Tests to check heart health: Cardiologist's advice
Illustrative photo (Freepik)
It's crucial to undergo regular heart health check-ups. The condition of the cardiovascular system can easily be assessed through blood tests.
Sources used in preparation of the article: cardiologist Natalia Ivaniuk's Instagram page and the Public Health Center website.
Tests for heart health evaluation
Vitamin D
According to the doctor, the analysis will be below reference values in most people who do not take supplements.
Complete blood count
It can detect deviations that will direct the doctor in the right direction for further examinations.
Iron panel
This includes ferritin, serum iron, and transferrin.
The doctor noted that such an analysis is especially imoprtant for women, as men typically suffer less from iron deficiency. Hair loss, fatigue, lethargy - it all can be fixed if you do the iron panel test.
Thyroid panel
The thyroid panel includes TSH, free T3 and T4, ATPO, and ATTG.
Biochemical blood analysis
This includes total protein, albumin, ALT, AST, alkaline phosphatase, GGT, uric acid, urea, creatinine, lipase, bilirubin and its fractions.
Lipid profile
This test provides information on total cholesterol, low and high-density lipoproteins, and triglycerides.
Homocysteine
This is one of the main risk factors for cardiovascular diseases.
The cardiologist also recommends taking a general urine analysis.
Habits good for heart health
Oleh Shvets, President of the Ukrainian Dietitians Association, explained what you can do to be healthier:
- Have breakfast every day - dedicate time to morning meals, as it speeds up metabolism and prevents overeating.
- Plan your meals - this will save you time and money. When you cook meals yourself, you keep your diet under control.
- Drink enough water.
- Exercise - just 30 minutes of walking 5 times a week can improve your mood.
- Take a break from gadgets.
- Learn something new - mastering skills helps keep the brain healthy.
- Quit smoking.
- Try to regulate sleep - aim to sleep for 7 to 9 hours a day.
- Exercise helps strengthen the heart and bones, as well as lose weight.
- Spend more time outdoors.
- Be mindful. Research shows that mindfulness reduces stress, eases pain, and improves mood.
This material is for informational purposes only and should not be used for medical diagnosis or self-treatment. Our goal is to provide readers with accurate information about symptoms, causes, and methods of detecting diseases. RBС-Ukraine is not responsible for any diagnoses that readers may make based on materials from the resource. We do not recommend self-treatment and advise consulting a doctor in case of any health concerns.
