What is the primary diagnostic tool for diagnosing angina?

• A. ECG
• B. Stress test
• C. Echocardiogram
• D. CARDIAC MRI

Answer: (A)

The primary diagnostic tool for diagnosing angina is the electrocardiogram (ECG). An ECG is essential because it provides immediate information about the heart's electrical activity, which can reveal signs of ischemia—an inadequate blood supply to the heart. During episodes of angina, the ECG may show typical changes such as ST-segment depression or other abnormalities that indicate myocardial ischemia.

While stress tests, echocardiograms, and cardiac MRIs are also valuable tools in the assessment of coronary artery disease and can support the diagnosis of angina, they generally serve as supplementary methods rather than primary diagnostic modalities. Stress tests assess the heart's performance under physical stress, echocardiograms visualize heart structure and function, and cardiac MRI offers detailed images of the heart's anatomy and blood flow. However, the ECG's quick and accessible insight into the heart's electrical activity makes it the first-line investigative tool when angina is suspected.