To give the doctor clues as to whether or not a patient has heart disease, blood pressure and pulse rate will be evaluated. A doctor may then recommend a blood test to provide additional information and check cholesterol levels. These simple tests alone can give the doctor a lot of information about the health of a heart and can help them to decide if further testing needs to be executed.

As there are many different types of heart abnormalities, there are many tests designed to address these individual problems. An electrocardiogram (EKG) is probably the most common test given because it is quick, safe, and inexpensive. This test can evaluate the heart rhythm and other heart abnormalities as well as identify a heart attack and poor blood flow to the heart. A stress test is also widely used and determines the amount of stress the heart can handle before developing an abnormal heart rhythm or a decreasing blood flow to the heart. The most common type of stress test is an exercise test where the patient is asked to exert themselves physically on a treadmill or exercise bike. An echocardiogram is a test that uses ultrasound technology to look at the heart muscle and valves. It is able to determine the existence of many different types of heart disease. A chest X-ray may be given to look at the chest structures and search for abnormalities and an electrophysiology test may be executed to examine heart rhythms. A cardiac catheterization is a more invasive test but it is able to give the doctor a comprehensive X-ray image of the heart and its functions. 

Treatment of heart disease is dependent upon the patient and the urgency which their problem presents itself. In case of an emergency such as a heart attack, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and a defibrillator may be used to revive the patient. The sooner these methods are implemented, the higher the chance of survival. In cases where surgery is needed, a stent may be inserted to open a narrowed artery and help to treat a heart attack. For those with an arrhythmia, a pacemaker may be implanted into the chest to maintain normal heart rates and rhythm. A bypass surgery, which is more serious, may be performed to build a bypass around a blocked artery. Heart transplant surgeries are a final method and are only considered when the heart condition is so severe that it does not respond to any other therapy. Many factors are taken into consideration when being chosen to receive a heart transplant, including a patient’s overall health as well as different social and psychological characteristics. If surgery is not needed, a medication may be prescribed to help reduce symptoms such as an abnormal heartbeat or address issues such as clogged arteries.