During a heart health checkup, your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and offer you screening tests to evaluate your cardiovascular health and risk factors. The cardiovascular system consists of your heart and blood arteries.
They will search for any signs of heart disease and assess your risk of acquiring heart disease in the future as part of the checkup. Risk factors include, for example:
- elevated blood pressure
- elevated blood cholesterol levels
- Obesity and high blood sugar levels
- certain lifestyle habits, such as smoking and alcohol consumption
Some heart health screening tests should begin as early as age 20. Other cardiovascular health examinations may begin later in life.
Your doctor at the heart clinic at https://cadenceheart.sg/ which is located at 3 Mount Elizabeth, Medical Centre, #14-13, Singapore 228510, phone: 65 6369 8789, can advise you on which screenings you should get and how frequently you should have them.
Also, notify your doctor as soon as you see any signs or symptoms of cardiac disease. Among these signs are:
- chest discomfort or agony
- shortness of breath dizziness fatigue swelling in your feet or abdomen fluttering in your chest slow or fast heartbeat
Continue reading to find out how you can check your heart health.
Different types of testing
Routine heart health screenings are an important aspect of adult preventative care.
Your doctor will most likely urge you to get multiple screening tests on a regular basis starting around the age of 20, or even earlier in some situations.
Your doctor may request additional tests if the results of your screening tests show indicators of heart disease or a high risk of developing heart disease.
When and how frequently testing should begin is determined by family history.
Regular screening tests
Even if you have no family history of heart disease, the American Heart Association Trusted Source advises the following heart health screenings:
Most people begin having blood pressure and cholesterol tests at the age of 20.
Most people begin having blood glucose testing between the ages of 40 and 45, and their body mass index (BMI) is calculated using their body weight or waist circumference.
If you have certain heart disease risk factors or a strong family history, your doctor may advise you to begin these checks at an earlier age than normal.
They may also request hs-CRP (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein) testing. C-reactive protein (CRP) is a sign of inflammation or illness that has been linked to an increased risk of heart attack.
Additional cardiac tests
If your doctor suspects you have heart disease, he or she may prescribe one or more of the following tests to evaluate your heart health:
- Electrocardiography (ECG) (ECG, EKG). Small, sticky electrodes are placed on your chest and connected to a specialized machine known as an ECG machine. This gadget records the electrical activity of your heart and offers information about its pace and rhythm.
- Cardiovascular stress test with exercise Electrodes are placed on your chest and are connected to an ECG machine. Then you'll be asked to walk or run on a treadmill or ride a stationary bike while a healthcare professional evaluates your heart's response to physical stress.
- Echocardiography. An ultrasound machine is used by a healthcare practitioner to make moving images of your heart to determine if you have difficulties with your heart's pumping function and to evaluate your heart valves. They may perform this before and after you exercise or take specific medications in order to learn how your heart reacts to stress.
- Nuclear stress examination. A tiny amount of radioactive dye is put into your bloodstream and travels to your heart. To learn how blood flows through your heart, a healthcare expert utilizes an imaging machine to capture photographs of you during rest and after exercise.
- Calcium scoring using a cardiac CT scan. You're lying down in front of a CT scanner, with electrodes attached to your chest to record the electrical activity of your heart. A CT scanner is used by a healthcare expert to create images of your heart and to check for plaque buildup in your coronary arteries.
- CT coronary angiography (CTA). Similarly to the aforementioned test, you lie under a CT scanner with electrodes attached to your chest so that a healthcare practitioner can record your heart's activity and develop pictures of your heart based on the CT scan photos. A contrast dye is injected into your bloodstream to help them see plaque buildup in your coronary arteries more easily.
- Coronary angiography with a catheter. A tiny tube, known as a catheter, is placed into the groin or arm and threaded through an artery to the heart. While a healthcare practitioner takes X-ray photographs of your heart, contrast dye is administered through the catheter, allowing them to see if your coronary arteries are restricted or obstructed.
If you are diagnosed with heart disease, your doctor may suggest a mix of lifestyle modifications, medications, and other treatments to help you manage it.
Heart screening tests and screening questions
A normal heart health checkup usually does not include any difficult tests. Your doctor should routinely do the following tests to assess the health of your heart:
- determine your weight and BMI
- check your blood pressure
- Request blood testing to determine your cholesterol and blood sugar levels.
- Inquire about your eating habits, physical activity, and smoking history.
- Inquire about your own and your family's medical history.
- Inquire if you've observed any alterations in your health.
Other cardiac tests may be ordered if you have been diagnosed with heart disease or if your healthcare professional suspects you have it.
When should you have your heart checked?
The AHATrusted Source recommends the following screening regimen for heart health:
- Weight and BMI: at routine annual checkups
- Blood pressure checks: at least every two years beginning at the age of 20.
- Blood cholesterol tests: starting at the age of 20, at least once every 4 to 6 years.
- Blood glucose tests: at least once every three years, commencing at the age of 40 to 45.
- Some people should have their heart health checked at a younger age or more frequently than others.
For example, if you have: your doctor may urge earlier or more frequent screening.
- high blood pressure, cholesterol, or blood sugar levels
- a cardiac issue like atrial fibrillation a family history of heart illness
- Obesity or being overweight
- Certain lifestyle variables, like as smoking tobacco, have been linked to pregnancy issues such as high blood pressure, preeclampsia, and gestational diabetes.
Based on your medical history and health needs, see your doctor about how frequently you should have heart health screenings.
How much do heart examinations cost?
Depending on where you live and your insurance coverage, you may be able to obtain heart health screening tests at a low or no cost.
If you do not have health insurance, federal health facilities provide many vital health services regardless of financial means. You can use their search tool to determine if there is a qualifying health center near you.
During National Heart Health Month in February, some pharmacies also provide free heart health screenings.
Basic cardiac checkup tests may be free if you have health insurance. Many health insurance plans are obliged to cover the cost of certain preventative health screenings with no copayment, coinsurance, or deductible fee.
You may be eligible to get free blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar checks depending on your health insurance coverage, age, and health history.
You may be charged for further tests ordered by your doctor to check your heart health. Your health insurance may cover some or all of the costs of the tests.
If you have health insurance, check with your provider to see if you qualify for free heart health exams. Inquire about the cost of specific tests.
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