If you are experiencing symptoms often associated with heart and artery disease you may be wanting to know how is hardening of the arteries in the heart detected. Symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, fluid accumulation in the ankles, an irregular heartbeat, excessive sweating, fatigue, and dizziness are all signs that hardening of the heart arteries may be present.

It is also important to point out that in order for symptoms to become noticeable quite a bit of arterial blockage and hardening must have occurred. By some estimates blood flow from the damaged/blocked artery must be blocked by a whopping 75 percent or more for symptoms to occur.

But what if you are under that 75 percent blockage threshold and are showing no obvious signs, but may suspect you may have at least some hardening due to your high saturated fat diet, lack of exercise, cigarette smoking/secondhand smoke, and a high stress lifestyle and would like to get some tests run to either identify there is a serious problem or once and for all put your mind at ease.

Whichever group you fall into identifying hardening of the arteries along with the severity of the blockage is a very important first step in both creating an effective treatment plan and avoiding what could be a life threatening heart attack. So if you have a couple of minutes why don't we walk through a few test medical professionals often use to identify this condition.

How is hardening in the arteries in heart detected - Tests

Before we get started it is important for you to know that these two tests are quite expensive. If you don't have insurance ask your doctor about alternatives or financial assistance. If you do have insurance make sure the procedure is covered and its fits into the parameters necessary to qualify for reimbursement.

*Angiography: When asking how is hardening of the arteries in heart detected most medical professionals would answer with angiography, especially in cases where significant blockage is suspected. This is an invasive procedure performed in a catheterization laboratory by a heart specialist. A special die is injected through the groin area giving your cardiologist a relatively clear picture of narrowing arteries when x-ray films are taken.

*Nuclear stress test: This test is a similar less invasive version of the angiography with a radioactive substance being administered into the bloodstream. Images are then taken immediately after exercise and when at rest. Problems will be identified by looking for a decrease in blood supply in the area supplied by the blocked artery.

How is hardening of the arteries in the heart detected - Stress ECG a less invasive option

*Stress ECG: You will be asked to exercise on a stationary bike or treadmill as your rate and regularity of your heartbeat is monitored. Blood pressure and breathing are also monitored and recorded. If a person has hardening of the arteries, this test will likely show evidence of decreased demand for blood and oxygen. For those unable to exercise a chemical stimulation test may be performed instead.

What else? High cholesterol is one of the primary drivers for hardening of the arteries. If you would like to learn more about cholesterol, ways to lower blood cholesterol, or a natural cholesterol reduction supplement to assist in reversing hardening of the arteries Click Here