Understanding and managing your risk factors is the key to preventing heart disease. In the United States, cardiovascular diseases remain one of the two leadings causes of death.(Olvera Lopez E, Cardiovascular Disease, [Updated 2022 Aug 8])Let us first go through the risk factors for heart diseases to understand the significance of regular check-ups.
RISK FACTORS
Any factor that increases your risk of developing a disease is a risk factor. Risk factors for heart disease include:
- Age
- Family history of heart disease
- Smoking tobacco
- High blood cholesterol
- High blood pressure
- Being physically inactivity
- Obesity
- Diabetes
COMORBIDITIES
According to some studies, 24% of adults with peripheral artery disease also have coronary heart disease.(Grenon SM, Peripheral artery disease and risk of cardiovascular events in patients with coronary artery disease: insights from the Heart and Soul Study, 2013)It has also been found that poor management of comorbidities leads to slower recovery of patients of heart failure.
THERE ARE DIFFERENCT SCREENINGS FOR HEART HEALTH
- EKGs check the heart’s electrical system and rhythm. You may also benefit from this test if you have a family history of heart disease, diabetes, or other risk factors.
- A stress test examines your heart during exercise for abnormal changes.
- Echocardiogram uses ultrasound to evaluate the valves, chambers, walls, and blood vessels of your heart for abnormalities.
- Computed tomography (CT) scans are used to determinecalcium plaque build-up in arteries using calcium scoring.
By performing these screenings, your doctor can identify potential problems early and treat them accordingly.
REGULAR CHECK-UPS HAVE MANY BENEFITS
Regular heart checks and health screenings can detect many heart conditions and their risk factors. Maintaining your health and finding potential problems before they become more serious is possible with preventative healthcare. Regular heart check-ups can help with:
- Early detection of diseases or conditions
- Quickly receiving the right treatment
- Bringing down overall healthcare costs
- Receiving the most current medical information
Despite their potential benefits for diagnosing and treating heart disease, these tests are not for everyone. You should discuss the above-listed screenings with your cardiologist or primary care physician to determine if they are appropriate for you.
GENERAL TIPS FOR MAINTAINING HEART HEALTH
Practice a healthy lifestyle to reduce your risk for heart disease. This includes:
- Tobacco smoking should be avoided.
- Maintain a moderate level of activity for at least 150 minutes per week.
- Make sure you consume a variety of nutrient-rich foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
- Consume fewer foods and drinks that are trans-fat, saturated fat, and sugar-sweetened.
- The treatment plan recommended by your doctor should be followed if you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, prediabetes, or type-2 diabetes.
You can learn about lifestyle changes or further treatment by undergoing varied diagnostic tests as per your provider’s recommendations.
WHY CHOOSE DLW?
Cardiovascular health can be affected by a variety of factors. We offer solutions not just for diagnosis, but for better treatment as well. Genetic panel testing is one of the services we offer at DLW that helps prescribe drugs more effectively.Our cardiac genetic panel tests can be found here.