What is one way to visualize coronary artery blockages?

Coronary angiography is considered the gold standard for visualizing coronary artery blockages. This procedure involves injecting a contrast dye into the coronary arteries through a catheter that is typically inserted via the femoral or radial artery. Once the dye is introduced, real-time X-ray imaging, or fluoroscopy, captures the flow of the dye through the coronary arteries. This allows healthcare professionals to observe any narrowing or blockages within the vessels, providing critical information for diagnosis and treatment planning.

While echocardiography, cardiac stress tests, and chest X-rays can offer valuable clinical data, they do not provide definitive visualization of coronary artery blockages. Echocardiography primarily evaluates heart function and structure rather than directly visualizing the coronary arteries. A cardiac stress test assesses the heart's performance under stress, which can hint at ischemia but lacks the direct visualization aspect. Chest X-rays can show heart size and fluid issues but do not reveal details about coronary artery patency.