In spite of advances in heart health screening and the treatment of heart conditions, heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States. Many people do not get basic heart screenings in spite of this fact. It’s important to understand the risk factors for heart disease, and what types of screenings are available. Many community organizations and pharmacies offer free health screenings that can save your life.
Why Heart Health Screenings Are Important
Heart disease can be present for years with no symptoms until a significant event like a heart attack occurs. Regular heart screenings can detect early risk factors and issues so that your health care provider can intervene with treatment that can prevent or delay the development of heart disease. Once heart disease is advanced, it is much more difficult to treat and has a lower chance of treatment leading to a good outcome.
Heart Disease Risk Factors
First, it’s important to understand the risk factors for heart disease. If you are at higher risk of heart disease, you should have more frequent and advanced heart screenings.
Certain risk factors cannot be controlled, but others can.
Risk Factors You Can’t Control
Age: Risk increases as you get older, especially after age 45 for men and 55 for women.
Family History: A close relative with heart disease, especially at a younger age, raises your risk.
Sex: Men generally develop heart disease earlier, though women’s risk increases significantly after menopause.
Genetics: Certain inherited conditions can affect cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and heart structure.
Risk Factors You Can Control
Certain risk factors can be controlled with lifestyle changes or medical treatment.
High Blood Pressure (Hypertension): Damages arteries and forces the heart to work harder.
High Cholesterol: Leads to plaque buildup in arteries, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Smoking: Damages blood vessels, lowers oxygen in the blood, and significantly increases heart disease risk.
Diabetes: High blood sugar damages blood vessels and nerves that control the heart.
Obesity: Increases strain on the heart and is linked to high blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes.
Physical Inactivity: A sedentary lifestyle weakens the heart muscle and contributes to other risk factors.
Unhealthy Diet: Diets high in sodium, saturated fat, trans fats, and added sugars raise heart disease risk.
Excess Alcohol Use: Can raise blood pressure and triglyceride levels.
Chronic Stress: Long-term stress may contribute to high blood pressure and unhealthy coping habits.
Poor Sleep: Lack of quality sleep is linked to high blood pressure, obesity, and heart disease.
Basic Heart Health Screenings: What to Expect
When you get heart health screenings, you’ll first discuss your potential risks, such as family history and lifestyle habits, with your health care provider. They can use this information, along with test results, to calculate your heart disease risk.
The tests that you will have performed at your heart health screening include:
- Blood pressure measurement: High blood pressure is one of the main risk factors for heart disease and stroke. You should have your blood pressure checked at least annually, or more often if you have higher than normal readings.
- Cholesterol screening: Cholesterol screening is done through a blood test that measures your lipid panel, which includes your total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides.
- Body mass index and waist measurement: Excess weight and weight around your midsection increases the risk of high blood pressure and heart disease.
- Diabetes screening: Diabetes significantly increases heart disease risk. Screening is generally done with a finger stick that measures your glucose and A1C levels.
Advanced Heart Health Screenings
If you are determined to be at high risk, more advanced screenings may be recommended. These may include:
- Electrocardiogram: Records your heart’s electrical activity and can detect irregular heart rhythms and other abnormal electrical activity.
- Echocardiogram: Uses ultrasound and can detect heart valve abnormalities, poor heart muscle function, and structural defects.
- Exercise stress test: Can detect issues that don’t show up when you’re at rest.
- Cardiac CT scan: Measures coronary artery calcium, which can indicate the presence of atherosclerotic plaque.
- CT angiography: Can detect blockages or narrowing of the coronary arteries.
- Carotid ultrasound: Looks at the arteries in the neck that supply blood to the brain. Can detect atherosclerosis or stroke risk.
- Ankle-brachial index: Measures blood pressure in the arms and legs to detect peripheral artery disease.
What Happens After Heart Screenings
Depending on the results of your tests and your risk factors, treatment or lifestyle changes may be recommended, or you may be referred to a cardiologist for further assessment. If your test results are normal, the health care provider will likely just recommend staying on a regular screening schedule.
In Closing
It cannot be stressed enough how important it is to pay attention to your heart health and get regular screenings. At Health Service Alliance, we provide free heart screenings and can provide further assessment and treatment when necessary. We are dedicated to providing compassionate, personalized, and accessible care regardless of your ability to pay. Reach out today to learn more.
