Common Tests for Heart Failure
Each testing option shows a piece of the picture of your health, and tells which treatment options may be best for you.
Select each item for more information.
What is it? Blood tests are performed in your healthcare professional's office or in a lab. A sample of blood is drawn from your arm and then analyzed for levels of important substances which can help diagnose heart failure and predict outcomes.
What does it show? Abnormal results may indicate a strain on the heart or on other organs such as the kidneys and liver, which often results from heart failure.
What is it? Blood tests are performed in your healthcare professional's office or in a lab. A sample of blood is drawn from your arm and then analyzed for levels of important substances which can help diagnose heart failure and predict outcomes.
What does it show? Abnormal results may indicate a strain on the heart or on other organs such as the kidneys and liver, which often results from heart failure.
What is it? X-rays are painless and taken while you stand up or lie down on a table. Views may be taken from the back, front, and/or the sides. X-ray studies may be done in the healthcare professional's office or in a separate radiology lab.
What does it show? X-rays show your healthcare professional whether the heart is enlarged and whether there is congestion in the lungs.
What is it? X-rays are painless and taken while you stand up or lie down on a table. Views may be taken from the back, front, and/or the sides. X-ray studies may be done in the healthcare professional's office or in a separate radiology lab.
What does it show? X-rays show your healthcare professional whether the heart is enlarged and whether there is congestion in the lungs.
What is it? Electrocardiograms are painless and performed by placing small electrodes on your chest. Wires run from the electrodes to the EKG machine. The EKG machine then records your heart's rhythm, frequency of beats, and electrical conduction.
What does it show? The EKG helps your healthcare professional see whether you've had a heart attack, your left ventricle is thickened, or if your heart rhythm is abnormal.
What is it? Electrocardiograms are painless and performed by placing small electrodes on your chest. Wires run from the electrodes to the EKG machine. The EKG machine then records your heart's rhythm, frequency of beats, and electrical conduction.
What does it show? The EKG helps your healthcare professional see whether you've had a heart attack, your left ventricle is thickened, or if your heart rhythm is abnormal.
What is it? Echocardiography is a painless ultrasound test that uses sound waves to examine the heart's structure and motion. You’ll lie motionless while a technician moves a device over your chest. The device gives off a silent sound wave that bounces off the heart, creating images of the chambers and valves.
What does it show? The images produced by the echocardiogram can show how thick the heart muscle is, and how well the heart pumps. This is the most common test used to assess your heart's ejection fraction.
What is it? Echocardiography is a painless ultrasound test that uses sound waves to examine the heart's structure and motion. You’ll lie motionless while a technician moves a device over your chest. The device gives off a silent sound wave that bounces off the heart, creating images of the chambers and valves.
What does it show? The images produced by the echocardiogram can show how thick the heart muscle is, and how well the heart pumps. This is the most common test used to assess your heart's ejection fraction.
What is it? During an exercise stress test, you'll be hooked up to equipment to monitor your heart and breathing while you walk slowly in place on a treadmill.
You may be asked to breathe into a tube for a couple of minutes and to keep up the pace for as long as you can, but you can stop the test at any time, if needed.
What does it show? This test indicates whether your heart responds normally to the stress of exercise. It also reveals whether the blood supply is reduced in the arteries that supply your heart and can help determine the kind and level of exercise that's appropriate for you.
What is it? During an exercise stress test, you'll be hooked up to equipment to monitor your heart and breathing while you walk slowly in place on a treadmill.
You may be asked to breathe into a tube for a couple of minutes and to keep up the pace for as long as you can, but you can stop the test at any time, if needed.
What does it show? This test indicates whether your heart responds normally to the stress of exercise. It also reveals whether the blood supply is reduced in the arteries that supply your heart and can help determine the kind and level of exercise that's appropriate for you.
What is it? During a radionuclide ventriculography, or multiple-gated acquisition scanning (abbreviated as MUGA) procedure, a radioactive substance called radionuclide is injected into your bloodstream and computer-generated pictures display the location of the radionuclide in the heart.
What does it show? The procedure shows how well the heart muscle is supplied with blood, if the heart's chambers are working properly, and whether part of the heart has been damaged by heart attack.
What is it? During a radionuclide ventriculography, or multiple-gated acquisition scanning (abbreviated as MUGA) procedure, a radioactive substance called radionuclide is injected into your bloodstream and computer-generated pictures display the location of the radionuclide in the heart.
What does it show? The procedure shows how well the heart muscle is supplied with blood, if the heart's chambers are working properly, and whether part of the heart has been damaged by heart attack.
What is it? A very small tube (catheter) is inserted into a blood vessel, then a fluid visible by X-ray is injected.
This procedure may involve some discomfort from placement of the catheter. You may be required to rest in a certain position after the procedure.
What does it show? The pictures obtained are called angiograms and can show blockages in the coronary arteries as well as weakened or damaged parts of the heart.
What is it? A very small tube (catheter) is inserted into a blood vessel, then a fluid visible by X-ray is injected.
This procedure may involve some discomfort from placement of the catheter. You may be required to rest in a certain position after the procedure.
What does it show? The pictures obtained are called angiograms and can show blockages in the coronary arteries as well as weakened or damaged parts of the heart.
What is it? An MRI scan is performed by a radiologist or MRI technologist in a hospital, clinic, or imaging center using special equipment.
You will lie down on a moveable table that slides into the MRI machine. The machine creates a strong magnetic field around you, and radio waves are directed at the area of your body to be imaged.
What does it show? An MRI scan lasts 30 to 90 minutes and shows your healthcare professional if your heart is damaged from a heart attack, or if there is lack of blood flow to the heart muscle because of narrowed or blocked arteries.
What is it? An MRI scan is performed by a radiologist or MRI technologist in a hospital, clinic, or imaging center using special equipment.
You will lie down on a moveable table that slides into the MRI machine. The machine creates a strong magnetic field around you, and radio waves are directed at the area of your body to be imaged.
What does it show? An MRI scan lasts 30 to 90 minutes and shows your healthcare professional if your heart is damaged from a heart attack, or if there is lack of blood flow to the heart muscle because of narrowed or blocked arteries.