According to health experts, preventative heart tests are the best way to assess your heart health.
Read here about the top preventive heart tests that can help evaluate your heart health, ascertain any potential risks early, and the lifestyle changes that improve your heart health.
As 2024 begins, you think about your health and wellness goals; it’s an excellent time to focus on your heart health.
A heart health check-up is the best way to evaluate your heart, especially for those above 35 years old or with a strong family history of heart disease.
However, heart tests may vary for different subgroups of the population.
For example, heart screening for athletes may require ECG and echo tests with different criteria, while generally healthy individuals entering their midlife years may only need blood work.
Check here for signs of heart health
Seven preventative heart tests to get in 2024
Let’s now see what are the different types of heart tests.
Experts have broken down the top seven different heart tests to help you determine which ones are most suitable for you.
Medical history
Your doctor will gather your medical information, including your medical history, family history of medical conditions, and lifestyle practices like diet, exercise, and substance use.
This is the most basic yet most cost-effective screening tool available. It is affordable, easy to perform, and non-invasive, requiring no blood draws. Additionally, this tool provides clinicians with significant insight into the next best course of action.
For instance, if you smoke, your doctor will emphasize helping you quit.
Body weight and BMI
Doctors can determine if you’re at risk for heart disease, stroke, and other conditions by measuring your waist circumference and BMI.
Your doctor can assess your risk for various health issues by measuring your waist circumference and body mass index (BMI), which can indicate if you are overweight or obese.
Your doctor can determine whether you are overweight or obese by measuring your waist circumference and body mass index (BMI), and being overweight or obese increases your risk for a variety of health problems, including heart disease, stroke, atrial fibrillation, and congestive heart failure.
BMI is a non-invasive measurement taken during an office visit. Losing weight can significantly improve blood pressure control, reduce the risk of sleep apnea and insulin resistance, and increase the ability to exercise.
Blood pressure reading
High blood pressure escalates the risk of heart disease and stroke. Since high blood pressure often goes unnoticed due to a lack of symptoms, most people don’t know they have it until they get it checked.
According to the American Heart Association (AHA), individuals with blood pressure below 120/80 mm Hg should be checked at least once every two years, beginning at age 20. Those with blood pressure higher than this range should consult their doctor about having it checked more frequently. You can have your doctor check or measure your blood pressure at home.
Lifestyle changes such as exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy diet, reducing salt intake, and limiting alcohol consumption can help control blood pressure. In addition, medication prescribed by a doctor can also be effective in managing blood pressure levels.
Read here about the best exercise to manage blood pressure
Fasting lipoprotein profile
This blood test measures total cholesterol, including LDL (bad) and HDL (good) cholesterol levels.
You should check your cholesterol levels at least once a year after a certain age. Your LDL or bad cholesterol should be less than 100, and your triglycerides, which are blood fats, should be less than 150.
This test is also essential for uncovering genetic irregularities in cholesterol metabolism, and the results help ascertain target threshold numbers for treatment. High cholesterol is typically treated with lifestyle changes. If lifestyle changes are ineffective, your doctor may suggest a combination of medication and lifestyle changes.
This test is taken every four to six years, starting at age 20 and more often as you age and if you are at an increased risk for heart disease or stroke.
Read here about maintaining cholesterol within healthy range
Blood glucose test
High blood sugar increases the risk of developing insulin resistance, prediabetes, and type 2 diabetes, all of which can lead to heart disease and stroke if left untreated. High blood sugar can cause damage to blood vessels and nerves that control the functioning of the heart. (Source)
One way to diagnose type 2 diabetes is by measuring A1c levels in your blood. An A1c level of 6.5% or higher indicates diabetes.
Risk scores
American Heart Association (AHA) has released a new risk calculator called PREVENT that evaluates the 10- and 30-year risk of total cardiovascular disease for people aged 30 years and older. (Source)
This new calculator estimates the risk of heart attack, stroke, and, for the first time, heart failure. Previously, doctors used to evaluate the chance of heart attack and stroke exclusively.
Congestive heart failure is many times more common than the risk of a heart attack or stroke.
The AHA calculator was developed using health data from over 6 million adults representing diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, socioeconomic status, and geographic locations. (Source)
Coronary artery calcium scan
If you are 35 years old or older and have at least two risk factors for heart disease, your doctor may recommend a coronary artery calcium (CAC) test. This test helps determine the amount of plaque in your heart arteries, which can help assess your risk for heart disease.
This test involves a heart CT scan that captures images of the arteries supplying blood to the heart muscle. A doctor can determine a person’s risk of heart disease with this scan.
It can assist individuals who are undecided about adding a medication, usually for reducing cholesterol but at times for blood pressure management.
This test is appropriate for the following people:
- For those who are hesitant to start taking statin therapy and would like better to understand the potential risks and benefits of the medication.
- Individuals who previously discontinued statin therapy due to side effects are now contemplating resuming their use.
- Men between the ages of 55 and 80 or women between the ages of 60 and 80 have few risk factors and wish to determine the effectiveness of statin therapy.
- Individuals aged 40 to 55 with a 5% to 7.5% estimated 10-year risk of developing heart disease also exhibit risk factors that increase their vulnerability to the condition.
Improve your heart health with the AHA’s Life’s Essential 8
The American Heart Association recommends eight key behaviors and factors to maintain good cardiovascular health. (Source)
Good cardiovascular health can lower your risk of heart disease, stroke, and other health problems.
- Eat healthier by incorporating whole foods, fruits, vegetables, lean protein, nuts, and seeds and cooking with olive oil.
- Get at least 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise per week to increase physical activity.
- “Stop using all forms of nicotine.”
- Improving the quality of your sleep can lead to better eating habits, improved mood, memory, and overall health.
- Manage weight by eating better and exercising more.
- Maintain healthy cholesterol levels to reduce your risk of heart disease or stroke.
- Manage blood sugar to prevent developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
- Manage blood pressure with lifestyle changes or medications suggested by your doctor.
Check this Best Resource on Old Age Fitness
About Author: Renu Bakshi, AKA Fitness Buffhq, is an ISSA Certified Elite Trainer. He
passed the Personal Fitness Trainer Course, Nutrition Health Coach course & Specialist Exercise Therapy course from ISSA, USA, obtaining + 97% marks. He shares his experience and knowledge about nutrition and effective workouts to get you in the best shape of your life, no matter how old you may be. The author says, “Age is just a number!”
IMPORTANT LEGAL INFO This article is general and for information only because it doesn’t consider your health requirements or existing medical conditions. That means it’s not personalized health advice and shouldn’t be relied upon as if it is. Before making a health-related decision, you should determine if the information is appropriate for your situation and get professional medical advice.
