, another attempt is made to stimulate the dysrhythmia.

  Mapping, another type of EP study, may be done to locate the point of origin of a dysrhythmia. If a location is found that is the cause of the dysrhythmia, an ablation (removal of the spot by freezing or radiofrequency) may be done, which should stop the dysrhythmia.

  The results of the study may help the physician determine further therapeutic measures, such as inserting a pacemaker or implantable defibrillator, adding or changing medications, performing additional ablation procedures, or providing other treatments.

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• QWhat should I do after an electrophysiological (EP) study?

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  A Brigham and Women's Hospital answered

  Once at home after an electrophysiological (EP) study, an invasive procedure that tests the heart's electrical system, you should monitor the insertion site for bleeding, unusual pain, swelling, and abnormal discoloration or temperature change at or near the injection site. A small bruise is normal. If you notice a constant or large amount of blood at the site that cannot be contained with a small dressing, notify your physician.

  It will be important to keep the insertion site clean and dry. Your physician will give you specific bathing instructions.

  You may be advised not to participate in any strenuous activities. Your physician will instruct you about when you can return to work and resume normal activities.

  Notify your physician to report any of the following:

  • Fever and/or chills
  • Increased pain, redness, swelling, or bleeding or other drainage from the insertion site
  • Coolness, numbness and/or tingling, or other changes in the affected extremity
  • Chest pain/pressure, nausea and/or vomiting, profuse sweating, dizziness, and/or fainting

  Your physician may give you additional or alternate instructions after the procedure, depending on your particular situation.

• QWhy might I need an electrophysiology study?

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  A Brigham and Women's Hospital answered

  An electrophysiological (EP) study, an invasive procedure that tests the heart's electrical system, may be performed for the following reasons:
  

  • To evaluate a symptomatic patient (a patient having dizziness, fainting, weakness, palpitation, or other symptoms) for a rhythm problem when other noninvasive tests have been inconclusive
  • To locate the source of a rhythm problem
  • To assess the effectiveness of medication(s) given to treat a rhythm problem
  • To evaluate the effectiveness of a pacemaker
  • There may be other reasons for your physician to recommend an electrophysiological study.
• QWhat blood tests might my doctor order if I have a heart problem?

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  A Intermountain Healthcare answered

  Here are a few of the most common blood tests your healthcare provider may order to learn more about your heart problem:

  • Blood electrolytes. Checking levels of certain electrolytes can help show the cause of a heart problem or assist in treating it. Electrolytes are important for heart function.
  • Blood cell count. This blood test includes levels of white blood cells (WBCs) and red blood cells (RBCs). This test helps your healthcare provider check for an infection or measure your body's ability to fight infections. It also shows your body's ability to carry oxygen to vital organs such as the heart.
  • Cardiac marker analysis. Damaged heart cells release certain biochemicals. These telltale chemicals are called cardiac markers or cardiac enzymes. Two examples are troponin and CPK-MB. Along with other tests, checking for these markers in your blood can help determine whether or not you have recently suffered (or are suffering) a heart attack.
  • BNP. When the heart is under stress, it releases a biochemical called BNP (B-type natriuretic peptide). Measuring the BNP levels in your blood is one way to detect your risk for coronary artery disease or heart failure.
  • Blood coagulation tests. Anticoagulants (sometimes called "blood thinners") are drugs that cause your blood to take longer to clot. They help prevent dangerous clots from forming in your heart and blood vessels. Yet in doing so, they also bring a risk of excess bleeding throughout your body. That's why, if you're taking an anticoagulant (such as Coumadin), your healthcare provider will order regular blood tests to make sure your blood is clotting at the right level.
  • Glucose test. A glucose (blood sugar) test can help your provider check for diabetes and whether it's in good control. High blood glucose levels can lead to atherosclerosis and artery wall damage. A glucose test may also show if you've had a stressful event (such as a heart attack) that may raise your blood glucose.
  • Lipid tests. These tests check the levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, and other fatty substances in your blood. Test results help your provider evaluate your risk for coronary artery disease and your body's ability to process fats.
  • hs-CRP. Your healthcare provider may order a high-sensitivity CRP test (hs-CRP) to measure the level of C-reactive protein in your blood. High levels of this protein occur when blood vessels are inflamed—and signal increased risk for heart disease.

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