Diagnosis of a Heart Attack

Heart attacks are most often diagnosed by health care providers in an emergency room. Some of the tests that can de done to tell if you have had or are having a heart attack include:

• Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) - checks the heart's rhythm and can locate the part of the heart where a heart attack might be occurring (or has occurred).

• Blood test - checks for substances in the blood called biomarkers, which may increase in amount in the blood if heart cells are injured.

• Echocardiogram (echo) - looks for problems with the heart's pumping action.

• Stress test - looks for blockages in blood vessels and problems with the heart.

• Cardiac catheterization - looks for problems with the blood vessels, heart chambers, heart valves, and heart birth defects.

• Nuclear imaging - looks for damaged areas of the heart and problems with the heart's pumping action.