When it comes to keeping your heart healthy and strong, there are some important steps that must be taken. It’s vital that everyone, regardless of age or current health, take proactive steps such as exercising regularly, eating a heart-healthy diet, avoiding tobacco use, and managing stress. In addition to these personal steps, there are other, medical steps that should be taken as well.
In order to ensure that the heart is working efficiently and is not at risk for various conditions, certain screening tests are needed throughout life. When these tests should begin and how frequently they should be performed depends on factors such as age, existing health conditions, and family history. While these tests may not provide an exact diagnosis of a cardiovascular condition, they provide invaluable insight regarding heart risk and can clue physicians in that an underlying heart problem may exist. Such tests can include blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood glucose screenings.
The infographic below provides an overview of each of these three tests, what normal results should be and how often they should be performed. If you are overdue for any of these tests or are experiencing symptoms that could indicate a cardiovascular problem, it is important to see your physician quickly.