Common Tests that are Prescribed by a Cardiologist to Detect Heart Disease

Heart disease is a condition of the heart and its associated systems. This is regarded as one of the leading conditions for death across the world. Diagnosis of the heart disease starts with certain medical examinations and history of the patient. This procedure is often added with a variety of tests that may confirm or negate the physician's doubts of the presence of heart disease.

In case you are experiencing symptoms such as shortness of breath, pain in the chest, feeling of chest tightness, slow or fast heartbeat, swelling of abdomen, legs, ankles and feet; then you should get an appointment scheduled with a cardiologist. Once you meet the doctor; he/she will assess you thoroughly and check your blood pressure and heart rate. Post this is done; the doctor may ask you to undergo certain vital tests to confirm or negate the presence of heart disease.

Some of the common tests which the cardiologist may recommend include:

• Complete cholesterol test: This includes checking the total amount of all types of cholesterol in your blood along with the amount of Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, High-density lipoprotein cholesterol and Triglycerides.

• C-reactive protein test: Also known as CRP test; this checks your body for symptoms of inflammation.

• Electrocardiogram: Also referred to as ECG or EKG; this helps in monitoring your heart rate. It records the activity of the heart on a strip of paper. This test is used to check for heart damage or an irregular heartbeat. There are many well-known ECG test centres available in Bani Park Jaipur which uses the state of the art techniques to conduct these tests.

• Echocardiogram: This test is used by the cardiologist to evaluate the heart muscles and valves.

• Carotid ultrasound: This allows the cardiologist to check for an accumulation of plaque in your arteries and evaluate your risk of stroke.

• Holter monitor: This is a small machine that does the same work like an ECG with the only exception that it works continuously for 24 to 48 hours. This is used to check the abnormalities in the heart which usually go undetected with the ECG.

• CT scan: Also known as computed tomography scan; this allows the doctor to check for calcium deposits in your coronary arteries or fat deposits in your arteries.

These are some of the most common tests that the cardiologist may ask for. However, depending on the condition of the patient’s heart; the tests that are prescribed may differ.