4 Important Tests to Check Your Cardiac Profile

A healthy heart is important for overall health and wellbeing. Embracing a healthy and active lifestyle may prevent heart diseases and lower the risk of stroke and heart attack [1]. To diagnose a heart disease your doctor may advise getting a cardiac profile. Basic tests include a lab test or tests that help in diagnosing the problems related to a cardiovascular event. Read on to understand more about the symptoms and important tests under the cardiac profile.

Symptoms of heart disease 

Here are some heart disease symptoms for which doctors may suggest an inclusive cardiac profile test. 

• Fast or slow heartbeat 
• Tightness in the chest 
• Fainting
• Pain in the chest
• Sudden swelling in the abdomen, ankles, feet or legs
• Shortness of breath  

If you have any of these symptoms, consult your doctor immediately. Early diagnosis can help with treatment and prevention measures.

Additional Read: Types of Blood Test

Taking care of emerging heart issues with a cardiac profile test 

Even if you don’t have the symptoms mentioned, these tests can help keep heart issues at bay as prevention is always better than cure. High blood pressure, diabetes, smoking and high cholesterol are some common factors for developing serious heart conditions. While your doctor is the best guide in helping you identify the risk of heart disease, a cardiac profile test can be crucial in maintaining heart health.

Important tests under cardiac profile 

Lipid profile test 

Also known as a cholesterol test, it measures the levels of fats in your blood. High levels of fat in the blood can increase your chance of having a stroke, heart attack or other heart diseases. The test typically aims to include the measurements of the following. 

• Total cholesterol: This refers to the total amount of cholesterol in your blood. An increase in total cholesterol means you are at a higher risk of heart disease. Your total cholesterol should be under 200 milligrams [2] per deciliter.
• HDL cholesterol: This cholesterol is important for your body. It Is known as healthy cholesterol. It helps keep your arteries open causing the blood to flow more freely.
• LDL cholesterol: Also known as bad cholesterol, excess LDL can lead to deposition of plaque in the blood vessels resulting in the reduction of blood flow. These plaques build up and may rupture causing major problems in blood vessels and the heart.  
• Triglycerides: These are other types of fat in the blood and having high levels can raise the risk of heart disease.

Troponin test 

Troponin is a kind of protein found in your heart muscles. Its quantity increases significantly when your heart muscles become damaged. The troponin tests look for the presence of this protein in your blood. Two specific types of cardiac troponin, T and I, are used as markers to identify damage or injury in your heart. A high level of troponin may also indicate that you recently had or are having a heart attack.

Natriuretic peptides test 

Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is also a kind of protein that is made by your blood vessels and heart. This helps your body relax the blood vessels, eliminate the fluids, and excrete the sodium into your urine to flush out of the body. When your heart gets affected in a damaging way, the amount of BNP entering your bloodstream increases. This test is used to check the levels of BNP in the blood to make sure the heart is not damaged. Different people can have different values for normal BNP levels since it varies on the basis of the following: 

• Age 
• Gender 
• Health issues such as obesity

High-sensitivity CRP test 

CRP is a protein produced by your liver as a response to inflammation that may occur due to infection or injury. The CRP test can spot the low and high levels of CRP in your blood. High levels of this protein indicate that you are at higher risk of having a heart attack, cardiovascular disease, or stroke. This test is considered extremely important as it helps in diagnosing your heart conditions while also determining the risk of developing heart disease in future.

Additional Read: Lipid Profile Test

This is not an exhaustive list of tests to determine your cardiac profile. Doctors can recommend other tests as per your health condition. Remember that one test may not determine your overall risk of heart disease. If you think your family history or lifestyle puts you at risk, get in touch with your doctor. You can also book an online doctor consultation on Bajaj Finserv Health to discuss your test results or get advice on which tests to get done. You can even discuss the treatment and prevention options. Do all you can to have a healthy heart to live stress free!