Health encyclopaedia

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Diagnosis of Heart attack

Diagnosis should be confirmed with an electrocardiogram (ECG). This device draws a tracing of the electrical changes occurring in the heart with each beat. It also shows which part of the heart muscle has been damaged.

Heart attack must be distinguished from Angina, which may produce similar symptoms. But angina is nearly always relieved by rest, while a heart attack is not. The ECG will provide clear evidence of a heart attack.

On arrival in hospital, other background tests will be done to check for Anaemia and kidney and liver function. Another test will look for certain heart muscle proteins that are only found in high levels immediately after a heart attack. These are also useful in confirming the diagnosis. A chest X-ray is usually taken to look for enlargement of the heart, which, if it has occurred, is important to know about, although it does not help with the diagnosis of heart attack.

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