When diagnosing dyspnea, your doctor will perform a physical exam, review your personal and family medical history, order blood tests as well as other tests including:
- Pulse Oximetry is a simple non-invasive test that charts the heart's electrical impulses and reveals signs of a past or recent heart attack. This is measured using small electrodes stuck to the chest, legs, and arms.
- Chest X-ray is a non-invasive test that takes pictures of the heart and lungs; these can help the doctor determine if there’s a problem that is causing chest pain.
- Electrocardiogram is a simple non-invasive test that can be done in the doctor’s office using small adhesive pads called electrodes that are placed on the arms, legs, and chest. These electrodes are connected to a machine that detects and prints out the heart's electrical impulses, giving a 10-second snapshot of what the heart is doing right at that moment.