About-Cardio
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We provide our users the most up-to-date and accurate information on the treatment and prevention of cardio pathologies in accordance with current American and European clinical guidelines.
The information provided on this website is for educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a licensed physician for diagnosis and treatment.
Tests for Heart Problems
Introduction
If you are experiencing symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, or irregular heartbeats, your doctor may recommend certain tests to assess your heart health. These tests help diagnose conditions such as coronary artery disease, heart failure, arrhythmias, and structural heart defects.
Common Tests for Heart Problems
1. Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)
- Measures the electrical activity of the heart.
- Helps detect arrhythmias, previous heart attacks, and other abnormalities.
2. Echocardiogram
- Uses ultrasound waves to create images of the heart.
- Assesses heart structure, function, and valve abnormalities.
3. Stress Test (Exercise or Pharmacologic)
- Evaluates how the heart functions under stress, usually while walking on a treadmill.
- Helps diagnose coronary artery disease and assess exercise tolerance.
4. Cardiac CT or MRI
- Provides detailed images of the heart and blood vessels.
- Used to check for blockages, structural defects, and inflammation.
5. Coronary Angiography (Cardiac Catheterization)
- A catheter is inserted into the arteries to examine blood flow and blockages.
- Often used before procedures like stenting or bypass surgery.
6. Holter Monitor & Event Recorder
- Continuous ECG monitoring for 24–48 hours (Holter) or event-based recording.
- Detects intermittent arrhythmias and symptoms not seen on a standard ECG.
7. Blood Tests for Heart Health
- Troponin: Detects heart muscle damage, especially in heart attacks.
- BNP/NT-proBNP: Assesses heart failure severity.
- Cholesterol and Lipid Panel: Evaluates risk for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease.
- C-reactive protein (CRP): Measures inflammation linked to heart disease.
Conclusion
Early diagnosis of heart problems is crucial for effective treatment and better outcomes. Depending on symptoms and risk factors, your doctor may recommend one or more of these diagnostic tests. If you have concerns about heart health, consult a cardiologist for further evaluation.
Source recommendations
1. American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) Guidelines for the Evaluation and Diagnosis of Chest Pain
- https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001029
- https://www.acc.org/Latest-in-Cardiology/ten-points-to-remember/2021/10/27/14/06/2021-Guideline-for-Chest-Pain-gl_chestpain
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34709879/
- https://www.jacc.org/guidelines/chest-pain
- https://professional.heart.org/en/science-news/2021-guideline-for-the-evaluation-and-diagnosis-of-chest-pain
2. European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Guidelines on the Management of Cardiovascular Diseases
- https://www.escardio.org/Guidelines/Clinical-Practice-Guidelines/CVD-and-Diabetes-Guidelines
- https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/article/44/39/4043/7238227
- https://www.escardio.org/Guidelines/Clinical-Practice-Guidelines/CVD-Prevention-Guidelines
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30165544/
- https://www.escardio.org/Guidelines/Clinical-Practice-Guidelines
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If you or your loved ones experience any of these symptoms, you should consult a doctor in time. Remember that self-medication can be dangerous, and timely diagnosis will preserve the quality and life expectancy.
The heart is an organ that does not know how to "keep silent" if something goes wrong. Chest pain, shortness of breath, swelling, dizziness, and rhythm disturbances are the symptoms that require our attention. The best prevention of heart disease is careful attention to your health, regular checkups with a doctor, and a healthy lifestyle. Take care of your heart, and it will serve you for many years!
Our advantages:
Best practices from USA, EU and Japan
Our answers to your questions are based on the clinical recommendations of countries with the most developed healthcare systems in the field of cardiology in the USA, the EU and Japan.
Always up-to-date information
On a daily basis, we monitor for you all new scientific research publications in leading scientific journals on medical issues of interest to you.
We monitor all innovations and changes in the field of cardiac disease treatment on a daily basis.
We monitor all innovations and changes in the field of cardiac disease treatment on a daily basis.
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Every 3-5 years, half of the scientific approaches to treatment in the field of cardiology are reviewed as a result of specialized scientific discoveries. With us, you don't have to wait these years to learn about the best ways to treat you and your loved ones.