How to Detect Plaque in Arteries

When plaque--fatty deposits--forms in the arteries it is known as coronary artery disease (CAD). The coronary arteries are the main arteries that supply your heart with blood, oxygen and nutrients. If CAD is left untreated, it could block or narrow arteries, which could lead to a stroke or heart attack. If CAD is detected early, risks are greatly diminished. A variety of diagnostic tests- some invasive--can be conducted to detect CAD.

Instructions

Detecting Plaque in Arteries

• 1

  Schedule a doctor's appointment if you are experiencing any chest pain or shortness of breath. Your doctor may ask for blood tests that measure your cholesterol level. High cholesterol is often a precursor to CAD.

• 2

  Plan for your doctor to request an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), which records electrical signals being sent through the heart. This test can detect damage from a previous heart attack or one currently happening. You may need to wear a portable ECG for 24 hours to track abnormal blood flow to the heart.

• 3

  Consider scheduling an echocardiogram, which uses sound waves to make a picture of your heart. All of the heart's components can be viewed; if certain areas are moving slower, this may indicate a problem, such as CAD.

• 4

  Prepare for a stress test, where you walk on a treadmill or stationary bike while hooked up to an ECG. Your heart can be monitored during this test. Any abnormal activity will be detected.

• 5

  Monitor your blood flow through use of an angiogram, where a dye is injected into your arteries. The dye courses through your arteries via a tube or catheter. The dye will show any arterial blockages or plaque.

• 6

  Detect plaque in the arteries with a CT scan, or computerized tomography. Sometimes a dye is injected in the arteries to make the plaque more visible.

• 7

  Locate plaque in the arteries via another means, called a Magnetic Resonance Angiogram (MRA), which is a type of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). This test uses a magnetic field and radio wave energy to show the blood vessels inside the body and injects a dye to increase visibility of the blood vessels.