Heart disease is a leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. Knowing your risk factors and getting screened regularly can help prevent heart disease or catch it early when treatment is most effective. This article provides an overview of the common tests and exams used to check for signs of heart disease.
Understanding Heart Disease Risk Factors
Several factors can increase your risk of developing heart disease. Some risk factors are out of your control, like family history, age, and gender. Men are more likely to develop heart disease at an earlier age than women. Risk rises for both genders as they age. Ethnicity also plays a role, with African Americans at higher risk than Caucasians.
Lifestyle factors that raise heart disease risk include:
- Smoking
- Poor diet, especially one high in saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol
- Lack of exercise
- Obesity
- Excess alcohol consumption
- Stress
Medical conditions that increase risk include:
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Prediabetes and diabetes
- Metabolic syndrome
The more risk factors you have, the higher your chances of developing cardiovascular disease. By adopting lifestyle changes and properly managing any medical conditions, you may be able to reduce your level of risk.
Clinical Exams to Check for Heart Disease
Your primary care provider can perform exams and tests during routine wellness visits to look for early signs of heart disease. These may include:
Physical Exam
A physical exam allows your doctor to check your blood pressure, listen to your heart and lungs, and look for signs of problems. Your provider will examine your legs and feet for swelling, which can be a sign of weakened heart function.
Medical History Review
Your doctor will ask about any symptoms you’ve experienced, such as shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, heart palpitations. Be prepared to share your family history, any known risk factors, and details about your overall health habits. Providing full details helps your provider make an accurate heart disease risk assessment.
Blood Tests
Blood tests check for signs you may be developing cardiovascular disease. A lipid panel screens for high cholesterol and triglycerides. High sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) tests for inflammation levels linked to heart disease. An A1C test helps diagnose prediabetes and diabetes. Your doctor can also check for deficiencies in nutrients tied to heart health, like vitamin D or iron.
Non-Invasive Cardiac Imaging Tests
If your screening exams reveal potential issues, your medical provider may order specialized imaging tests for a closer look at your heart health. These tests are non-invasive, meaning no surgery or injections are required.
Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG)
This quick, painless test uses electrodes attached to the skin to measure electrical impulses given off by your heart as it beats. An EKG looks for signs of past heart damage, inadequate blood flow, or heart rhythm abnormalities.
Echocardiogram
An echocardiogram uses ultrasound waves to produce images of your heart’s chambers, valves, walls, and blood vessels. It shows whether your heart is pumping normally and allows your doctor to check for signs of damage or disease.
Stress Testing
A stress test monitors your heart rate and blood pressure during moderate exercise, typically walking on a treadmill. Stress testing finds problems that don’t show up when the heart is at rest. The level of exercise is increased until you are too tired to continue. Some stress tests use ultrasound or nuclear imaging to look at how well blood flows into the heart.
Coronary Calcium CT Scan
This special CT scan takes detailed pictures of the arteries supplying your heart. Calcium deposits in the coronary arteries are a clear indicator of atherosclerosis, the buildup of plaque in the arteries. The amount of calcium detected gives your doctor an idea of how severely your arteries are narrowed.
Cardiac PET Scan
PET scans require injection of a radioactive “tracer” into the bloodstream. Special cameras can then map how well blood flows through the arteries and into the heart muscle. Poor blood flow indicates blockages. PET scans also show areas of the heart damaged by prior heart attacks.
Diagnostic Tests for Heart Disease
If screening and imaging tests indicate heart disease, your doctor may order more in-depth diagnostic testing. These tests are minimally invasive, requiring only a local anesthetic.
Cardiac Catheterization
A long, narrow tube called a catheter is inserted into an artery or vein in your arm or leg. The catheter is threaded up to your heart with the aid of a guide wire and imaging technology. Contrast dye is injected to make blockages in the coronary arteries visible on x-ray images.
Endomyocardial Biopsy
A biopsy collects a tiny sample of heart tissue for examination under a microscope. It helps diagnose various cardiomyopathies affecting the heart muscle. A catheter with a biopsy tool at its tip extracts the sample.
Electrophysiology Study
This test looks for abnormalities in the heart’s electrical impulses that control its pumping rhythm. Catheters with electrodes at the tips are inserted through a vein to various spots within the heart. An EP study can pinpoint the exact location of rhythm problems.
Coronary Angiogram
Also called cardiac catheterization, this test uses a catheter to inject dye into the coronary arteries. X-ray images or MRI scans then give a detailed picture of any blockages reducing blood flow. Heart valves are also evaluated for problems. An angiogram is the gold standard for diagnosing coronary artery disease.
Conclusion
Catching heart disease early in the disease process gives you the best chance for effective treatment. All adults should undergo routine screening for heart disease risk factors. Your doctor can order appropriate diagnostic testing if worrisome symptoms or exam findings present themselves. Non-invasive cardiac imaging can find most heart problems before they become severe. Cardiac catheterization and angiography give definitive diagnoses when needed. Stay proactive about your heart health through smart lifestyle choices, routine medical care, and prompt follow up on any concerns.
| Risk Factor | Potential Impact on Heart Health |
|---|---|
| Smoking | Greatly increases risk of cardiovascular disease; smoking damages blood vessel linings and increases clotting risk. |
| Obesity | Excess weight strains the cardiovascular system; obesity linked to high blood pressure, heart failure, stroke, and heart attack. |
| Diabetes | Chronically high blood sugar damages arteries and makes clotting more likely; diabetes is a major risk factor for heart disease. |
| High blood pressure | Added pressure damages artery walls, forcing the heart to work harder; a major cause of heart attack, heart failure, and stroke. |
| Physical inactivity | Lack of exercise linked to obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, and poor cholesterol levels. |
Key Takeaways
– Know your personal heart disease risk factors like family history, age, gender, ethnicity, cholesterol levels, and blood pressure.
– Adopt lifestyle changes to reduce modifiable risk factors within your control.
– Undergo recommended screening tests based on your age, risk factors, and any symptoms.
– See your doctor promptly for evaluation of any potential heart-related symptoms.
– Non-invasive cardiac imaging can often find heart disease in early stages.
– Cardiac catheterization and angiography provide definitive diagnosis when less invasive tests are inconclusive.
– Following your doctor’s exercise and nutrition recommendations can optimize your heart health.
– Quitting smoking, losing excess weight, controlling diabetes, and reducing stress all help lower your risk.
– Medications may be prescribed to control high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or irregular heart rhythms.
– Heart disease treatment is most effective when started early before major damage occurs.