What tests diagnose atherosclerosis?

What tests diagnose atherosclerosis?

Your healthcare provider may order additional tests to diagnose atherosclerosis and plan the best treatment for you. These tests include:

• Angiography. This test uses special X-rays to locate and measure blockages. Your healthcare provider will inject a contrast dye into your arteries to help the blockages show up on the X-rays. Your healthcare provider will insert a catheter (thin tube) into one of your arteries, usually in your groin or arm.
• Ankle/brachial index. This test compares the blood pressure in your ankle to the pressure in your arm to measure blood flow in your limbs.
• Chest X-ray. A chest X-ray takes pictures inside of your chest.
• CT scan. This scan takes pictures inside of your body and can show any hardening and narrowing of your large arteries.
• Echocardiogram (echo). An echo takes pictures of your heart’s valves and chambers and measures how well your heart is pumping.
• Electrocardiogram (EKG). An EKG measures your heart’s electrical activity, rate and rhythm.
• Exercise stress test. This test measures your heart function while you’re physically active.
• Carotid ultrasound. This test takes ultrasound pictures of the arteries in your neck (carotid arteries). It can detect hardening or narrowing of these arteries as blood flows to your brain.
• Abdominal ultrasound. This ultrasound takes pictures of your abdominal aorta. It checks for ballooning (abdominal aortic aneurysm) or plaque buildup in your aorta.