Introduction
In medical science there are battery of tests available related to heart disease. Some of them are good for predicting the possibility of future heart disease, some are to diagnose the extent of heart disease and rest of them are tests which are not so commonly used for all the heart patients – but are required in specialized cases. Almost all the tests are Non invasive in nature except Catheter Angiography, which is gradually becoming less popular as it is Invasive, expensive, complicated and similar results are obtained by CT Coronary Angiography. The most authentic and rational way is to first conduct the tests which predict the possibility of heart disease. These are – serum Lipid profile, Blood sugar, Blood pressure and Weight. If they are in the wrong side – further tests like ECG, Exercise Stress Test are indicated. If these two show some defect – Echocardiogram can be done. The last and most reliable test is CT Coronary Angiography which is inexpensive, easy, does not need hospitalization and has little or no complications. Most Heart hospitals prefer Catheter Angiography as they need admission and mostly lead to the next procedures – the Bypass Surgery or Angioplasty. Before we go for heart related tests it is better to take a through history of the patients – a family history, history of smoking/tobacco consumption, history of no physical exercise etc. Stress related questions can also be asked – as excess stress can also lead to heart disease and heart attack.
BLOOD TESTS FOR SAFETY OF THE HEART
Lipid Profile
The lipid profile is a group of tests that are often ordered together to determine risk of coronary heart disease. The tests that make up a lipid profile are tests that have been shown to be good indicators of whether someone is likely to have a heart attack or stroke caused by blockage of blood vessels (hardening of the arteries). The lipid profile includes total cholesterol, HDL-Cholesterol (often called good cholesterol), LDL-Cholesterol (often called bad cholesterol), and triglycerides. Sometimes the report will include additional calculated values or a risk score based on lipid profile results, age, gender, and other risk factors. The lipid profile is used to guide providers in deciding how a person at risk should be treated. Te results of the lipid profile are considered along with other known risk factors of heart disease to develop a plan of treatment and follow-up. Blood Glucose Blood Glucose is the correct and scientific term. But in colloquial language people, even the doctors, use the term “Blood Sugar” for blood glucose. A conventional sugar test would mean testing for fasting and post prandial (PP) i.e. after meal. A good control would mean a fasting sugar of less than 100 mg/dl and a PP sugar of 140 mg/dl. Serum Glycosylated Hemoglobin Blood Glucose estimation on a particular date can only tell about the control of diabetes on that date. But there is a blood test, which can instantly give us an idea about control of blood glucose over the past three months. This test can help in avoiding frequent blood testing and needle pricking. This test is called Serum Glycosylated Hemoglobin (HbA1C). In a normal person with normal blood sugar the reading is about 6%. A diabetic with worst of control will have a reading of about 12%. Saaol expects a figure 6.5% or below. The principle behind the test is that it measures the glucose tagged hemoglobin percentage in blood. Hemoglobin (Hb) is produced in our body continuously. But on the day the blood glucose is high the hemoglobin would get tagged with glucose. This, the increase in the high glucose period will be associated with higher glycosylated hemoglobin.