Coronary artery disease can be diagnosed after one or more tests determine if there are any blocked arteries that could prevent blood from reaching your heart. While it all starts with an electrocardiogram, doctors are likely to recommend many other tests, as the electrocardiogram only registers electrical heart impulse in a very short time frame.
What you need to know about MRI scans
Short for “magnetic resonance imaging”, the MRI is a non-invasive test that uses radio frequency waves and a magnetic field to recreate digital images of structures and organs from inside the human body.
Some people think that MRIs will only show brain-related information, but it’s actually a very good test for determining the current status of the heart and blood vessels as well. The MRI actually recreates 2D and 3D images of what’s inside your body, with the benefit of not using ionizing radiation (used in X-rays or CT scans).
MRI and the diagnosis of coronary artery disease
Some doctors prefer their patients to have an MRI instead of another test uses iodine (such as radiation tests or the injection of contrast dyes). The MRI can give out the following heart-related information:
- Identify any blood flow restrictions that might be causing coronary artery disease-related pain (angina).
- Show problems with the aorta, the main artery of your heart.
- Spot potentially damaged tissues, as a consequence of a heart attack.
- Discover if there are any heart valve disorders, congenital heart problems, or diseases of the pericardium (outer lining of the heart muscle), or cancerous tumors.
MRI: What risks are involved?
Even if an MRI is a non-invasive procedure, certain people may experience discomfort, nervousness, or even physical pain. Some people will have certain devices implanted inside their bodies which interact with the MRI machine, such as pacemakers, certain dental implants, intrauterine devices, brain aneurysm clips, and neuromuscular stimulators.
If you have these or any type of metal device inside your body, you have to tell you doctor about it before doing an MRI. Certain variations of the aforementioned devices are actually safe inside the MRI machine, but you can’t assume which ones are compatible and which aren’t, so talking to your doctor is mandatory for your own safety.
It’s also important to consult with your doctor before having an MRI if you have kidney problems, if you are pregnant, if you’ve recently had open-heart surgery, or if you have any tattoos (because the metal in darker inks can cause a sense of skin burning).
What can you expect from the actual MRI procedure?
The MRI test requires specialized equipment, and can only be performed in clinics, hospitals, or imagining centers that are approved for this test. Unless the doctor specifies otherwise, MRIs do not require any special preparations, so you can eat and take your medicine as you normally would.
You will need to remove any piece of metal that you might have on you (this includes jewelry, hairpins, hearing aids, and the likes). Also, avoid bringing your wallet in the MRI room, because the magnetic power of the machine can damage bank cards.
During the MRI procedure, you lie down on a table that will slide into a huge tube — the actual MRI machine. The doctor or technician supervising the test could place a small coil on the part of the body that’s being examined. You will be constantly monitored by the doctor or technician in the next room, and you can also communicate with them if need be.
As the test commences, the MRI machine creates a magnetic field around your body. The radio waves will focus on the body image of interest, without causing any discomfort in the process. However, the magnet can make quite a loud thumping noise, so people who choose to can ask for earplugs or earphones to listen to music to avoid being distressed by the noise.
It’s important to note that an MRI can take anywhere in between 30 and 90 minutes, and it’s crucial that you lie still during the entire procedure. Every movement can render blurred images of the organ. It’s important to tell your doctor if you have a problem with closed spaces, in which case you will receive a sedative to help you relax.
Conclusion
Since the MRI is a non-invasive test, you can resume your activities as soon as you leave the clinic. However, if you’re administered a sedative before the test, you will have to stick around longer, so that the effect of the sedative can wear out. In this case, it would be best if you avoid driving. The radiologist will examine the images and pass on the discoveries to your doctor. You will then have to schedule a doctor’s appointment to discuss the results.