As a medical professional with expertise in cardiology, I can provide you with an overview of how a diagnosis of myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, can be confirmed. The confirmation of an MI involves several steps and typically includes: 1. Clinical Presentation: The patient's symptoms are assessed. Typical signs of an MI include chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea, and sweating. 2. Electrocardiogram (ECG): This test records the electrical activity of the heart and can show changes indicative of an MI, such as ST-segment elevations or Q-waves. 3. Blood Tests: Cardiac biomarkers, such as troponin and creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), are measured in the blood. Elevated levels of these markers are indicative of heart muscle damage. 4. Imaging Studies: Echocardiography, nuclear imaging, or cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can provide detailed images of the heart and can help to identify the area of the heart that has been damaged. 5. Coronary Angiography: This invasive procedure involves the use of X-rays and a contrast dye to visualize the coronary arteries, which can reveal blockages that may be causing the MI. Each of these diagnostic methods plays a crucial role in confirming an MI. It's important to note that not all MIs present with the same symptoms or ECG changes, and the diagnosis can sometimes be challenging, especially in cases of atypical presentations or silent MIs. read more >>

A normal ECG does not rule out acute myocardial infarction. ... Imaging tests such as stress radionuclide myocardial perfusion imaging or stress echocardiography can confirm a diagnosis when a person's history, physical exam, ECG and cardiac biomarkers suggest the likelihood of a problem.read more >>