Diagnosis

How is atherosclerosis diagnosed?

Your doctor will perform a physical exam if you have symptoms of atherosclerosis. They’ll check for:

  • a weakened pulse
  • an aneurysm, which is an abnormal bulging or widening of an artery due to weakness of the arterial wall
  • slow wound healing, which indicates a restricted blood flow

A heart specialist called a cardiologist may listen to your heart to see if you have any abnormal sounds. They’ll be listening for a whooshing noise, which indicates that an artery is blocked. Your doctor will order more tests if they think you may have atherosclerosis.

These tests can include:

  • a blood test to check your cholesterol levels
  • a Doppler ultrasound, which uses sound waves to create a picture of the artery that shows if there’s a blockage
  • ankle-brachial index test, which looks for a blockage in your arms or legs by comparing the blood pressure in each limb
  • magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) or computed tomography angiography (CTA) to create pictures of the large arteries in your body
  • cardiac angiogram, which requires an injection of a radioactive dye that can be seen on X-rays to create a picture of the arteries in your heart
  • an electrocardiogram (EKG), which measures the electrical activity in your heart to look for any areas of decreased blood flow
  • a stress test, or exercise tolerance test, which monitors your heart rate and blood pressure while you exercise on a treadmill or stationary bicycle

Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 2 Feb 2018
Medical Author: Dr. med. Diana Hysi