The only certain way to diagnose and measure the extent of CHD is through the use of coronary angiography, which your physician will order if coronary artery disease is suspected. In this method, a tube is inserted into an arm or leg artery and then navigated up into the main arteries supplying blood to the heart. A dye is then released from the tube, and the blood vessels and heart are then filmed as the heart pumps.

The picture taken, or angiogram, will show blockages caused by the thickening of the inside walls of the coronary arteries. This thickening is known as atherosclerosis. Other methods to diagnose CHD include electrocardiograms, stress tests, and nuclear scanning. One new non-invasive tool may replace many of the angiographies in the near future. It is called an ultrafast CT exam. The scan can detect the mineral calcium that is found in plaque, the substance that blocks the arteries.