How to Rule Out Coronary Artery Disease

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is the narrowing of the arteries leading to the heart. This is a result of plaque build-up on the inside of your arteries that prevents oxygenated blood from getting to your heart. CAD, if neglected can lead to angina and even a heart attack. There are several tests that can be carried out to rule out CAD. All this follows a vital physical examination that will allow the doctor to determine the battery of tests to be undertaken.

Things You'll Need

• Electrocardiograph tests
• Lab tests
• Nuclear imaging
• Ultrasounds
• Radiological imaging
• Catheterization

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Instructions

• 1

  Make sure that the patient has refrained from eating prior to the tests. Also determine whether he has ingested the prescribed medication on time with minimal intake of liquids. Ensure that men have their chest hair shaved before an EKG.

• 2

  Use an ambulatory monitor to assess the rhythm of the heart. Compare this with the symptoms of the patient to assess any abnormalities in the rhythm of the heart. In CAD chest pain radiates to the neck and/or arm, increases on exertion/decreases on rest and may be accompanied by sweating and/or nausea. Also there may be accompanied breathlessness.

• 3

  Assess the heart's electrical activity with an Electrocardiogram (EKG). Besides the rhythm of the heart you will be able to diagnose ischemia, the possible onset of a heart attack or other heart abnormalities. The main findings that indicate CAD include an elevation of ST waves and Q waves.

• 4

  Prescribe a stress test such as a treadmill or other graded exercise tests to analyze the response of the heart to stress. Diagnosis is again based on interpretation of the various waves. Interpretation of ST deviation, time of appearance of the deviation and duration of the deviation in recovery phase help in the diagnosis of CAD.

• 5

  Opt for the coronary CT angiography (cCTA) in the case of a patient being brought to the emergency room for unexplained chest pains. Here a dye is injected into the coronary arteries and its flow through the arteries is recorded. The ink goes through the coronary circulation and shows any blocked areas.