1. Schedule a Doctor's Visit
The first step toward detecting heart failure or heart disease is speaking to a doctor and receiving a simple physical exam. The doctor will listen to your heart to ensure it sounds healthy and that your beat pattern is normal. Abnormal heartbeats are often detectable audibly. Murmurs are possible to detect, for example, as are palpitations. During a doctor's visit, you will also have your blood pressure taken to determine whether it is high or low, and you may also receive a blood test to check whether your blood has elevated levels of cholesterol or other harmful complications, such as clots.
2. Have an Electrocardiogram
The electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) is used by doctors to detect heart failure when simpler tests indicate there may be a problem. The electrocardiogram can detect abnormal rhythms, poor blood flow, an enlarged heart or the imminent danger of a heart attack as well as one in progress.
Receiving an EKG test is harmless and painless, but you should carefully prepare for the procedure to ensure an easy, accurate reading. This means wearing a shirt that is easy to remove and avoiding any creams or lotions that would limit the ability of the electrodes to stick to your skin. The procedure itself shouldn't take more than 15 minutes.
3. Have X-Rays
X-rays can be taken by your doctor to look at your heart directly. Heart disease, heart attacks and general heart ailments can often be detected using an x-ray. For example, doctors can diagnose an enlarged heart by looking at your heart's current size and condition. In addition, a chest x-ray can be used to determine where the placement of any heart-assistance devices would be in the event a device like a pacemaker becomes necessary. This procedure is also painless and takes about the same length of time as an EKG.
4. Submit to a Stress Test
The stress test is a more elaborate form of the EKG test. In a stress test, you are tasked with jogging or running on a treadmill while being monitored by an EKG. The EKG evaluates your heart's response to greater levels of exertion. The stress test will help doctors determine what conditions you face. The EKG, for example, will determine whether your heart is pumping blood sufficiently for the level of exertion you're under as well as whether your heart is simply not performing normally under certain levels of stress. Stress tests are also used on patients once they are on heart medications or undergoing treatment for heart failure. In such cases, they can help determine the efficacy of the treatment.
