Diagnosis - Coronary heart disease (CHD)

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is usually diagnosed after a risk assessment and tests.

Risk assessment

If your GP thinks you are at risk of CHD, they may do a risk assessment for cardiovascular disease, heart attack or stroke.

They will:

• ask about your medical and family history
• check your blood pressure
• ask you about your physical activity and if you smoke
• do a blood test to check your cholesterol

Your GP or practice nurse can do the blood test. They will tell you if you need to fast (not eat) before the test.

Further tests

Your GP may refer you for more tests to confirm a diagnosis of CHD.

These may include:

• electrocardiogram (ECG)
• exercise stress tests
• x-rays
• echocardiogram
• blood tests
• coronary angiography
• radionuclide scans
• MRI scans
• computerised tomography (CT) scans