Cardiovascular check-up consists of a group of tests that help the doctor to assess the risk of having or developing a heart or circulatory problem, such as heart failure, arrhythmia or infarction, for example.
Generally, this type of check-up is indicated for men over 45 years old and in women in the postmenopausal phase, as these are the periods when the risk of cardiovascular problems is greatest.
When to check-up
Cardiovascular check-up is recommended for men over 45 and postmenopausal women. However, some situations may anticipate going to the cardiologist, such as:
- History of family members who had a heart attack or sudden death; Constant arterial hypertension greater than 139/89 mmHg; Obesity; Diabetes; High cholesterol and triglycerides; Smokers; Childhood heart disease.
In addition, if you are sedentary or practice low-intensity physical activities, before starting to practice a new sport, it is important to go to the cardiologist to have the check-up done, so that the doctor can inform you if the heart performs the functions correctly..
If a heart problem has been detected, it is recommended to go to the cardiologist at least once a year or whenever he or she indicates to adjust the treatment. Know when to go to the cardiologist.
See also your risk of suffering a heart attack:
Which exams are included in the check-up
The tests included in the cardiac check-up vary according to the person's age and medical history, and are usually included:
- Chest X-ray, which is usually done with the person standing and aims to check the region around the heart, identifying any alteration of arteries that reach or leave the heart, for example; Electro and echocardiogram, in which heart rate, the presence of abnormalities and the structure of the heart are evaluated, checking whether the organ is functioning correctly; Stress test, in which the doctor assesses the functioning of the heart during physical activity, being able to identify factors that may be indicative of infarction or heart failure, for example; Laboratory tests, such as blood count, CK-MB, troponin and myoglobin, for example. In addition, other laboratory tests may be ordered in order to assess the risk of cardiovascular disease, such as the measurement of glucose and total cholesterol and fractions.
When these tests show alterations suggestive of cardiovascular diseases, the doctor may complement them with other more specific tests, such as doppler echocardiography, myocardial scintigraphy, 24-hour Holter or 24-hour ABPM, for example. Know the main exams for the heart.
