Heart and Blood Pressure Tests: Which Ones Are Right For You

Were you one of those who feared tests back in school? Looks like this fear doesn’t leave us even when we grow older. But they do keep us in check – whether it is academically or on the health front. Therefore, knowing about the tests to check your heart health is more important now than ever before.

Heart health isn’t an ‘old people’s problem’ anymore. Spoiler alert: they are for you as well. With changing lifestyles, digital overload, rising stress, and choosing late-night doom scrolling over peaceful sleep, Gen Z is also seeing higher cases of hypertension than ever before. So, it’s vital to get your heart and blood pressure checked regularly to stay ahead of the curve.

Why Testing Matters

While there are many causes leading up to heart conditions, chronic hypertension stands prominent. High blood pressure puts excessive pressure on the heart muscles, pushing it to pump more blood, which can damage the lining of the artery walls. It also results in plaque build-up, which narrows the arteries, and reduces blood flow or even causes a blockage in some cases, ultimately leading to a heart attack or a stroke. 

There is a reason why hypertension is called the ‘silent killer’, because it sneaks up on you without any warning. Here are some silent symptoms of high blood pressure:

• Panting or shortness of breath while climbing stairs, walking, or carrying out simple tasks
• Frequent headaches and dizziness
• Nosebleeds
• A pounding sensation in the chest
• Anxiety

That’s why regular check-ups, screenings, and heart checkup tests matter – to catch these silent problems early on, keep track of your health and make suitable lifestyle choices accordingly. 

When Should You Consider Heart And BP Tests?

Suppose there’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attend your favourite band’s concert. Do you wait till the very end to get your hands on the tickets or join the cue to get the best seats before they are sold out?

Getting your blood pressure or heart checkup test is exactly the same. The earlier you do it, the better. Consider a heart checkup test if you:

• Have a family history of heart conditions or blood pressure
• Experience symptoms like dizziness, chest pain, palpitations, or fainting
• Are obese, lead an inactive, sedentary lifestyle, and have an inconsistent sleeping schedule
• Smoke or drink on a regular basis
• Often consume junk foods, high in salt, sugar, or saturated fats
• Live with chronic stress and anxiety
• Face any discomfort in both the arms, neck, jaw, or stomach

Even if your health is 10/10, it is advisable to ensure heart checkup tests are done regularly.

Types Of Blood Pressure Tests

Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries. The normal blood pressure is 120/80 mm Hg. The first number is the systole, which represents the pressure in your arteries when the heart beats and pumps blood. The second number is the diastole, which is the pressure in your arteries when the heart is at rest between beats. 130/80 mmHg or above is considered a state of high blood pressure or hypertension and a reading of 90/60 mmHg is considered a state of low blood pressure.

Your BP isn’t just a few digits on a cuff; it gives you real-time data on how well your heart is functioning. You must have seen doctors measuring one’s blood pressure using a sphygmomanometer. It has a gauge and rubber cuff which is tightly wrapped around your arm. The doctor will use a stethoscope to check your pulse near the elbow region. The cuff is inflated with a hand pump to a pressure higher than the systolic blood pressure and it tightens around the arm. The pump is released, and the first sound heard through the stethoscope is the systolic pressure. When the noise goes away, the diastolic pressure is marked. 

You can also check your blood pressure from the comfort of your home. All you need is a digital instrument, and as you follow the same process, it gives you the systolic and diastolic pressure readings. No stethoscope is required here. 

If you’re diagnosed with high blood pressure, the doctor may recommend some of the following tests:

• Blood tests, which includes measuring electrolytes, blood urea nitrogen, and creatinine level, to assess the kidney damage
• Lipid profile to check high cholesterol, hypertension and elevated levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL/bad cholesterol)
• Special tests to check the presence of thyroid or adrenal gland
• Eye examination to look for ocular damage
• CT (Computed Tomography) scan of your abdomen or ultrasound of the kidneys, or both

Essential Heart Tests To Know

If you’re facing heart-related issues, you need to undergo a few crucial tests to check heart health

• Electrocardiogram (ECG): Among the many types of heart tests, ECG records the electrical activity of the heartbeat. It is crucial in determining whether a heart attack has occured or if one is developing. ECG also helps evaluate if any damage has been done to the heart, such as any blockages, thickening of the heart muscles (hypertrophy), irregular heart beats, or any other complications.

Firstly, it measures time intervals on the ECG to determine how long the electrical waves take to pass through your heart, thereby concluding if the electrical activity is normal, slow, fast, or irregular. 

Secondly, depending on the amount of electrical activity passing through the heart muscles, a cardiologist can detect which parts of the heart are overworked.  

• Echocardiogram: Echo is a non-invasive imaging procedure, wherein an ultrasound examination is taken of the heart as it beats and relaxes. The sound waves transmit these images to a video monitor to detect heart valve abnormalities, enlargements, or blood clots, and blood flow. An individual can undergo this test at rest or even while exercising. 

• Coronary Angiogram: This x-ray examines the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart, and to the rest of the body in general. A special dye is injected through a catheter and it is inserted into a blood vessel in your arm, which is fed up to the heart and coronary arteries. The images taken identify the blockages or narrowness in the coronary arteries, while evaluating the pressure inside the heart.

• Stress Test: In this heart checkup test, you’re asked to walk on a treadmill or exercise on a stationary bike to see how well your heart responds in the face of physical exertion. Also known as exercise tolerance test (ETT), it monitors your heart rate, breathing, blood pressure, and whether your heart’s blood supply is sufficient.

• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): An MRI uses magnetic fields along with radio waves to generate pictures of organs and the heart structure. It assesses the area of the brain most affected by a stroke and also searches for scar tissues within heart muscles.

• Tilt Test: Dizziness, lightheadedness, and fainting are some of the primary symptoms of a frail heart. In a tilt test, you lie on a table that slowly tilts upwards, and measures how your BP and heart rate respond to the force of gravity.

How To Decide Which Tests You Need

You don’t need to go all Grey’s Anatomy to understand which type of heart test is best suitable for you. You can simply match your symptoms and lifestyle to figure out which heart checkup tests make sense:

Talking To Your Doctor About Heart And BP Testing

Medical appointments can be intimidating. But being informed is the best way to protect yourself. After all, you know your body best! 

• No matter how minute your symptoms are, inform your doctor
• Maintain a record of your BP readings
• Share your medications and family history 
• Asking the right questions to your healthcare professional can go a long way

Ask the following questions to clear your doubts and leave no room for anxiety or stress:

• Which tests are suitable for your age?
• What are the early signs of heart and BP condition to look out for?
• How often should you check your blood pressure?
• Are there any risks associated with the heart and BP tests?
• How often should you get re-tested?
• What can you do to stay healthy?

Final Thoughts On Staying Heart Healthy

Heart disease is one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. There is a surge of heart-related conditions among the younger population today. This makes it even more necessary to know about heart checkup tests and timely make lifestyle interventions. 

Your heart works tirelessly throughout the day. So, you can do your bit to protect your heart from the get go.

Disclaimer

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