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When you turn 40, it's time to start regular checkups that can capture early heart-threatening changes in your body. Find out what tests to do to make sure you don't have heart disease.

To find out what's going on in ourheart , we have to go to the doctor and ask for apressure measurementand referral to testblood. It is from the blood sample taken from the elbow flexion that tests important for our heart can be performed.

Testing for the heart: determining cholesterol levels

The test is performed on an empty stomach, taking blood from a vein and determining the amount of cholesterol in the serum. Total cholesterol is the cheapest test. However, a more accurate test is the level of individual cholesterol fractions, i.e. the ratio of LDL to HDL and triglycerides. This is an important proportion because HDL removes fat from the vessel walls and transfers it to the liver, where it is eliminated. On the other hand, LDL causes deposits to build up in the vessels because it sticks to them easily. In turn, triglycerides are fat particles that are formed in the liver, especially in obese people (also in diabetics). They facilitate the formation of blood clots. Valid results are:

  • total cholesterol - not more than 200 mg / dl
  • LDL - Less than 150 mg / dL
  • HDL - at least 40 mg / dL in men and over 50 mg / dL in women
  • triglycerides - regardless of gender, the norm ranges from 150 to 160 mg / dl.

These results may slightly differ depending on the assay method used by the laboratory.

Testing for the heart: sugar (glucose) level

This test is also done on an empty stomach with a blood sample taken from a vein. The result must not exceed 60-100 mg / dl, and 2 hours after a meal, it should not exceed 140 mg / dl. Each of us, regardless of gender, should perform such a test once a year, because it is not only diabetes risk assessment, but also an excellent test for diagnosing the advancement of coronary artery disease.

Important
  • Breathe full breast

It has been known for several decades that heart problems can be overcome by physical activity. Only one hour spent outdoors, that is in the forest or in the park, frees the body fromdeadly carbon monoxide. This compound binds to hemoglobin in the blood, thus blocking the access of oxygen to it. Thus, the heart is depleted and weaker and weaker. Therefore, spend as much time as possible outdoors every day.

  • Caries destroys the heart

Untreated caries contributes to the development of atherosclerosis in several ways. Inflammations are the habitat of bacteria that enter the bloodstream and damage the walls of the vessels. There is a build-up of atherosclerotic plaque. Compounds that increase blood clotting are secreted from the foci of inflammation. When they enter the vessels, they disturb the stability of the atherosclerotic plaque, which can break off and clog the vessel. This can lead to a heart attack or stroke.

Research for the heart: homocysteine ​​

It is called the cholesterol of the 21st century because its increased level is associated with a marked increase in the risk of heart attack and stroke. Homocysteine ​​is a sulfuric amino acid that is formed in the body after consuming products that contain animal proteins. Normal blood concentration is up to 12 μmol / dl. If this level is exceeded, homocysteine ​​will damage the vascular endothelium and accelerate the formation of blood clots.

Chest X-ray

It consists of x-rays of the chest (as for the lung examination), but in two positions - front and side. This setting allows you to detect possible calcification of the aorta or heart valves, and to check that the ventricles and atria are the correct size (i.e., that they are not enlarged). The test also allows you to check for fluid accumulation in the pericardial sac or in the lower parts of the lungs, which may indicate heart failure.

EKG

This is a recording of the electrical activity of the heart. A minimal current flows through the heart of every human being - so that it can contract at a certain rhythm - with each beat. This current is measured by electrodes placed on the wrists, ankles and the chest (in the heart area) during the test. It is recorded by an electrocardiography machine on special paper. With the help of an ECG, it is possible to detect arrhythmias, determine hypertrophy of the heart muscle, its areas of ischemia, and even some metabolic disorders. However, a negative test result does not necessarily mean that your heart is he althy. The results of subsequent ECGs should be collected so that the doctor can compare them at the next examination.

exercise ECG

It is also a registration of the current flow through the heart, but in this case it is carried out over timeexercise, such as riding an exercise bike or walking on a treadmill. This examination is more detailed and may reveal symptoms that are not visible during the resting examination (e.g. whether left ventricular hypertrophy has occurred as a result of hypertension).

Holter test

Based on the same principle as the EKG, but lasts for 24 hours. It is very important to follow the same lifestyle during the examination as every day. The electrodes are attached to the chest and connected to a small, strap-on device that records the 24-hour heart rate. The device has a button that the patient presses when pain, pressure or other ailments appear. You should also make a note in your diary of what you were doing when you experienced these symptoms. After a day has passed, the doctor takes the device off and can conduct a thorough analysis of the data recorded by the device and saved by the patient.

Additional research

Bad results of tests intended to control the heart may also indicate the failure of other organs or a poor condition of the body. But when the heart is at risk, other specialized tests are performed. They include, among others Doppler ultrasound (allows you to trace blood flow through specific vessels), positron emission tomography (gives a three-dimensional image of the blood supply to the heart), angiography (allows you to observe the arteries and record the image on X-ray film).

You must do it

Research for the heart

  • Measure your blood pressure at least every six months. You can do it yourself or at a clinic. If you want to check the pressure in your home with an electronic device, it is worth asking the clinic to compare the results with the measurement obtained from the mercury apparatus. If you do not have an apparatus, ask for your blood pressure to be measured each time you visit your doctor. It should not exceed 139 / 89.
  • Have your blood cholesterol level checked once a year. If it is too high, repeat the test in six months. High blood cholesterol may be a sign of developing atherosclerosis.
  • Along with cholesterol, you should also control the level of triglycerides in your blood.
  • Test your blood sugar (glucose) level once a year. To obtain a correct picture, the test should be carried out on an empty stomach and after a meal.

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