Author:- Mr. Ritesh Sharma
There are some common heart tests that a doctor performs on you when he/she suspects any heart condition. Heart disease is the highest cause of mortality worldwide. Hence, prompt identification of heart diseases is necessary for timely detection and treatment. The common heart tests help doctors detect heart conditions ranging from heart palpitations to cardiac arrhythmias to heart attacks.
While some of these tests are basic screenings that give a rough idea about the heart abnormalities the patient might be affected by, other tests give vivid insights into the heart conditions of the patients propelling the doctors to adopt the correct treatment methods.
In this blog, we will discuss 5 common heart tests that doctors perform on patients when they suspect that they might be affected by a heart problem. So, uncover all the worthy insights into common heart tests for the detection of heart diseases here.
5 Common Heart Tests
The 5 common heart tests that we are discussing in this blog are as follows:-
- Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)
- Echocardiogram
- Stress Test
- CT Scan
- Coronary Angiogram
All these tests are necessary when it comes to heart conditions. Some of these tests are mandatory to detect all kinds of heart conditions, while others are used for specific conditions. Let’s learn more about these common heart tests below.
Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)
An electrocardiogram is a cardiac screening test that is used to measure the human heart’s electrical activity. It uses the components- leads, amplifiers, and a recording device to detect the electric impulses radiating from different directions in the heart. This is a go-to test for any healthcare professional when the patient is experiencing chest pain or heart palpitations.
What does an EKG show?
An EKG can detect numerous heart irregularities ranging from irregular heart rhythms to different heart dysfunctions. It does so through waveforms illustrated in the recording device. These waveforms are P-wave, QRS complex, and T-wave. Therefore- P-wave abnormalities, QRS complex abnormalities, and t-wave abnormalities indicate heart issues. An EKG can help diagnose the following heart conditions:-
- Irregular heart rhythms, i.e. arrhythmia of different arrhythmia classifications, such as monomorphic ventricular tachycardia, monomorphic atrial tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, atrial fibrillation, Wide Complex Tachycardia, Narrow Complex Tachycardia, etc.
- Heart disease
- Heart Attacks
- Heart Failure
Echocardiogram
An echocardiogram is like an ultrasound for the human heart. In this test, sound waves are utilized to take pictures of your heart. This test is one step ahead of the electrocardiogram and detects more peculiar heart conditions than the former. The heart is visualized in real-time in this test. Hence, a more vivid picture of the abnormalities is formed. This test is specifically performed on patients when healthcare professionals suspect issues associated with the heart’s valves, walls, and muscle tissue.
There are basically two types of echocardiograms:-
- Transthoracic echocardiogram: This is the most common type of echocardiogram. In this, the heart is visualized from outside the body. This is done through the vantage point of the thoracic cavity
- Transesophageal echocardiogram: This echocardiogram is specifically performed when a more detailed image of the heart is required to detect medical conditions. It visualizes the heart from the vantage point of the esophagus.
What can an echocardiogram diagnose?
An echocardiogram can diagnose the following efficiently:
- Heart Valve Disease
- Structural Heart Defects, for example- adult congenital heart disease (ACHD)
- Abnormalities in the heart muscle, i.e. cardiomyopathy
- Blood Clots in the Heart
Cardiac Stress Test
The cardiac stress test is one of the simplest common heart tests. It is performed to check the heart’s reaction to physical and chemical stimulation. There are mainly three types of cardiac stress tests:
- Exercise Stress Test: In this test, the heart’s activity is tested with the patient being on a treadmill.
- Chemical Stress Test: For people who are unable to use a treadmill, the stress test is performed using an IV injectable drug.
- Nuclear perfusion stress test: In this test, the heart is stimulated through a treadmill or a chemical. However, the difference here is that the imaging is performed to visualize the blood flow.
What does a Stress Test detect?
A stress test detects the following:
- Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)
- A cardiac arrhythmia
- Heart valve disease
Cardiac CT Scan
A cardiac CT scan is performed to get a 3 Dimensional view of the heart and the arteries so that all problems can be detected. There are two types of Cardiac CT Scans:
- CT calcium score test: This test is performed to determine the patient’s risk for heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.
- CT angiogram: A CT angiogram is a non-invasive alternative to the catheter-based coronary angiogram performed in very specific conditions.
Coronary Angiogram
A coronary angiogram is a test that is performed to check the blockage of coronary arteries supplying blood to the heart. In this test, contrast dye and X-ray imaging are used to visualize the coronary arteries and detect any kind of blockage in it. If a plaque is built up in the arteries then it is removed through invasive procedures like catheterization.
In conclusion, these are the most common heart tests and their diagnostic insights. Healthcare professionals use these tests to detect various heart abnormalities. All of these tests are of pivotal importance in the realm of cardiac care and are used as per the heart conditions doctors suspect in the patients. Before getting any of these tests done, you must identify all of your symptoms and consult a healthcare professional.
