What is my doctor checking during a physical exam?
Your doctor will want to perform a physical examination. While your physical exam can't absolutely rule out or confirm that you have CHD, it can provide clues about your condition.
When you have your exam, your doctor will do the following:
- measure your blood pressure
- listen to your heart and lungs
- check your pulse
- check your skin color for signs of poor circulation
- listen with a stethoscope for the sound of blood flowing through your arteries
Your doctor may also order blood tests to check your total blood cholesterol and HDL cholesterol. If you've recently had a heart attack, the presence of certain chemicals in your blood may reveal damage to your heart muscle.