Test Done in Emergency Rooms to Check for Heart Attack

The physician at the Emergency Room (or ER) may conduct a battery of tests if you arrive with symptoms of a heart attack. These tests will tell the physician if a heart attack has occurred, how much damage was done to the heart and how severe your coronary artery disease may be.

Identification

• Diagnostic testing is helpful in determining if you have suffered a heart attack. For many patients, a heart attack is the first symptom of coronary artery disease. These tests will help to determine the lifestyle changes, diet changes and medication that will keep your heart healthy.

Types

• There are two types of diagnostic testing: "non-invasive" and "invasive." Non-invasive tests do not involve inserting any needles, fluids or instruments into the body. Invasive tests are tests that must be done with instruments, such as blood tests or catheterization.

Non-Invasive Tests

• There are several non-invasive tests that the doctor may perform while you are in the Emergency Room. An EKG (electrocardiogram) records the electrical activity of the heart and determines if a heart attack has taken place. It can also monitor changes in the rhythm of the heart, to predict if a heart attack is imminent. A chest x-ray may also be performed to determine if there is any enlargement of the heart or fluid around the heart.

Invasive Tests

• In the emergency room, blood tests may be performed to determine if a heart attack has occurred and how much damage has taken place. Cardiac catheterization may be performed to examine the blood vessels of the heart using a dye that is injected into the bloodstream. This test can also evaluate the function of the heart muscle and determine if arteries are narrow or blocked.

Considerations

• A heart attack is a medical emergency and requires emergency medical treatment. If you have heart attack symptoms, get to the Emergency Room as soon as possible, so that a diagnosis and treatment plan may be put into effect.