Can doctors tell if you have heart problems?

Electrocardiogram. An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a test that records the electrical activity of the heart. The ECG reflects what's happening in different areas of the heart and helps identify any problems with the rhythm or rate of your heart. The ECG is painless and takes around 5-10 minutes to perform.

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Can doctors detect heart problems?

Various tests are used to diagnose heart disease. Your doctor will start by taking your personal and family medical history, recording current and past symptoms, and doing laboratory tests and an electrocardiogram. Based on the results of the assessment and tests, your doctor may order further tests.

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What are the signs of an unhealthy heart?

6 Signs of an Unhealthy Heart
  • Chest pain. Poor blood flow to the heart can cause pain or discomfort in the chest, a condition called angina. ...
  • Fatigue. ...
  • Heart palpitations. ...
  • Pain, numbness, weakness or coldness in the arms or legs. ...
  • Shortness of breath. ...
  • Swelling in your legs, ankles or feet.

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Can a doctor hear if your heart is healthy?

Physicians can hear if the patient has a normal heart rhythm or if the patient has an abnormal rhythm, called an arrhythmia, like atrial fibrillation.

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How can I check if I have heart problems?

Besides blood tests and a chest X-ray, tests to diagnose heart disease can include:
  • Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG). ...
  • Holter monitoring. ...
  • Echocardiogram. ...
  • Exercise tests or stress tests. ...
  • Cardiac catheterization. ...
  • Heart (cardiac) CT scan. ...
  • Heart (cardiac) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan.

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Did You Have A Heart Attack? - Doctor Explains

45 related questions found

What are the 4 signs your heart is quietly failing?

Warning signs and symptoms of heart failure include shortness of breath, chronic coughing or wheezing, swelling, fatigue, loss of appetite, and others.

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How can I check if my heart is OK at home?

You can check for heart disease at home by measuring your pulse rate and your blood pressure if you have a blood pressure monitor. You can also monitor yourself for symptoms of heart disease, such as: Chest pain, pressure, discomfort, or tightness. Being short of breath.

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What are the first signs of a weak heart?

Common symptoms are:
  • Cough.
  • Fatigue, weakness, faintness.
  • Loss of appetite.
  • Need to urinate at night.
  • Pulse that feels fast or irregular, or a sensation of feeling the heartbeat (palpitations)
  • Shortness of breath when you are active or after you lie down.
  • Swollen (enlarged) liver or abdomen.
  • Swollen feet and ankles.

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Will routine blood work show heart problems?

It's important to remember that one blood test alone doesn't determine the risk of heart disease. The most important risk factors for heart disease are smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. Here's a look at some of the blood tests used to diagnose and manage heart disease.

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What does a small heart blockage feel like?

Minor symptoms of heart blockage include irregular or skipped heartbeats, shortness of breath and chest tightness. Other symptoms may include pain or numbness in the legs or arms, as well as neck or throat pain.

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What are 3 early warning signs your heart is failing?

11 signs you might have heart disease
  • Chest pain. It's the classic sign of a heart attack, yet many people don't realise this could be a medical emergency. ...
  • Feeling sick. ...
  • Stomach pain or indigestion. ...
  • Feeling sweaty. ...
  • Leg pain. ...
  • Arm pain. ...
  • Jaw or back pain. ...
  • Choking sensation.

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What is Stage 1 heart failure?

Stage I is considered “pre-heart failure.” High-risk individuals include patients with high blood pressure, diabetes, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, and coronary artery disease. A family history of alcohol abuse, rheumatic fever, cardiotoxic drug therapy, or cardiomyopathy can increase your risk.

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Is my heart OK if the ECG is normal?

You may have a perfectly normal ECG, yet still have a heart condition. If your test is normal but your doctor suspects that you have a heart problem, he may recommend that you have another ECG, or a different type of test to find out for sure.

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What is the best test to check for heart problems?

An echocardiogram is a common test. It gives a picture of your heart using ultrasound, a type of X-ray. It uses a probe either on your chest or down your oesophagus (throat). It helps your doctor check if there are any problems with your heart's valves and chambers, and see how strongly your heart pumps blood.

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What are the symptoms of a heart problem in a woman?

When to Call 9-1-1. In some women, the first signs and symptoms of heart disease can be: Heart attack: Chest pain or discomfort, upper back or neck pain, indigestion, heartburn, nausea or vomiting, extreme fatigue, dizziness, and shortness of breath. Fluttering feelings in the chest (palpitations)

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What does it feel like when your heart is too slow?

Bradycardia can cause you to feel faint, dizzy, short of breath, fatigued or have chest pain. Bradycardia can have a variety of causes including heart problems, medicines, or electrolyte imbalances. Treatment depends on what is causing your bradycardia; sometimes you may need a pacemaker to raise your heart rate.

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What does slow heart failure feel like?

Bradycardia can be a serious problem if the heart rate is very slow and the heart can't pump enough oxygen-rich blood to the body. If this happens, you may feel dizzy, very tired or weak, and short of breath. Sometimes bradycardia doesn't cause symptoms or complications.

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At what age do arteries start clogging?

Atherosclerosis, which causes diseases of the arteries, is a very common process. One of the biggest risk factors for atherosclerosis is age, so it is more common among people in their 60s and 70s, although there are many elderly people who don't have significant atherosclerosis.

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How do you know if your arteries are clogged?

Signs of Clogged Arteries

It can cause symptoms such as chest pain, breathlessness, heart palpitations and sweating, which may be triggered by physical activity. Transient Ischemic Attacks (TIAs) or mini-strokes can occur when there is a blockage affecting the brain.

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Can an ECG detect a blocked artery?

An ECG Can Recognize the Signs of Blocked Arteries. But for further accurecy a CT coronary angiogram can reveal plaque buildup and identify blockages in the arteries, which can lead to a heart attack.

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What are sneaky signs of heart failure?

Sneaky Signs of Heart Disease
  • Dizziness.
  • Changes in skin color (blue or gray tinge)
  • Struggling to catch your breath while doing things that used to be easy or struggling to breathe while lying down.
  • Swelling in your legs, feet or ankles.
  • Fatigue.
  • Coughing and wheezing.
  • Rapid weight gain.
  • Rapid heartbeat.

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What does heart failure feel like beforehand?

Warning signs that occur a month beforehand could be chest discomfort, fatigue, and shortness of breath.

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How long can you live with early signs of heart failure?

In general, about half of all people diagnosed with congestive heart failure will survive 5 years. About 30% will survive for 10 years. In patients who receive a heart transplant, about 21% of patients are alive 20 years later.

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What are silent heart attacks?

A silent heart attack is a heart attack that has few, if any, symptoms or has symptoms not recognized as a heart attack. A silent heart attack might not cause chest pain or shortness of breath, which are typically associated with a heart attack.

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Will an ECG pick up heart palpitations?

If your doctor thinks that palpitations are caused by an irregular heartbeat or other heart condition, tests might include: Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG). This quick and painless test measures the electrical activity of the heart. Sticky patches (electrodes) are placed on the chest and sometimes the arms and legs.

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