Essential Screening Tests for Heart Health

There are many heart health tests available. Please talk to your health care provider to see which tests are right for you.

	Fasting glucose This test measures the amount of sugar in your blood. It is used to screen for and diagnose diabetes. If you are age 45 and older, talk with your health care provider about having this test.
	Fasting lipids (cholesterol) This test helps measure the levels of LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and other lipids in your blood. Having unhealthy cholesterol levels increases your heart disease risk. The tendency to have unhealthy lipid levels is largely determined by genes inherited from your parents and grandparents. Have your cholesterol tested, especially if you have a family history of heart disease.
	Electrocardiogram (ECG) This test records your heart’s electrical activity and helps show the speed and pattern of your heartbeat.
	Stress electrocardiogram (stress ECG) This is an ECG done during exercise, often on a treadmill or a stationary bike. For women who can’t exercise, medications that increase the heart rate can be given to mimic the effects of activity.
	Event and holter monitoring These portable monitors can be worn on the body to help record the heart’s electrical activity for a period of time. They are useful to help detect arrhythmias that may happen only occasionally. Holter monitoring is a painless way to record your heartbeat for 24 to 48 hours. As for event monitoring, it may be used at the time the symptom is present, for one week or longer.
	Echocardiogram This test shows the structure and function of the heart. Harmless sound waves (ultrasound) are used to send a moving picture of the heart to a monitor. This helps show the size and shape of the heart and gives information on how well the heart and valves are working.
	CT angiography This test can be used to diagnose certain heart problems and help detect narrowing or blockages in the coronary arteries. This test also looks for atherosclerosis and can help predict your risk for a heart attack.
	HeartFlow analysis This is a noninvasive, advanced test that shows how each blockage in your coronary artery affects blood flow to your heart. It is used in addition to a CT angiography scan to create a 3D image of the coronary arteries. This analysis helps your doctor better understand the condition of your arteries and may help determine the best treatment approach—for example, whether you would benefit more from stenting or from bypass surgery.
	Coronary calcium score A coronary calcium score helps predict your risk for a heart attack. The score is the result of a coronary calcium scan. This CT scan is an X-ray test that checks for calcium in the walls of the coronary arteries. These deposits are linked to the build-up of plaque or atherosclerosis that causes coronary artery blockages. Plaque is made up of calcium, fat, cholesterol, and other substances. A buildup of plaque can cause a heart attack.