Why are heart health screenings so important?
Heart disease is currently the leading cause of death in Americans, but many of those deaths could potentially be avoided with proper diagnosis and treatment.
Heart health screenings can help you recognize heart problems early so you can take the steps you need to get healthy. If you’re in a risk group for heart disease, sudden cardiac death, or other heart-related problems, heart health screenings are one of the best ways to be proactive about your health.
Who is at risk for heart problems?
There are a number of factors that can put you at risk for heart problems.
- Hypertension
- High cholesterol
- Diabetes
- Smoking
- A poor diet that’s high in saturated fat
- Sedentary lifestyle
- A family history of heart problems
- Personal history of heart problems
- Age: risk goes up as you age
Other risk factors may surprise you. For example, while athletes are generally extremely healthy, sudden cardiac death is the number-one cause of death in this group. If you’re at risk for heart problems, a heart health screening can help you take charge of your health by identifying issues as early as possible.
What does a heart health screening include?
A heart health screening at Cardiology Now is a complete risk factor analysis that goes far beyond what most other heart health screenings offer.
Resting EKG
A resting EKG checks your heart's electrical activity when you're not exerting yourself.
Stress Echocardiogram
A stress test with a heart ultrasound does many things, including:
- Checks for coronary artery disease
- Evaluates cardiovascular and pulmonary fitness
- Checks overall heart function while relaxing and in motion
- Checks for heart murmurs
- Evaluates pressure levels inside your heart
- Checks the thickness of your heart wall
- Looks for blood clots and tumors in the heart
If you're not able to exercise, you can have this test using medication that safely simulates the effects of exercise on your heart.
Carotid Doppler Ultrasound
A Carotid Doppler Ultrasound looks at the blood flow in your carotid arteries and shows the specific level of narrowing due to atherosclerosis.
After your heart health screening, our cardiologist will review the test results with you in detail. Then, they work with you to determine a preventive action plan to minimize your risk for cardiac problems.
Heart health screenings at Cardiology Now are convenient, safe, and easy to schedule. For a same-day or next-day heart health screening with same-day results, click the online scheduler or call Cardiology Now to book now.
