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Feb 3, 2020 · Reasons for the test: Assess the structure of the heart. Determine if blockages are present in the coronary arteries. 6. Exercise cardiac stress test: Also called an exercise tolerance test (ETT), this test shows whether your heart's blood supply is sufficient and if your heart rhythm is normal during exercise on a treadmill or stationary ...
- Overview
- Types of tests
- List of heart checkup tests and screening questions
- When should you get a heart checkup?
- How much do heart checkups cost?
- How to check your heart health at home
- Tips for maintaining heart health
- The takeaway
During a heart health checkup, your doctor will talk to you about how you’re feeling and offer you screening tests to assess your cardiovascular health and risk factors. Your cardiovascular system includes your heart and blood vessels.
As part of the checkup, they’ll look for any signs of heart disease and consider your risk for developing heart disease in the future. For example, risk factors include:
•high blood pressure
•high blood cholesterol
•high blood sugar
•overweight and obesity
Routine heart health screenings are an important part of preventive healthcare for adults.
Starting around age 20, or in some cases earlier, your doctor will likely advise you to get several screening tests on a regular basis.
If the results of your screening tests show signs of heart disease or a high risk of developing heart disease, your doctor may order additional tests.
Family history can determine when the testing should start and how frequently it should be done.
A routine heart health checkup doesn’t typically involve complicated tests. To monitor the health of your heart, your doctor should routinely:
•assess your weight and BMI
•measure your blood pressure
•order blood tests to check your cholesterol and blood sugar levels
•ask about your diet, physical activity, and smoking history
•ask about your personal and family medical history
The AHA recommends the following schedule for heart health screenings:
•Weight and BMI: during regular annual checkups
•Blood pressure tests: at least once every 2 years, starting by age 20
•Blood cholesterol tests: at least once every 4 to 6 years, starting by age 20
•Blood glucose tests: at least once every 3 years, typically starting at age 40 to 45
Some people should get heart health screenings at a younger age or more often than others.
You may be able to access heart health screening tests at low or no cost, depending on where you live and your insurance coverage.
If you don’t have health insurance, federal health centers offer many essential health services regardless of ability to pay. You can see if there’s a qualified health center near you using their search tool.
Some pharmacies also offer free heart health screenings in February, National Heart Health Month.
If you have health insurance, you may have no cost for basic heart checkup tests. Under the Affordable Care Act, many health insurance plans are required to cover the cost of certain preventive health screenings with no copayment, coinsurance, or deductible fee.
Depending on your health insurance coverage, age, and health history, you may be able to get blood pressure, blood cholesterol, and blood sugar screenings for free.
If your doctor orders additional tests to evaluate your heart health, you may have charges for those tests. Some or all of the cost of the tests may be covered by your health insurance.
Depending on your health history, your doctor might encourage you to monitor your own heart health and risk factors between checkups.
For example, they might advise you to monitor one or more of the following:
•your body weight or BMI, using a scale
•your blood pressure, using a home blood pressure monitor
•your blood sugar levels, using a glucose monitor
•your heart rate and rhythm, using a wearable fitness tracker, smartwatch, or other device
To help lower your risk for heart disease, it’s important to practice a healthy lifestyle. For example:
•Avoid smoking tobacco.
•Get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week.
•Eat a wide variety of nutrient-rich foods, including fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
•Limit your consumption of trans fat, saturated fat, and sugar-sweetened foods and drinks.
•Take steps to manage your weight.
To monitor your heart health, your doctor may check your weight, blood pressure, blood cholesterol, and blood sugar levels on a regular basis.
They will also ask you about your medical history and lifestyle habits, which affect your chances of developing heart disease.
Many other tests are also available to evaluate your heart’s function and health, if your doctor thinks you might have developed heart disease.
Talk to your doctor to learn which screenings and tests you should get.
- Heather Grey
Heart tests can help your doctor find out if you are at risk for a heart problem, if you have a heart problem, and what treatment you need. There are many heart tests. Most are non-invasive, which means that your doctor does not insert a device into your body for the test.
Sep 21, 2022 · Cardiac troponin test: Doctors use a cardiac troponin test to help diagnose a heart attack. Troponin is a protein in the heart. If damage occurs to the heart, it sends troponin into the ...
- Amanda Barrell
Dec 25, 2013 · This blood test checks 23 genes to suggest whether or not you have heart disease. It may help doctors need fewer tests that have more risks, including angiograms, one study shows.
Feb 26, 2015 · Heart disease can occur for varying reasons, including: the narrowing of the coronary arteries (coronary atherosclerosis) or disease within the heart muscle (myocarditis, cardiomyopathy), the covering of the heart, the pericardium (pericarditis) or due to valve disease. Tips on what to ask your doctor if you are asked to get a heart test:
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Jul 1, 2022 · Common heart tests and procedures. Exercise stress test: Monitors your blood pressure, your heart rate, and your heart's electrical activity during exercise to check for evidence of decreased blood flow to the heart. Echocardiogram: Uses ultrasound to show how well the heart's muscles and valves are working.
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