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What to Do to Diagnose a Heart Problem?

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number one killer of Americans is heart disease. The CDC estimates that approximately 630,000 Americans die from heart disease each year, accounting one quarter of all the deaths in the country. In order to keep from becoming a part of that statistic you need to know how to diagnose heart problems.

  1. Preventative Diagnosis

    • Having a heart attack is the wrong time to learn you have a heart problem. It is a much better idea to get thoroughly checked out by your health-care provider before something severe happens. Start by scheduling an appointment with your personal physician. Give him a full medical history including information about any family members who have suffered from heart problems. A full physical exam usually follows, and depending on circumstances such as your age, general health and medical history, your physician may order additional tests. Blood tests are helpful for determining your cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Chest X-rays can help diagnose an enlargement of the heart. An electrocardiogram or echocardiogram gives a good picture of how well your heart is beating. If your physician suspects arrhythmia or congestive heart failure, she may order a CT scan or an MRI. If there is a question about irregularly occurring heartbeat anomalies, your physician may suggest you wear a portable heart monitor for 24 to 48 hours. Having a regular physical checkup with a qualified health-care provider is the best way to diagnose heart problems before they start.

    Emergency diagnosis

    • Sometimes even otherwise healthy people experience a heart attack. Because time is of the essence it is imperative that you know what to look for and how to react if a heart attack strikes. Although the sudden, intense heart attack that you see on TV does occasionally happen, most heart attacks start out much more subtly with mild to severe discomfort in the middle of the chest. The pain usually lasts for several minutes, but it may come and go. Some people describe it as an uncomfortable squeezing, pressure or feeling of fullness. There may be pain or discomfort in the arms, neck, stomach, jaw or other upper body parts. You may be short of breath, break out in a cold sweat, be lightheaded or nauseous. If you experience these symptoms, have someone drive you to the emergency room or call 9-1-1. In the case of a heart attack, a matter of minutes could save your life.

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