Cardiac catheterization is a diagnostic as well as treatment procedure for certain heart diseases During this procedure, a catheter (a thin long tube) is inserted in a vein or artery – usually in the groin, arm or neck and passed through the blood vessels to the heart. Interventional cardiologists do diagnostic tests by this procedure. Coronary angioplasty and coronary stenting are some of the treatments for heart disease – which are done by cardiac catheterization.

Echocardiography is a test that uses sound waves to create moving picture of the heart. These images help a cardiologist identify heart disease. It is a painless test. Cardiologist know the size and shape of the heart, heart beating and working of heart valves and chambers with the help of echocardiogram.

A cardiologist orders echocardiography if they suspect the signs and symptoms of heart disease: heart failure, heart valve defects, changes in heart size, blood clots, congenital heart disease; problems with the aorta and fluid build-up in the pericardium.

Atherosclerosis is thickening (hardening) of the arteries wall due to fat and plaque build-up inside the lining of the artery– which results in narrowing or blocking of the artery. The arteries that supply blood to the heart thicken and become narrow – owing to which the heart gets a lower supply of blood. This condition is known as coronary artery disease.

The controllable or lifestyle-related risk factors for heart disease include lack of activity, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, stress and an unhealthy diet.