Cath lab is catheterization laboratory, which is an examination room in a hospital or clinic with diagnostic imaging equipment used to visualize heart arteries and chambers to treat any blockage or abnormality found.

• Rapid heart beat with light headedness and near fainting.
• Reduced ability to perform daily activities.
• Family history of heart disease.
• Previous history of heart disease.
• Unexplained weight gain.
• Heart pain /Chest pain /Chest pressure upon exertion or rest.
• Shortness of breath with exertion or unexplained fainting.
• High blood cholesterol levels ( 200 mg/dL or above).
• High blood pressure.
• Smoking predisposes heart diseases.
• Diabetes can contribute to heart diseases.

During coronary angiography, special dye is released into the bloodstream. The dye makes the coronary arteries visible on X-ray pictures. This helps doctors see blockages in the arteries. Angiography is the thus the test to detect blockages in the heart.

Angioplasty is surgical repair or widening of a blocked/narrowed heart artery to remove the detected blockages of the heart and improve blood flow. Stent is  inserting a short wire-mesh tube into the artery & is left in place permanently to allow blood to flow freely.