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H e a r t
What you don’t know can’t hurt you, right? Don’t believe it—not even for a heart-
beat.
✦
You might be headed for heart disease or even a heart attack and not know
it. That’s because some of the major risk factors—like diabetes, high cholesterol
and high blood pressure—often don’t have symptoms you would easily notice.
Putting your
HEART
to the test
I
f your doctor thinks you
may have heart disease,
he or she may suggest
some tests, such as:
Electrocardiogram.
Also known as an ECG or
EKG, an electrocardiogram
records electrical activity in
the heart. This helps moni-
tor changes in heart rhythm
and may determine if part of
the heart is enlarged or not
pumping properly.
Sometimes Holter moni-
toring, also called ambula-
tory EKG, is performed. It
involves the use of a small
recorder that you wear
while going about your
normal routine.
Computer imaging.
Tests including CT (com-
puted tomography), MRI
(magnetic resonance
imaging) and PET (positron
emission tomography) use
computer-aided technology
to gather images of the
heart and how it functions.
Echocardiography.
This test uses sound waves
to create pictures of the
heart’s size, structure and
motion.
Cardiac catheteriza-
tion.
Cardiac catheteriza-
tion provides information
from inside the heart’s
vessels. It involves the
insertion of a thin tube, or
catheter, into a blood vessel
in your arm, groin or neck.
The catheter is threaded
to the heart, where it can
obtain information, such as
blood pressure within the
heart and oxygen in the
blood.
Angiography may be per-
formed in conjunction with
cardiac catheterization.
It involves injecting dye
into the heart’s arteries.
The dye, visible by x-ray,
reveals blockages and
narrowing.
Stress testing.
Stress
tests evaluate how your
heart functions when work-
ing hard. During an exercise
stress test, heart rate,
breathing, blood pressure
and other aspects of heart
function are monitored
while you walk on a tread-
mill. The test can show if
the heart’s blood supply is
adequate.
A thallium stress test
is similar but involves the
injection of a radioactive
substance—thallium—into
your bloodstream. Doc-
tors use a special camera
to see how much thallium
works its way into the heart
muscle. That provides in-
formation about the heart’s
blood supply.
Take heart
If your test results aren’t
ideal, don’t despair. There’s
a lot you can do to improve
things. With your doctor’s
guidance, you can be on
your way toward better
heart health.
Sources: American Heart Association;
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Screening test
When to get it
Why have it
Cholesterol.
Also called a
fasting lipoprotein profile, this
test measures total cholesterol,
LDL, HDL and triglycerides
(another type of fat) in the blood.
Every four to six years starting
at age 20.
Having too much LDL cholesterol
(the bad kind that clogs arteries)
or too little HDL cholesterol
(the good kind that helps
remove excess cholesterol) can
contribute to heart disease.
High triglycerides can also affect
heart health.
Blood sugar (glucose).
Various
tests may be used to check for
prediabetes (a possible precursor
to full-blown diabetes) and
diabetes.
Starting at age 45; sooner if
you’re overweight and have at
least one other diabetes risk
factor—for instance, a family
history of the disease. Repeat
testing is often recommended
about every three years.
An elevated blood sugar level
can damage the body—including
the heart. Bringing blood sugar
down, however, can help protect
the heart.
Blood pressure.
Every two years starting at
age 20.
High blood pressure contributes
to hardened arteries and
overworks the heart, setting the
stage for heart disease, stroke
and other serious problems.
Body mass index (BMI).
Calculated from your height
and weight, this number helps
determine whether you’re
overweight or obese.
During regular checkups, your
doctor may calculate your BMI
and possibly measure your waist.
Unwanted pounds, especially
around the midsection, can mean
trouble for your heart and boost
other health risks too.
Sources: American Heart Association; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
BIG
REVEAL
THE
But there are ways to learn where you and your
heart stand: routine screenings. Many times you
can get these tests at your doctor’s office. And if
they happen to reveal cardiovascular risks, then
you and your doctor can discuss treatments that
will lower those risks.
WHAT, WHEN AND WHY
So talk with your doctor
about the following screenings and the health of
your heart. It’s also important to discuss lifestyle
changes that can help keep a heart going strong,
such as exercising, eating a heart-healthy diet
and stopping smoking. Keep in mind that these
are general guidelines. Some people need more
frequent or additional testing.
Shannon Medical Center is
the only hospital in the Concho
Valley offering total heart
care. Learn about our services at
www.shannonhealth.com/totalheart.Why you need heart-health screenings
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