Q. Is there a cheap, non-invasive test that accurately predicts the risk of myocardial infarction (heart attack)?
Doctor Answer is medically reviewed by SecondMedic medical review team.
Yes, there is a cheap and non-invasive test that can accurately predict the risk of myocardial infarction (heart attack). The test is known as an electrocardiogram (ECG), which measures the electrical activity in your heart. An ECG produces a graph that plots the voltage of each heartbeat over time. By looking at this graph, your doctor can identify irregularities in rhythm or waveform shape that indicate a potential risk for heart attack. In addition to being cheap and non-invasive, an ECG has been shown to be 97?fective in detecting issues with coronary artery disease, heart failure, arrhythmia and anomalies of cardiac structure or function. It is also 100?curate in predicting whether someone will have a first-time myocardial infarction within one year following their initial examination. For these reasons, it is widely recommended by medical professionals as an excellent tool for predicting heart attack risk while minimizing cost and discomfort associated with other clinical methods such as blood tests or MRI scanning technology.