For Diabetics - 10 heart tests that can save your life
Diabetes, carries with it a greater risk of heart disease. According to the American Heart Association, adults with diabetes are 2 - 4 times more likely to develop complications from heart disease than adults without diabetes.
Chest pain can be a warning sign of blocked arteries, which can leave the heart lacking for oxygen. This can lead to cardiac events such as a heart attack.
Chest pain and heart disease are troubling enough without having to worry about all the different terms that doctors can throw out at you - EKG, ECG, MRI, CT.
If you are faced with heart pain, your doctor may order one or more of these that may save your life. Here is a simple explanation of each.
Electrocardiogram
The electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) records electrical currents that pass through each heartbeat. Looking at the pattern of the electrical waves allows doctors to make many diagnoses, such as rapid heartbeat or skipped beats.
Echocardiogram
If an EKG shows potential problems, an echocardiogram may be performed as a follow-up. With an echocardiogram, or ultrasound, sound waves are used to examine how well the heart muscle opens and shuts its valves to allow blood flow. Sluggish heart contractions can suggest a blockage.
Transesophageal ultrasound
A transesophageal ultrasound, or transesophageal echocardiography, is a test that produces even clearer pictures of your heart, chambers, arteries, and valves. This test uses sound waves and a thin tube that passes through your mouth, down your throat and into your esophagus.
Stress test
A stress test combines an echocardiogram and a treadmill workout. The test usually ends when you have reached 85% of your recommended maximum heart rate.
Stress echo
In a stress echo, the heart is imaged with an ultrasound both before and after the stress test described above. This test gives a more detailed image of the heart during exercise, and allows doctors to better find problems with arteries and blood vessels.
Calcium Score
A calcium-score screening heart test (coronary calcium scan) uses computerized tomography (CT) to detect calcium deposits in the coronary arteries of your heart . A higher coronary calcium-score suggests you have a higher chance of significant narrowing in the coronary arteries and a higher risk of future heart attack.
Continuous Heart Monitoring
A continuous heart monitor is a small monitor with an adhesive patch that you wear on your chest, and it records the electrical activity of your heart the whole time you’re wearing it. It looks for heartbeats that are too fast, too slow, irregular, or painful. Some people have abnormal heartbeats from time to time, and since they can come and go, wearing a heart monitor for a longer time allows abnormal heartbeats to be recorded. The monitor is usually worn 1-2 weeks. During this time, the person wearing it will enter information on an app whenever they feel any irregular heartbeats or pain. This allows the doctor to look at the heart activity during this time.
Cardiac CT Scan with Contrast
A cardiac CT (computed tomography) scan uses X-rays coming from various angles, combined with dye injected into the veins to provide contrast, and makes blood flow clearly visible. It is used to help diagnose blood vessel disease and conditions such as blockages or aneurysms. It is almost as clear as the angiogram, and not as invasive.
MRI
A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) use strong magnetic fields, radio waves, and field gradients to show images of internal organs. The MRI creates pictures that may show valve disease, clots, and hardening of arteries
Angiogram
The last step in diagnosing heart problems is the angiogram. It is the most conclusive test, but also the most invasive. A thin tube is threaded through the femoral artery or brachial artery to reach the heart. The test uses X-ray, a special dye, and a camera (fluoroscopy) to take pictures of blood flow. It is generally a relatively painless test.