Tests Everyone Should Have Done
Most of the tests that you'll read about on this web site are focused on diagnosing heart problems for those who are showing symptoms or who have a history of heart disease. However, there are two tests that everyone should have, even if they do not believe that they are currently at risk for heart disease. Be sure you have these tests done as part of your annual physical exam:
Blood Pressure Test
Blood pressure is a simple measurement that may be taken by a nurse, technician, clinical care provider, or other healthcare professional.
A blood pressure reading consists of two numbers: systolic pressure (the first, higher number, which indicates pressure when the heart contracts to push blood out to the body) and diastolic pressure (the second, lower number, which indicates pressure as the heart relaxes between beats, allowing blood to flow into the heart). Normal resting blood pressure is below 140/90 mmHg.
The nurse or technician wraps the blood pressure cuff around the patient's upper arm and closes the air valve on the inflating bulb. Then, placing the head of the stethoscope over the artery on the inside of the elbow, the technician inflates the cuff by squeezing the bulb steadily until no sounds are heard through the stethoscope (because the pressure of the cuff has temporarily stopped the blood from pulsing through the artery).
The technician opens the valve slightly, allowing the pressure to fall gradually. As soon as the technician hears the first pulse sound, he or she records the number on the dial or mercury tube. This is the systolic pressure (the highest amount of pressure in the arteries, measured as the heart contracts.)
As the air continues to be let out, the pulse sounds will disappear when the cuff is so loose that it can no longer record the pulse. The point at which the sound disappears is the diastolic pressure (the lowest amount of pressure in the arteries, measured as the heart rests).
Cholesterol/Triglycerides Test
The only way to find out if your cholesterol and triglycerides are in the desirable range is to have a blood test. You must fast overnight to have both HDL and LDL levels measured. The technician may take a few drops of blood from your fingertip, or may draw blood from the vein in your wrist or elbow. A small amount of blood is placed on a paper strip that goes into a small machine. The machine measures your HDL and LDL cholesterol levels, and can also provide your triglyceride level.
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