What Are The Different Screening Tests For Heart Disease?
One of the best ways to prevent heart disease is by reducing your risk factors. This begins with having heart screening tests. There are a number of tests that can look at your risk for developing heart disease based on things like your blood pressure, cholesterol, and overall health status. Here are some of the screening tests available.
Lipid Panel Screening
If you have high cholesterol levels, it often raises your risk for various heart-related complications, including heart disease. That is why you should take the lipid panel screening test. This will look at your current cholesterol levels, including your HDL, LDL, and triglyceride levels. It is done simply by doing a finger stick and testing your blood.
C-reactive Protein Screening
Another finger stick test is the C-reactive protein screening test. This is going to test your blood for your protein levels. If your doctor finds high protein levels in your blood, it could mean inflammation or infection. This is often associated with an immune system problem, which is also a risk factor for heart diseases.
Blood Pressure and Blood Glucose
Your doctor also wants to know what your blood pressure and blood glucose levels are. Your blood pressure is easy to test for and is done in the doctor's office with a cuff and blood pressure monitor. Your pulse is often taken first, followed by using the blood pressure machine. If you have high blood pressure, also called hypertension, you will need treatment as it has a significant risk of cardiac diseases.
Your blood glucose levels are tested with a blood test. This is going to look for signs of diabetes, which can be genetic or triggered by your health and lifestyle. Since diabetes and heart problems are often related, you should repeat this test every few years.
Lifestyle and Weight
The last thing your doctor needs to know is what your lifestyle is like. If you are currently overweight or obese, you will be asked to lose weight, since obesity is linked to heart disease and other cardiological problems. But you should switch to a healthy diet whether you are overweight or not, as this can help reduce your risk. Getting regular exercise is also extremely important. Talk to our doctor if you have tried losing weight but are having difficulty being successful.
Even if you aren't at a high risk now for heart disease, it is important to keep seeing your doctor or cardiologist, like those at ICE, Institute of Cardiovascular Excellence, for check-ups, re-taking tests, and working on getting healthy.
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