Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a serious health issue affecting a developing nation like India. In the coming years, the projected increase in disease burden due to CVD will make it a prime cause of mortality in India.
High obesity rates, low physical activity and unhealthy lifestyles, work together to increase the incidence of the condition. Further, more than half cardiac death cases occur in persons without any previous history of heart disease. This makes frequent heart health screenings vital to your health. The top 7 health screenings are as follows.
Blood pressure monitoring
Classified by WHO as a leading cause of cardiovascular mortality, it is possible to detect this 'silent killer' by merely checking your blood-pressure levels with the help of a sphygmomanometer and a stethoscope. Hypertension is commonly associated with heart ailments like stroke, heart attack and heart failure. Hence, frequent screening is vital especially if you have adverse lifestyle habits or a family history of high blood pressure. The standard blood pressure readings for adults are 90-119 mmHg Systolic and 60-79 mmHg Diastolic. Any variations from this level calls for regular checkups and lifestyle changes.
Body weight measurements
The BMI (Body Mass Index) is a simple test that helps doctors diagnose cardiovascular conditions. Apart from this, measurement of the waist circumference is also important. These measurements tell us if we are at the desired weight for our age. With increasing cases of obesity, people today are at a higher risk of increased blood pressure, cholesterol and triglycerides. Development of these risk factors, in turn, triggers heart ailments. As per WHO standards, a BMI of 18.5 to 25 kg per meter square is regarded as normal and values greater than 25 overweight and above 30 is considered as obese.
Blood glucose level
An important biomarker offering detailed information about the risk of developing CVD is the blood glucose level. It is mandatory to check your blood glucose levels every three years after reaching the age of 45. Increased levels place you at a higher risk of Type II Diabetes which, in turn, can trigger a heart disease or stroke. In case, you have two or more cardiovascular risk factors at the same time, it is advisable to get this screening test done even before the age of 45.
Fasting lipoproteins
The American Heart Association recommends that a woman above 50 years of age and a man above 45 should test their fasting lipoprotein profile every five years. Another high risk group includes people with two or more risk factors at the same time. This test includes measurement of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol (bad), HDL cholesterol (good) and triglycerides.
Stress test
Stress testing is a vital mode for diagnosing coronary heart disease (CHD), also called coronary artery disease. This provides important data about how your heart functions during strenuous physical activity. Signs of CHD are difficult to assess while at rest. But while performing exercises, the increased oxygen supply required by the working heart is not met due to the narrowed arteries in CHD patients. The main parameters measured during stress test are abnormal heart rate and blood pressure levels, shortness of breath, chest pain and abnormal changes in your heart rhythm.
Artery ultrasound
In heart patients, images obtained by ultrasound testing help physicians to diagnose any blocks or plagues in the carotid arteries of the neck or hazardous bulges in the abdominal aortic artery. It also helps to diagnose certain hidden heart ailments in patients having no prior symptoms. As per researches, periodic ultrasound screening in men aged 60-70 years can be reduced to more than 50 percent.
Electrocardiography
A high-tech screening module using for diagnosing heart ailments is Electrocardiography (ECG or EKG). Routine screening with the help of this non-invasive test helps to detect certain CVDs like coronary heart disease and coronary artery stenosis.
High obesity rates, low physical activity and unhealthy lifestyles, work together to increase the incidence of the condition. Further, more than half cardiac death cases occur in persons without any previous history of heart disease. This makes frequent heart health screenings vital to your health. The top 7 health screenings are as follows.
Blood pressure monitoring
Classified by WHO as a leading cause of cardiovascular mortality, it is possible to detect this 'silent killer' by merely checking your blood-pressure levels with the help of a sphygmomanometer and a stethoscope. Hypertension is commonly associated with heart ailments like stroke, heart attack and heart failure. Hence, frequent screening is vital especially if you have adverse lifestyle habits or a family history of high blood pressure. The standard blood pressure readings for adults are 90-119 mmHg Systolic and 60-79 mmHg Diastolic. Any variations from this level calls for regular checkups and lifestyle changes.
Body weight measurements
The BMI (Body Mass Index) is a simple test that helps doctors diagnose cardiovascular conditions. Apart from this, measurement of the waist circumference is also important. These measurements tell us if we are at the desired weight for our age. With increasing cases of obesity, people today are at a higher risk of increased blood pressure, cholesterol and triglycerides. Development of these risk factors, in turn, triggers heart ailments. As per WHO standards, a BMI of 18.5 to 25 kg per meter square is regarded as normal and values greater than 25 overweight and above 30 is considered as obese.
Blood glucose level
An important biomarker offering detailed information about the risk of developing CVD is the blood glucose level. It is mandatory to check your blood glucose levels every three years after reaching the age of 45. Increased levels place you at a higher risk of Type II Diabetes which, in turn, can trigger a heart disease or stroke. In case, you have two or more cardiovascular risk factors at the same time, it is advisable to get this screening test done even before the age of 45.
Fasting lipoproteins
The American Heart Association recommends that a woman above 50 years of age and a man above 45 should test their fasting lipoprotein profile every five years. Another high risk group includes people with two or more risk factors at the same time. This test includes measurement of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol (bad), HDL cholesterol (good) and triglycerides.
Stress test
Stress testing is a vital mode for diagnosing coronary heart disease (CHD), also called coronary artery disease. This provides important data about how your heart functions during strenuous physical activity. Signs of CHD are difficult to assess while at rest. But while performing exercises, the increased oxygen supply required by the working heart is not met due to the narrowed arteries in CHD patients. The main parameters measured during stress test are abnormal heart rate and blood pressure levels, shortness of breath, chest pain and abnormal changes in your heart rhythm.
Artery ultrasound
In heart patients, images obtained by ultrasound testing help physicians to diagnose any blocks or plagues in the carotid arteries of the neck or hazardous bulges in the abdominal aortic artery. It also helps to diagnose certain hidden heart ailments in patients having no prior symptoms. As per researches, periodic ultrasound screening in men aged 60-70 years can be reduced to more than 50 percent.
Electrocardiography
A high-tech screening module using for diagnosing heart ailments is Electrocardiography (ECG or EKG). Routine screening with the help of this non-invasive test helps to detect certain CVDs like coronary heart disease and coronary artery stenosis.
