Depending on the type of heart condition, diagnosis and treatment of heart disease may be done in a number of different ways.

Early detection of heart disease begins with determining your risk.

If you are identified for being at risk for heart disease, your doctor may request a cardiac stress test to determine your heart's ability to carry oxygen and blood to the rest of your body.

An invasive or noninvasive procedure may also be necessary to identify your heart's ability to work. Noninvasive procedures are those which do not physically enter the body while invasive procedures procedures, such as catheterization, usually enter the body through an artery in your leg or arm.

After surgery, heart patients are required to complete a rehabilitation program to strengthen their heart. Included in the rehabilitation program is information on maintaining a healthy diet, managing stress and exercise.

Nurses at the Carondelet Heart Institute.