The doctor will carefully move the tube to your coronary arteries, then inject a dye.

It is the most common form of heart disease in the U.S.

It occurs when the coronary arteries ( blood vessels) that carry blood to your heart get blocked with plaque.

Over time, plaque can harden inside the walls of your arteries.

That blockage can cause angina (squeezing pain or pressure in your chest), a heart attack, or death.

Coronary artery disease can lead to other problems, too, including heart failure and arrhythmias.

You may not notice symptoms until the disease has progressed far.

Several factors can increase your risk of developing the disease, including.

He or she also will discuss your symptoms, family history, diet, activity level, and other medical conditions.

There is no single test that can diagnose coronary artery disease.

If you doctor suspects you have it, he or she may order one or more of the following tests.

This is a painless, simple test that monitors your hearts beat and rhythm.

Also, it tests the strength and timing of your hearts electrical signals.

It involves putting electrodes (tiny pads attached to wires) on your chest.

These monitors can detect changes to your heart rate, rhythm, electrical activity, or blood pressure during the test.

The staff will also monitor you for shortness of breath or chest pain.

If you are unable to exercise for medical reasons, the staff will administer medicine to raise your heart rate.

Your hearts response to the workout may suggest to the doctor that you have possible blockages and need further testing.

Its a test that uses sound waves to see a picture of your heart while its beating.

The picture will give doctors a look at the size and shape of your heart.

The lab can test for certain conditions that raise your risk of coronary artery disease.

These include testing certain fats, cholesterol, sugar, and proteins.

This procedure is normally done if other tests show you have coronary artery disease.

During the test, a thin, flexible tube is inserted into a blood vessel in your arm, groin (upper thigh), or neck.

Cad & Architectural Drafting Program