How is it Diagnosed?
Diagnosing a heart attack involves a combination of clinical evaluation, laboratory tests,
and imaging. The first step is evaluating symptoms, such as chest pain, shortness of
breath, sweating, and nausea. A physician will assess the patient's history and risk
factors like smoking, diabetes, or hypertension.
Electrocardiogram (ECG) is the cornerstone of immediate diagnosis. It detects abnormal
electrical patterns, such as ST-segment elevations or T-wave inversions, that indicate
myocardial injury. If the ECG is inconclusive, serial testing may be conducted. Blood
tests are essential, especially cardiac biomarkers like troponin I and T, which rise within
hours of heart muscle damage.
Additional tests include echocardiography, which uses ultrasound to assess heart wall
motion and function, and coronary angiography, which visualizes blockages in coronary
arteries. In emergency settings, CT coronary angiogram or nuclear scans may also be
employed to confirm or assess the extent of ischemia.
Timely diagnosis is critical to initiate reperfusion therapy such as thrombolysis or
angioplasty.