Atherosclerosis diagnosis starts on medical and family histories, atherosclerosis risk factors, physical exam, and diagnostic tests.
Specialists involved in the diagnosis and treatment of atherosclerosis:
- Condition affects the coronary arteries – needs to consult a cardiologist, a doctor specialized in treating heart problems.
- Condition affects the peripheral arteries – needs to consult a vascular specialist, a doctor specialized in treating blood vessel problems.
- Condition affects the carotid arteries – needs to consult a neurologist, a doctor specialized in treating nervous system disorders.
Atherosclerosis Physical Exam
During the atherosclerosis physical exam:
- Doctor may examine arteries by stethoscope for any abnormal whooshing sound called a bruit. A bruit may indicate a plaque causing poor blood flow.
- Doctor may also check pulses at various locations for any abnormality such as weak or absent pulse, a sign of blocked artery.
Atherosclerosis Diagnostic Tests and Procedures
- Blood Tests to examine the level of fats, cholesterol, glucose, and proteins in the blood. Any abnormal levels may indicate risk factors for atherosclerosis.
- EKG (Electrocardiogram) records electrical pulses of heart. Electrical pulse strength and timing, helps to find previous or current heart attack and risk of coronary artery diseases (CAD).
- Chest X-ray is the picture of heart, lungs, and blood vessels. It helps to reveal indication of a hear failure.
- Ankle-Brachial index test is to compare the blood pressure in ankle and in arms to examine blood flow in extremities. Any abnormality indicates peripheral artery disease (PAD).
- Echocardiography produces actual moving picture of the heart. It provides information about the size and shape of heart, heart chamber and valve functioning. It is useful to pinpoint the areas of poor blood flow, contraction abnormalities and any injury in heart muscles.
- Computer tomography (CT) scans – produces images of the heart, brain or other body parts. It helps to identify hardening and narrowing of arteries.
- Stress Testing is by making the heart work hard and beat faster, make the hearts to work hard by exercising, if not able to do exercise, then medication it used to speed up heart. When heart work harder it needs more blood and oxygen, if the arteries are narrowing it cannot provide enough blood or oxygen. Any abnormality such as heart rate, heart rhythm, blood pressure, shortness of breath, and chest pain are helpful in the diagnosis.
- Angiography - A catheter (thin, flexible tube) is inserting into a blood vessel in the arm, thigh, or neck. Inject a special dye that can be visible on X-ray into the arteries. By seeing the x-ray picture, doctor can diagnose any blockage in the arteries and its severity.