Angina is typically diagnosed through a combination of medical history, physical examination, and laboratory tests. A physician will first take a detailed medical history, including questions about any chest pain or discomfort you may have experienced, other symptoms you may have had, any known risk factors, and any medications or treatments you are taking.
The next step is a physical examination, which may include listening to your heart and lungs with a stethoscope to check for any abnormal sounds. The physician may also check your blood pressure and pulse rate. Additionally, an electrocardiogram (ECG) is usually used to measure your heart rate and electrical activity, and to check for any irregularities.
Finally, laboratory tests may be done to evaluate your blood, including a complete blood count, tests for cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and tests that measure the amount of oxygen in your blood. Imaging tests such as an echocardiogram, CT scan, or MRI may also be used to check for blockages in the coronary arteries or any damage to the heart muscle.
In some cases, a physician may recommend a stress test to check for changes in the heart's electrical activity during physical activity. If further testing is needed, a cardiac catheterization may be performed to check for blockages in the coronary arteries. This procedure involves threading a catheter through the arteries to the heart, and then injecting a dye that shows up on X-rays.
