Preventing Heart Disease With Checkups and Routine Screens
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One of the simplest and most effective ways to reduce your risk of getting heart disease is by seeing your doctor on a regular basis. Regular screenings and tests can detect heart issues and early warning signs before they develop into more serious conditions.
As reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heart disease leads as the number one cause of death in America. But here’s the silver lining: Approximately 80% of cardiovascular disease is indeed preventable.
So, where do you even start in keeping your heart safe and steering clear of heart disease?
Collaborating with your physician is crucial. They can assist you in determining any risks you may have and clarify how those elements might impact your heart. Moreover, they can lead you to make healthier lifestyle decisions and monitor things to ensure that any risks remain under control.
Why working with your doctor is important
Staying healthy by preventing a disease before it occurs—also referred to as preventive health—is the best way to stay healthy. It’s an effective method for reducing your chances of having chronic disease, or getting things right before they become more difficult to deal with.
This is particularly important for heart disease since some of the leading risk factors, such as high blood pressure (hypertension) and high cholesterol, frequently do not manifest with noticeable symptoms. You may have these problems without knowing it for years. Other heart ailments can also go undetected until they cause severe complications.
The way to determine if you’re at risk? Visit your doctor for an evaluation and testing. When you have your test results, you and your healthcare provider can take the appropriate measures to maintain your heart in the best condition.
Symptoms you should report to your doctor Make sure to mention any symptoms that could point to heart disease. Even if they seem minor or unrelated, it’s important to let your doctor know if you experience:
Chest pain (what it feels like and how often it happens)
Dizziness or lightheadedness
Heart palpitations or unusual changes in your heartbeat
Nausea
Fatigue or weakness
Fainting spells
Shortness of breath
Headaches
Be upfront with your doctor Your weight and age contribute to your risk of heart disease, but your physician also requires a complete profile of your life and medical history. The only way they’re going to receive this information? If you be frank with them about:
Your diet
How much you move around
Your sleeping patterns
Alcohol or drug consumption
Smoking history (and current behavior, if relevant)
The medications and supplements you consume
Family health history (particularly heart disease)
History or ongoing health problems
This information, combined with laboratory tests, enables your physician to have a better understanding of your health and design a safe and effective treatment strategy.
For instance, excessive consumption of alcohol can increase blood pressure. However, if your physician believes you are not a heavy drinker, they may prescribe blood pressure drugs that do not interact well with alcohol. The same applies to other medications or supplements that you consume.
How can regular checkups prevent heart disease? A checkup allows your doctor to assess your heart health carefully. During a checkup, they will typically monitor:
Your BMI (a measurement associated with heart disease risk)
Blood pressure
Pulse rate
Oxygen levels
Your heart rhythm and sounds (with a stethoscope)
According to the health screening, your physician may instruct you to undergo additional tests to better understand your heart condition. In case they identify any problems or risk factors, they can collaborate with you on a strategy to make your heart healthier.
They will also follow up with you over the years to ensure that your heart remains in its best condition. If anything occurs, they can modify your treatment prior to complications.
Which tests diagnose heart disease?
Most physicians recommend annual blood work in addition to your physical checkup. These studies can identify markers of heart disease and provide information about your health overall.
Your physician might order the following to evaluate your heart health:
Cholesterol test (lipid panel): Assesses fats in your blood, such as LDL, HDL, triglycerides, and total cholesterol.
Complete blood count (CBC): Evaluates red and white blood cells, platelets, and homocysteine levels (elevated levels can raise heart disease risk).
Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP): Examines kidney and liver function, electrolytes, glucose, and creatinine (abnormal levels may indicate heart disease).
Fasting glucose test: Tests for high blood sugar, a potential indicator of diabetes (a risk factor for heart disease).
Creatinine blood test: Checks kidney function—poor kidney health can impact your heart.
If you’re taking cholesterol medications, you may need more frequent blood tests to determine if treatment is effective.
Other heart health tests Blood pressure measurement is important since high blood pressure (hypertension) is usually silent but is a significant risk factor for heart disease and stroke.
What is a healthy blood pressure?
For adults, it is less than 120/80 mm Hg but greater than 90/60 mm Hg.
An electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) isn’t routine in checkups, but your physician might prescribe it to test your heart’s electrical activity. The test can show problems with heart rate or rhythm.
An ECG may also be included in a cardiac stress test, in which you walk on a treadmill or use a stationary bicycle to observe how your heart manages effort.
How does your physician prevent or treat heart disease? If your tests indicate you’re at greater risk, your physician could suggest lifestyle modifications, medications, or other therapies.
They may assist by:
Establishing weight loss or exercise goals: Having definite objectives keeps you on track—just be truthful about your progress between appointments.
Offering nutritional advice: They could send you to a dietician for meal planning.
Assisting you to quit smoking: Because smoking is a primary risk for heart disease, your physician can recommend programs or medication to assist you to quit.
Ordering medication: In case lifestyle modifications are not sufficient, medication may be required to reduce risks.
In case you have coronary artery disease (CAD)—a blockage of your heart’s blood vessels—your physician may talk about choices such as bypass surgery or stents. They’d then recommend you visit a cardiologist (a heart doctor) for ongoing treatment.
Questions to ask your doctor If you’re at high risk for heart disease, ask:
What’s my actual risk of a heart attack?
What lifestyle changes will benefit my heart?
Should I modify my diet (such as reducing sodium)?
Do I need to lose weight? What’s a good goal?
How much exercise should I have? Any limits?
Can you assist me in quitting smoking? Where do I begin?
Should I take medications like statins, blood pressure medication, or blood thinners?
Should I monitor my blood pressure at home? How often? What’s a good value?
Do I need to be referred to a cardiologist?
If you’re diagnosed with heart disease, ask:
Are additional tests required?
What are treatment choices?
Can I continue with my usual activities, or do I require modifications?
Do I require surgery?
If I require surgery, what’s the recovery like? Should I participate in cardiac rehab?
How will heart disease impact my overall health (such as kidney function)?
What’s my long-term outlook?
The bottom line
Regular checkups are crucial for reducing heart disease risk. The tests your doctor runs can catch problems early—before they become serious.
Even if you have uncontrollable risks (like age or family history), your doctor’s guidance could be lifesaving—far beyond what you could manage alone.
Don’t forget, avoiding heart disease is not only about visiting your physician. It’s also about doing what they say and having clear answers to all your questions.
