If I Have No Symptoms, What Kinds Of Screening Tests Should I Have To Determine If I Have Heart Disease?

— -- Question: If I have no symptoms, what kinds of screening tests should I have to determine if I have heart disease?

Answer: Well, there is much evidence that the most, maybe even as much as three-quarters of coronary disease is potentially preventable by changes in lifestyle. You should have a frank conversation with your doctor about potential risk factors.

They might include: one, your blood pressure; two, your family history; three, your weight -- or what doctors may refer to as a "BMI," which is your weight compared to how tall you are; waist circumference is also looked at. Being a man with a 36-inch waist is a good thing, but a 40-inch waist size, we know that's a risk factor for heart disease . Number five, you may want to look at your cholesterol. Six, your blood glucose.

So, screening can include evaluations by your doctor of all these things, to know whether or not you're potentially at risk for developing coronary artery disease.

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