Coronary Artery Disease
Screening Tests

• What is coronary artery disease?
• What is the purpose of screening tests for CAD?
• What are common initial screening tests for CAD?
  • Exercise Cardiac Stress Test (Treadmill Stress Test)
  • What if the initial ECST does not clarify the diagnosis?
  • Radionucleide Stress Test
  • Stress Echocardiography
  • What if patients are unable to exercise adequately for an ECST?
  • Physiologic Stress Test
• Are there other tests for CAD that are noninvasive?
• What is the most accurate method of defining CAD?

What is coronary artery disease?

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is arteriosclerosis of the inner lining of the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart. CAD is a common form of heart disease and is a major cause of illness and death. CAD begins when hard cholesterol substances (plaques) are deposited within a coronary artery. (The coronary arteries arise from the aorta, which is adjacent to the heart.) The plaques can cause a tiny clot to form which can obstruct the flow of blood to the heart muscle. Symptoms of CAD include 1) chest pain (angina pectoris) from inadequate blood flow to the heart; 2) heart attack (acute myocardial infarction), from the sudden total blockage of a coronary artery; or 3) sudden death, due to a fatal rhythm disturbance.

From the Doctors at MedicineNet.com

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