Screening Tests to Ensure Your Heart’s Health November 2
One of the occurrences that can catch anyone by surprise is a heart attack. And it can sometimes be surprising that someone who does not have any obvious risk factors that may lead to a heart attack suddenly has one – and sometimes, that one time does it for that person.
So, how exactly can we hope to prevent a heart attack and take care of ourselves if we cannot find any obvious reason to believe that we may be at risk? The thing with our bodies is that while it is the one thing that we can truly call our own, it is probably one of the things that we know the least about – at least for those among us who are not in the medical profession. It is for this reason that it is very important that we find a doctor that we are comfortable with and whom we can trust, and work closely with him or her regarding our health.
There are various screening tests that can more accurately determine whether or not you are at risk for heart disease. Cholesterol levels, being a smoker and having a history of heart disease in the family are the more obvious gauges that people have become used to when it comes to measuring the risk level for heart disease, but these risk factors do not have the ability to tell the whole story.
Beyond these factors, what one ultimately needs to know is whether or not one’s arteries are diseased. To accomplish this, there may be a need to undergo screening tests that have the ability to specifically determine the condition of one’s arteries. These three tests are calcium coronary scores, carotid artery ultrasound and CT heart scans or CT angiography. These tests are reportedly all great at detecting early onset of atherosclerosis – the hardening of the arteries.
It may be a good idea to talk to your doctor about these tests, especially if you have at least one risk factor for heart disease. Who knows? It may well even be your saving grace.
Tags: avoiding heart diseases, cardiac health, cardiac screening, heart health, heart tests