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Heart Tests: When Do You Need Them?

Overview

How can tests for your heart help you?

Heart tests can help your doctor find out if you have or are at risk for a heart problem and what treatment you might need. The tests help doctors find out what's causing new symptoms, such as discomfort in your chest, shortness of breath, and irregular heartbeats.

The tests can also help your doctor:

  • Check your heart's electrical system.
  • Check your pacemaker or other implanted device.
  • See if your heart can handle more exercise.
  • Check how well your heart valves are working.
  • Look for problems with the structure of your heart.

Even if you feel healthy, your doctor may suggest a heart test. For example, your physical exam or something in your health history may make the doctor think that you're at risk for a heart problem.

What are some types of tests for your heart?

There are many heart tests. Many of them provide still or moving images of your heart and blood vessels. Heart tests can be noninvasive or invasive.

Noninvasive tests

In a noninvasive test, the doctor does not insert a device into your body for the test. You may need an injection of a medicine during the test. Many of these tests are imaging tests that provide still or moving pictures of your heart. Noninvasive tests include:

Cardiac blood pool scan.
  • Makes pictures of the heart
  • Shows how well your heart is pumping blood to your body
  • Checks the size of heart chambers
  • Checks for problems with blood flow or structure of the heart
Cardiac CT scan.
  • Makes pictures of the heart and blood vessels
  • Checks for coronary artery disease
  • Checks for problems with blood vessels and heart valves
  • Checks for problems with the structure of the heart
Cardiac MRI scan.
  • Makes still pictures and moving pictures of the heart
  • Checks the pumping action of the heart
  • Checks for problems with the structure of the heart
Cardiac perfusion scan.
  • Makes pictures of blood flow to the heart muscle
  • Checks for coronary artery disease
  • Checks for damage caused by a heart attack
Coronary calcium scan.
  • Makes pictures of the walls of coronary arteries
  • Checks for calcium in coronary arteries
  • Helps your doctor find out your risk for a heart attack, especially when you are at medium risk
Echocardiogram.
  • Makes moving pictures of the heart
  • Helps find the cause of unexplained chest pain or pressure, or shortness of breath
  • Checks for signs of diseases that affect the walls and chambers of the heart
  • Checks how well your heart is pumping blood
  • Checks how well valves are working
Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG).
  • Checks your heart's electrical system and heart rhythm
  • Finds out if chest pain or pressure is caused by a heart attack or angina
  • Checks how well your pacemaker or other implanted device is working
Exercise EKG.
  • Checks for abnormal changes in your heart during exercise
  • Helps find the cause of unexplained chest pain or pressure
  • Makes sure your heart is healthy enough for physical activity

Invasive tests

Invasive tests require a doctor to insert a tube called a catheter into blood vessels in your body. An example of an invasive test is:

Cardiac catheterization.
  • Makes moving pictures of blood flow in the heart
  • Checks blood flow and blood pressure in the chambers of the heart
  • Checks how well the heart valves work
  • Checks for problems in the structure of the heart
  • Checks how well the walls of the heart move

When should you say no to a test?

Heart tests help a lot when your doctor is trying to find out what's wrong, which treatment to use, or how well a certain treatment is working.

But experts say that sometimes heart tests aren't needed—even for people who have a heart problem. It may be okay to not have a test when everything is fine and you're just having a checkup. A test may not be helpful if your doctor doesn't have a specific reason for the test—for example, when you don't have coronary artery disease (also called heart disease) or your treatment for heart disease does not need to change.

Here's what experts say about common heart tests that are sometimes ordered when they're not needed:

Routine electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG).

You may see ads telling you that screening EKGs are a good way to protect your health. "Screening" means having a test when you don't have any symptoms. If you are healthy, have a low risk of heart disease, and have no symptoms of heart disease, you can say "no" to this test. And even if you have heart disease, a routine EKG isn't needed as long as you have no new symptoms and you see your doctor regularly.

Exercise EKG.

If you're healthy and have no symptoms of heart disease, you can say "no" to this test. In younger people who don't have symptoms of heart disease, an exercise EKG can actually cause worry. This is because it can show that you have heart problems when you really don't. This test is also called a stress test or treadmill test.

Echocardiogram.

An echocardiogram isn't recommended as a routine test if you are healthy, have no heart problems, and have a low risk for heart disease. If you have coronary artery disease, you probably don't need this test unless you have new symptoms. But if you have certain heart problems, like a valve disease or heart failure, your doctor needs to check your heart regularly with this test.

Exercise echocardiogram.

This test isn't recommended if you're healthy and have no symptoms of heart disease.

Imaging tests.

An imaging test is not recommended before a non-heart surgery that has a low risk of problems. An example of an imaging test is a cardiac perfusion scan. An example of a low-risk non-heart surgery is a cataract surgery.

Coronary calcium scan.

This test isn't recommended if you don't have risk factors for heart disease or if you are at high risk of heart disease. In either case, the test won't tell you and your doctor anything you don't already know.

You can help decide if a test is right for you. Talk with your doctor to make that decision.

Credits

Current as of: July 31, 2024

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff
Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.

Current as of: July 31, 2024

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff

Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.

Dear patient

I am excited to announce that I will be relocating my practice to Houston Methodist DeBakey Cardiology Associates. Starting November 4, 2024, my new address will be:

Houston Methodist DeBakey Cardiology Associates
6550 Fannin St.
Smith Tower, Suite 1901
Houston, TX 77030

Please note that my phone number and fax number will also change to the following:
24-Hour Telephone: 713-441-1100
Fax: 713-790-2643
Clinical Support Telephone (M-F, 8-5): 713-441-3515

I am excited about caring for you in my new office and hope you will make the transition with me. I will also continue to refill your medications as I have in the past. To assist, please provide your pharmacy with my new contact information.

Please consider checking your prescription refills to verify that you have enough medication on hand to last you until your next visit. Please note that your medical records will remain at my former office until you authorize their transfer. If you choose for me to continue providing your medical care, please complete and sign the enclosed “Authorization for Release of Medical Records” form and fax it to 713-790-2643. Once we receive your authorization, we will be happy to process the request for you.

Thank you for entrusting me with your medical care. My new team and I are dedicated to making this transition as seamless as possible. For help scheduling an appointment and transitioning your care, please call my new office number above.

I look forward to continuing your care at my new location.

Sincerely,
Gopi A. Shah, MD

Dear patient

Dr. Albert Raizner, Dr. Michael Raizner, and Dr. Mohamed El-Beheary are excited to announce that our practice, Interventional Cardiology Associates, will merge with Houston Cardiovascular Associates on November 1, 2024.

Our new offices are similarly located in Houston, near the Texas Medical Center and in Sugar Land. Our in-hospital care will continue at Houston Methodist Hospital in the Texas Medical Center and Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital. Importantly, our new offices expand our services with state-of-the-art equipment and amenities. Our core values will always be, as they began over 40 years ago when Dr. Albert Raizner founded ICA:

Integrity – Compassion – Accountability

Our new address and contact information are:

Your medical records are confidential and remain available at our new locations. We consider it a privilege to serve as your cardiologists and look forward to your continuing with us. However, should you desire to transfer to another physician, you may request a copy of your records by contacting us at our new addresses and phone numbers listed above.

We thank you for your trust and loyalty. As always, we will continue to be here to take care of you. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Dr. Albert Raizner,
Dr. Michael Raizner,
Dr. Mohamed El-Beheary