Diagnosis of Coronary Artery Disease

Some of the tests used in diagnosing CAD include:

• Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG). This commonly used test records your heart's electrical activity and can show certain problems such as abnormal heartbeats or damage to the heart.

• Stress tests. In a simple stress test, your heart, breathing, and blood pressure are monitored while you exercise using a treadmill. An ECG is usually done before, during and after the stress test.

• Echocardiography. An echocardiogram is an exam of the heart using sound waves.

• Coronary angiography or arteriography. This is a computerized x-ray of the coronary arteries. A catheter (a thin plastic tube) is inserted into an artery in the groin or arm and threaded into a coronary artery. After a fluid is injected, the x-ray reveals blockages in the coronary arteries.

Other kinds of tests may help find CAD early, before symptoms appear. Ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) are examples. If you are at high risk for CAD, your health care provider may suggest that you be tested even if you have no symptoms.