Angina Diagnosis

An angina diagnosis is made based on a series of tests that can help decide if you have angina, determine the extent and severity of disease, and rule out other possible causes of your symptoms. Some of the most common testing procedures used during an angina diagnosis include electrocardiogram, stress tests, and cardiac catheterization.

 

How Is an Angina Diagnosis Made?

In order to make an angina diagnosis, your healthcare provider will ask a number of questions, including questions about:
 
  • Current symptoms
  • Other medical conditions
  • Current medications
  • Risk factors for angina and coronary heart disease
  • Family history of medical conditions, including heart disease.
     
Your healthcare provider will also perform a physical exam, looking for signs and symptoms of angina and recommend certain tests and/or procedures. These procedures are used to:
 
  • Decide if you have angina
  • Determine the extent and severity of the disease
  • Rule out other possible causes of your symptoms.
     

Tests Used to Make Angina Diagnosis

Some of the tests your healthcare provider may recommend to help make an angina diagnosis include:
 
 
  • Blood tests
  • Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)
  • Stress tests
  • Echocardiogram
  • Nuclear heart scans
  • Cardiac catheterization
  • Other tests.
     
Your doctor uses your physical exam results, your risk factors, family history, and your symptoms to decide which test or tests to order.
(Angina Diagnosis Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD