5 preventive Heart Screenings you should prioritize in 2024
Heart health is paramount for overall well-being. Regular heart screenings to assess various heart health parameters are the best way to diagnose or prevent heart diseases early. The screenings become even more critical for people over the age of 75 or those with a history of heart disease.
This article discusses different types of heart disease, their risk factors, and five preventive heart screenings that should be prioritized to ensure better heart health.
What are the Different Types of Heart Disease?
Heart disease covers several cardiovascular problems, such as:
- Arrhythmia
Arrhythmia refers to an abnormal heart rhythm. The most prominent symptom of arrhythmia is the heart beating too slow or fast.
- Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis is the narrowing of arteries caused due to plaque buildup. It leads to poor blood supply to the body’s extremities.
- Congenital Heart Defects
A congenital heart defect refers to an abnormality in the heart present at birth. The abnormality can be present in heart valves, heart walls or blood vessels.
- Coronary Artery Disease
When plaque builds up in arteries supplying blood to the heart and the lungs, the condition is called coronary artery disease. It increases the risk of heart attack.
- Cardiomyopathy
In this condition, the heart muscles grow larger and become rigid, thick or weak. Weak heart muscles cannot pump blood to the rest of the body.
What are the Risk Factors of Heart Disease?
Some common risk factors of heart disease are:
- Being inactive
- Being overweight
- Smoking tobacco
- Having diabetes
- Having hypertension
- Having high cholesterol
- Having a family history of heart disease
What are the Essential Preventive Heart Screenings?
Preventive heart screenings are crucial for determining heart health. They can also help in early diagnosis and treatment of any heart problems, ensuring a healthier heart. The five most essential preventive heart screenings include:
- Body Weight and BMI assessment
This assessment estimates whether a person is overweight or obese and is one of the most helpful heart health checks. Being overweight or obese causes a high risk of heart disease.
A BMI reading of 18.5-24.9 is normal for adults over 20. A BMI more than 25 is classified as overweight, while above 30 is considered obese.
For an overweight or obese person, losing weight can positively impact blood pressure, sleep apnea and insulin resistance.
- Blood Pressure Monitoring
High blood pressure raises the risk of a heart attack or a stroke. It also usually doesn’t present with any symptoms. Hence, regular blood pressure monitoring is an essential preventive heart screening.
A blood pressure of 120 over 80 is regarded as normal for adults. People with normal or lower blood pressure readings can get their blood pressure checked every two years. However, people with higher blood pressure readings than normal should check their blood pressure more frequently and take steps to reduce it.
- Fasting Lipoprotein Profile
A fasting lipoprotein profile checks for total cholesterol in a blood sample. Total cholesterol includes LDL, or bad cholesterol, and HDL, or good cholesterol.
Values for a lipoprotein profile that indicate the lowest risk of cardiovascular diseases are total cholesterol under 200, LDL cholesterol under 100, triglycerides under 150, and HDL cholesterol over 60.
For people with high cholesterol levels, doctors can advise proper treatment and lifestyle changes.
- Blood Glucose Test
High blood sugar level raises diabetes risk. Diabetes increases the chances of cardiovascular disease and stroke when left untreated and can damage the nerves that control heart function.
A blood glucose reading of more than 126 mg/dL in a fasting state can indicate diabetes. Another blood sugar test, HbA1C, checks for average blood sugar levels in the blood for the last three months. An HbA1C reading over 6.5 indicates diabetes.
- Coronary Artery Calcium (CAC) Scan
The doctor can recommend a coronary artery calcium scan as a preventive heart scan for people with more than two risk factors of heart disease.
This test determines the amount of plaque deposited in the heart’s arteries. A CAC scan uses a CT scan to take images of the heart’s arteries. This scan can help the doctor determine a person’s risk of heart disease.
Heart health is one of the main indicators of overall health. Good heart health significantly improves the quality of life. Hence, regular preventive heart screenings are essential for maintaining a healthy heart. Anyone at risk of developing heart disease should consult a doctor and get a heart health check-up at Dr Lal PathLabs.
FAQs
- What is the best test to check for heart problems?
Preventive heart screenings such as body weight and BMI assessment, fasting lipoprotein profile, blood pressure monitoring, blood glucose test, and coronary artery scan are best for assessing heart health and determining the risk of developing heart problems.
- Is fasting necessary for a lipid panel?
Whether fasting is required before a lipid profile or not depends on the doctor’s instructions. Therefore, it’s advised to consult a doctor before booking a test.
