the diagnosis of heart disease begins with obtaining a history that the potential for coronary artery disease exists. risk factors need to be assessed and then testing may be required to confirm the presence of heart disease. heart disease tests not every patient with chest pain needs heart catheterization (the most invasive test). instead the health care provider will try to choose the testing modality that will best provide the diagnosis and if coronary artery disease is present decide what impairment if any is present.
how is heart disease diagnosed?