Heart Blockage Test

Many cardiovascular ailments are diagnosed by a heart blockage test. This test helps in diagnosing heart blocks and finding the tangible causes for it. Read this article to know more...

Heart blocks can lead to serious cardiovascular ailments and in extremely serious conditions can prove fatal. One of the most tangible causes of a heart blockage is coronary artery disease, which manifests in the coronary artery in the form of plaques, that are in turn a result of elevated bad cholesterol levels. If there is excess fat deposits in the coronary arteries (blood vessels supplying oxygen rich blood to the myocardium of the heart), the arteries might get damaged or may also catch infection. The plaque deposits further narrow down the coronary arteries diminishing the blood flow and thereby causing angina (chest pain) and other symptoms like shortness of breath. Such heart blockages can be diagnosed by a heart blockage test. But before understanding more about the test, let's have a quick look at symptoms of heart blockage. Read on...

Symptoms of Heart Blockage

A heart blockage may not get noticed until it develops into a heart attack, be it mild or severe. With diminishing levels of oxygen in blood, the heart tissue dies a slow death. The early warning signs of heart blockage show up with a searing chest pain at intermittent durations. Following this are the symptoms of blocked arteries, listed below:

Chest pain starting from left arm to wrist

Tightness in chest

Pain felt in the shoulder blades

Excessive sweating

Nausea and vomiting

Difficulty in breathing

Loss of consciousness

Dizziness

Fatigue

The above symptoms for a heart blockage are much similar to that of a heart attack. Also, there are other causes of heart blockage, other than coronary heart diseases. Scroll through the below causes that are responsible for congestive heart failures and heart blockages:

Bundle Branch Block (Obstruction in the electric pulses that cause heart rhythm)

Cogenital Heart Block (A structural defect in the cells of the heart by birth)

Atherosclerosis (Accumulation of macrophage white blood cells, promoted by low density lipoproteins)

Drugs (like amiodarone, qunidine, flecainide, and procainamide)

Most of the time, plaque in arteries are responsible for a heart blockage. So a heart blockage test becomes absolutely necessary to diagnose and determine the degree of the heart attack. Let's understand in depth on how a heart blockage test aids in diagnosis and treatment.

Heart Blockage Test: Diagnosis

Many heart blocks are diagnosed by ECG (Electrocardiogram). So what does an ECG do? It records the electrical activity of the heart which produces minuscule electrical impulses that spread through heart muscle to make the heart contract and expand. Any palpitations in the heart will get recorded through this ECG. This is because heart blocks too follow a certain pattern. And abnormal heart rhythms, myocardial infarction or an enlarged heart fit these patterns and the pulses generated will help in identifying the blockage in heart.

Another heart blockage test, known as Electrophysiologic study, also checks for the electrical conduction system of the heart. It investigates the cause and location of the abnormal heart rythms and helps in proceeding with the right diagnosis and treatment. In this test, multiple catheters are inserted within the heart via a vein or an artery and the test is always performed by an electrophysiologist. Holter Monitor is also another effective heart blockage test which records the heart rate. Heart patients are advised to wear this device in the speculated time. In some cases, patients are also advised for a nuclear stress test preparation to assess the heart condition.

The above heart blockage tests help in assessing the seriousness of the heart blockage symptoms which may vary from mild to severe. The symptoms further depend on the intensity of the conduction disturbance of the electrical pulses within the heart. In patients, where the heart blocks are intermittent, symptoms may be extremely misleading and ambiguous, making the diagnosis difficult. Other heart blockage tests that make this job a lot easier are Invasive Electrophysiologic testing (a type of cardiac catheterization) and Implantable Loop Recorder assist in diagnosing elusive heart conditions like bradyarrhythmia, that may not have been detected by traditional means.

So this was all about the heart blockage tests. Heart blockage is quite a dicey medical condition as the causes are many and the symptoms are ambiguous and elusive. One never knows, how a mild chest pain can culminate into an excruciating heart attack without any significant symptoms. Hence, it is better to adopt a healthy lifestyle with an engaging physical regime to prevent any developments of cardiovascular diseases and to sustain a good and a sound heart health. So, good luck with your health!