Our Health Library information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Please be advised that this information is made available to assist our patients to learn more about their health. Our providers may not see and/or treat all topics found herein. Heart tests can help your doctor find out if you have or are at risk for a heart problem and what treatment you might need. The tests help doctors find out what's causing new symptoms, such as discomfort in your chest, shortness of breath, and irregular heartbeats. The tests can also help your doctor: Even if you feel healthy, your doctor may suggest a heart test. For example, your physical exam or something in your health history may make the doctor think that you're at risk for a heart problem. There are many heart tests. Many of them provide still or moving images of your heart and blood vessels. Heart tests can be noninvasive or invasive. In a noninvasive test, the doctor does not insert a device into your body for the test. You may need an injection of a medicine during the test. Many of these tests are imaging tests that provide still or moving pictures of your heart. Noninvasive tests include: Invasive tests require a doctor to insert a tube called a catheter into blood vessels in your body. An example of an invasive test is: Heart tests help a lot when your doctor is trying to find out what's wrong, which treatment to use, or how well a certain treatment is working. But experts say that sometimes heart tests aren't needed—even for people who have a heart problem. It may be okay to not have a test when everything is fine and you're just having a checkup. A test may not be helpful if your doctor doesn't have a specific reason for the test—for example, when you don't have coronary artery disease (also called heart disease) or your treatment for heart disease does not need to change. Here's what experts say about common heart tests that are sometimes ordered when they're not needed: You may see ads telling you that screening EKGs are a good way to protect your health. "Screening" means having a test when you don't have any symptoms. If you are healthy, have a low risk of heart disease, and have no symptoms of heart disease, you can say "no" to this test. And even if you have heart disease, a routine EKG isn't needed as long as you have no new symptoms and you see your doctor regularly. If you're healthy and have no symptoms of heart disease, you can say "no" to this test. In younger people who don't have symptoms of heart disease, an exercise EKG can actually cause worry. This is because it can show that you have heart problems when you really don't. This test is also called a stress test or treadmill test. An echocardiogram isn't recommended as a routine test if you are healthy, have no heart problems, and have a low risk for heart disease. If you have coronary artery disease, you probably don't need this test unless you have new symptoms. But if you have certain heart problems, like a valve disease or heart failure, your doctor needs to check your heart regularly with this test. This test isn't recommended if you're healthy and have no symptoms of heart disease. An imaging test is not recommended before a non-heart surgery that has a low risk of problems. An example of an imaging test is a cardiac perfusion scan. An example of a low-risk non-heart surgery is a cataract surgery. This test isn't recommended if you don't have risk factors for heart disease or if you are at high risk of heart disease. In either case, the test won't tell you and your doctor anything you don't already know. You can help decide if a test is right for you. Talk with your doctor to make that decision. Current as of: June 24, 2023 Author: Healthwise Staff Current as of: June 24, 2023 Author: Healthwise Staff Clinical Review Board This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Learn how we develop our content. To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise.org. © 1995-2024 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.Topic Contents
Heart Tests: When Do You Need Them?
Overview
How can tests for your heart help you?
What are some types of tests for your heart?
Noninvasive tests
Invasive tests
When should you say no to a test?
Related Information
Credits
Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.
Our Health Library information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Please be advised that this information is made available to assist our patients to learn more about their health. Our providers may not see and/or treat all topics found herein. Current as of: June 24, 2023 Author: Healthwise Staff Clinical Review BoardHeart Tests: When Do You Need Them?
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.