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Most Advanced Diagnoses
Heart Tests for WomenWhich screening and diagnostic tests are most important for YOU?
You’re a woman who exercises, eats right and doesn’t smoke, but can you still be sure your heart is healthy? These tests can tell you, says cardiologist Deborah Sundlof, D.O., of Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network: Blood pressure — Though high blood pressure (hypertension) has no symptoms, it’s a major risk factor for heart disease. A reading even slightly above 120/80 increases your risk. While hypertension peaks in men at age 54, in women it keeps rising with age. “Beginning in adolescence, women should be tested yearly,” Sundlof says. “If you’re pregnant, diabetic or have blood pressure over 130/85, get tested more frequently.”Cholesterol — You’re never too young for a complete cholesterol test, one that breaks down HDL (“good”) and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol. Why? “Before menopause, women tend to have high HDL,” Sundlof says. “Your total cholesterol may look high simply because of high HDL.” The breakdown also is important during and after menopause. “When estrogen levels decrease, HDL falls and triglycerides rise,” Sundlof says. “Without treatment, this combination can lead to coronary artery disease.” Ideally, your HDL should be over 45, LDL under 130 and triglycerides under 150. (Your targets will be different if you have diabetes or diagnosed heart disease.) If your results are abnormal, get tested yearly; if not, every five years. Diagnostic heart tests — Your doctor may order a diagnostic test (or refer you to a cardiologist for testing) either preventively or because you have heart disease risk factors. Two common tests are the stress electrocardiogram (EKG), measuring your heart’s electrical activity while you walk on a treadmill, and the stress echocardiogram, providing an ultrasound image of your heart during exercise. “An echocardiogram supplies information about heart muscles, valves and arteries that an EKG cannot,” Sundlof says. “It also may be a more accurate test for women, who are more likely to have a false positive EKG.” Stress tests of either kind can be challenging for women—they’re typically less cardiovascularly fit than men and may have trouble reaching their target heart rate on the treadmill. An alternative is a pharmacological stress test, using a medication rather than exercise to boost heart rate. Beginning at age 40, have a diagnostic heart test at least every five years even if you don't have symptoms.
Want to Know More about heart and other important tests for women and the the “cardiac numbers” you should aim for? Click above or call 610-402-CARE. This page last updated 3/29/08 09:31 PM
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