Common medical tests to diagnose heart conditions

Your doctor may order different medical tests to help find out what your heart condition is and the best way to treat it. Some of these tests are explained below. Blood testsWhen your muscle has been damaged, as in a heart attack, your body releases substances in your blood. Blood tests can measure the substances and show if, and how much of, your heart muscle has been damaged.Blood tests are also done to measure the level of other substances in your blood, such as blood fats (e.g. cholesterol and triglycerides), vitamins and minerals.Your blood sample is taken from a vein in your arm. A laboratory then tests it and sends the results to your doctor, who will explain the results to you.Electrocardiogram (ECG)An ECG reads your heart’s electrical impulses. It shows how well your heart is beating. Small sticky dots and wire leads are put on your chest, arms and legs. The leads are attached to an ECG machine which records the electrical impulses and prints them out on paper.Your doctor may...