3 Common Heart Tests: What You Need to Know

Whether you’re going on a run or relaxing on the couch for a movie night, your heart supports you through it all. Because our hearts are the lifeline of all we do, maintaining good heart health is essential for living a whole life.

Keep reading to learn more about different types of heart tests, including why they’re important, what to expect for each, interpreting your results and how to maintain heart health beyond your screening.

Why Heart Tests Matter

Regular heart screenings are a great way to check in with your heart and ensure it’s functioning properly. They’re also vital for preventing cardiovascular disease, detecting issues early when they’re most preventable and for maintaining overall heart health.

Other common reasons for heart testing include:

• Determining if you’re at high risk for heart conditions, like arrhythmias
• Discovering underlying conditions that haven’t shown symptoms
• Evaluating current symptoms, like shortness of breath or chest pain
• Monitoring existing conditions

Now that you know the importance of regular screenings, let’s take a closer look at several types.

3 Common Types of Heart Tests

Cholesterol and Blood Pressure Tests

Two of the biggest risk factors for heart disease are high blood pressure and high cholesterol, making this screening vital. High blood pressure usually shows no symptoms, making screenings the most effective way to detect and manage it. Blood pressure tests measure the force of blood flow against your artery walls.

Checking cholesterol levels helps assess the risk of developing plaque buildup in your arteries, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes. Cholesterol tests measure total cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol, HDL (good) cholesterol and triglycerides.

What to Expect for Cholesterol and Blood Pressure Tests

Blood pressure tests are very routine, quick and painless and only take a couple of minutes. Your doctor will place an inflatable cuff on your upper arm. Then they will tighten the cuff slightly to measure your systolic and diastolic pressure.

A total cholesterol screening is performed through a blood test. Your provider will draw several vials of blood and will send them to the lab for review. The test should be over within five to 10 minutes. Your doctor may ask you to fast for nine to 12 hours before the exam for proper readings.

Interpreting Your Results for Cholesterol and Blood Pressure Tests

A normal blood pressure reading is usually less than 120/80 mmHg (the top number is systolic, and the bottom is diastolic). But it’s important to know that everyone is different, so a normal reading for you may be slightly higher or lower than someone else's. However, a reading of 120-129/80-89 is considered elevated. If your reading is within this range, your doctor will talk to you about your best next steps to lower your blood pressure, whether it’s through medication, lifestyle changes or other factors.

According to the National Library of Medicine, the ideal total cholesterol range for men and women 20 years or older is below 200 mg/dL. Cholesterol screenings also measure your LDL and HDL levels. Normal ranges for LDL are less than 100mg/dL, and HDL is greater than or equal to 60 mg/dL. If you have elevated cholesterol levels, your doctor will work with you to lower your levels through heart-healthy lifestyle changes, such as weight management, regular physical activity and a nutritious meal plan.

Electrocardiograms (ECGs)

An electrocardiogram (ECG) monitors the electrical signals that control your heart's rhythm and blood flow. They’re noninvasive, quick and painless and useful for detecting heart conditions and rhythm abnormalities.

What to Expect for ECGs

During your ECG test, your doctor will tell you to lie down on your back and will then place several electrodes on your chest, arms and legs. These electrodes detect electrical signals from your heart and are recorded on a machine that creates a graph of wavy lines representing your heart’s depolarization and contraction, as well as your beats per minute (bpm). ECGs typically last between five and 10 minutes.

Interpreting Your Results for ECGs

According to the American Heart Association, for most healthy adults, a resting heart rate between 60 and 100 bpm is normal. ECG results for your heart’s depolarization and contraction appear as a series of waves, and normal readings will have the same distance between each hump.

If your results show otherwise, it may indicate an irregular heartbeat or other heart condition. Your doctor will review your results and help you determine your next steps, whether that’s further testing, lifestyle changes or reevaluating your current medication, as this can cause irregularities.

Stress Tests

Stress tests, also known as exercise stress tests, can help diagnose coronary artery disease and assess your risk of heart attacks. This test evaluates how well your heart functions during physical activity. Your body requires more oxygen as it works harder. In response, your heart begins to pump more blood. This test aims to assess how well your heart pumps blood and to detect abnormalities, such as poor blood flow or blocked arteries.

What to Expect for Stress Tests

For this test, your doctor will attach several electrodes to your chest to monitor your heart. You’ll be asked to either walk on a treadmill or ride a stationary bike. Your doctor may ask you not to eat or drink anything for two to four hours before the test.

Interpreting Your Results for Stress Tests

Stress tests examine your blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen levels and the electrical activity of your heart. Because stress tests are comprehensive exams that evaluate multiple factors, your doctor will go over your results with you and provide a breakdown of how your body and heart performed.

Maintaining Heart Health Beyond Testing

When it comes to matters of the heart, prevention is the best medicine. It’s a good idea to have these tests done annually to monitor and prevent the onset of a heart condition. To nurture your heart health, we suggest:

• Drinking enough water
• Eating a balanced diet
• Exercising regularly
• Limiting alcohol and tobacco use
• Managing stress

It’s also a good idea to build a relationship with your primary care provider so you can ask any questions that you may have.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

We recommend asking your doctor the following questions:

• Am I currently at risk for any heart conditions?
• Are my numbers in the normal range?
• How does my family history affect me?
• What lifestyle habits can I implement to prevent heart disease?
• What symptoms should I look out for?
• What treatment options are available to me?

Asking questions like these helps to build a strong foundation for understanding your heart health so you can live a life of wellness.

It’s Time for a Heart-to-Heart

At AdventHealth, we put our hearts into caring for yours. We’re committing to using leading-edge technologies and treatments to heal your heart and help you live life on your terms.

Learn more about our heart and vascular care services, or find a cardiologist near you. You’re never alone on your journey to wholeness.