However, the consequences of CAD include heart muscle dysfunction and alterations in heart rhythm.
Doctors can more easily detect these conditions than early CAD.
Often they are found by physical examination andtests of heart function.
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But, if it is high, it could be a false reading that needs to be verified.
Blood Glucose Levels
High fasting blood sugar levels can mean that you have diabetes.
Get our printable guide for your next doctor’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
Depending on your results, you may need another test called ahemoglobin A1C test.
These include certain blood tests, blood pressure tests, and EKG.
Stress testing is often helpful in diagnosing partially blocked coronary arteries.
Anuclear stress testcan also help provide more detailed imaging.
They can also reveal characteristic changes on an electrocardiogram or echocardiogramfindings that strongly suggest blockages are present.
It can also help determine how extensive the CAD may be.
In addition, this is a direct way to view the structure of the coronary arteries.
The imaging tools used for these tests include ultrasound, CT scans, and MRI.
In addition, some involve the use of catheters and dyes.
In general, aheart attackis considered the most serious of these diagnoses.
It is also possible that you could have CAD in addition to one of the following conditions.
Summary
Your doctor may diagnose CAD in a number of ways.
These may include blood tests, blood pressure tests, and EKG.
If these tests indicate CAD, further imaging tests may be necessary.
Not all chest pain and shortness of breath are related to heart disease.
However, since CAD is serious, it’s important to get it checked out to be sure.
Other conditions that share some symptoms include asthma, GERD, COPD, anemia, and aortic stenosis.
In most cases, CAD progresses gradually over many years as the coronary arteries narrow with plaque over time.
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