Testing, Testing

Here are the most common tests doctors use to track the heart's health, plus an interpretation of the results by Sharonne Hayes, M.D. Blood-pressure and cholesterol screenings are the most typical. The other tests are used when results are murky or you're in a high-risk group.

Blood Pressure

What It Measures: The force of blood against the artery walls. High blood pressure makes it harder for the heart to pump blood and oxygen through the body.
What the Results Mean: Anything over a normal reading (120/80) increases your risk for heart attack and stroke.

BMI, Waist Circumference, and Waist-to-Hip Ratio

What It Measures: Body fat (especially abdominal fat), which correlates with heart-disease risk.
What the Results Mean: A BMI outside the normal range of 18.5 to 24.9 raises your heart-disease risk, as does a waist larger than 35 inches or a waist as big as or bigger than your hips.

Lipid (or Lipoprotein) Panel

What It Measures: Levels of lipids found in the bloodstream, including total cholesterol, HDL (good cholesterol), LDL (bad), and triglycerides, another type of fat in the blood.
What the Results Mean: Ideally, total cholesterol should be 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or less; HDL, over 50 mg/dL; LDL, 100 mg/dL or less; triglycerides, less than 150 mg/dL.

Fasting Blood Glucose

What It Measures: The amount of sugar (glucose) in the blood.
What the Results Mean: Your normal fasting plasma glucose should be under 100 mg/dL, which indicates that your body is effectively controlling blood sugar levels.

Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)

What It Measures: The electrical activity of the heart, which can indicate abnormalities such as blood-flow blockages and arrhythmias.
What the Results Mean: There are two types of electrocardiograms: a resting ECG and one done to accompany an exercise stress test (see below).

Stress Test

What It Measures: Blood flow to the heart during exercise on a treadmill. The test is accompanied by an ECG.
What the Results Mean: Your doctor monitors your heart rate and blood pressure, ECG patterns, symptoms, and how long you're able to exercise on the treadmill to determine your risk.

CT Test for Coronary Calcification Study

What It Measures: Calcium deposits in the arteries, a sign of coronary artery disease.
What the Results Mean: A calcium artery calcification (CAC) score greater than zero indicates plaque in the arteries.

High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (HS-CRP)

What It Measures: A protein that signals inflammation in the body. What the Results Mean: A high CRP level (above three milligrams per liter) is associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular problems.

Lipoprotein A or Lp(a)

What It Measures: Levels of a type of cholesterol similar to LDL; high levels of Lp(a) correlate with atherosclerosis (hardening and narrowing of the arteries).
What the Results Mean: An unhealthy Lp(a) level is 30 mg/dL or higher.

Homocysteine

What It Measures: An amino acid in the blood.
What the Results Mean: Anything over 15 micromoles per liter indicates an increased risk of heart disease.