Arm Yourself —Know Your Heart Test Results

First, ask for your numbers. Then learn how they can help you stay healthy

The phone rings. The test results you’ve waited for are here, and your doctor says your numbers are normal. But what does “normal” mean?

It’s a wise question to ask. Physicians are encouraging patients to keep track of their numbers, especially those that affect heart health. “If you’re just told ‘it’s normal,’ ask for copies of your lab results so you can learn the specifics and what they mean,” says family medicine physician Jennifer Derr, D.O., of Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network.

What they are and why they’re important

You should start tracking your heart health with some basic tests starting at age 20. These include:

• A blood pressure screening every two years
• A fasting blood test to measure your total cholesterol, “good” (HDL) and “bad” (LDL) cholesterol, and triglyceride levels every five years.

If you have pre-existing heart disease or diabetes, you may need more frequent testing. For information on tests for blood glucose, see the link at the end of this article.

The resulting numbers will help you understand your risk for heart disease. But numbers alone don’t tell the whole story, says Derr’s colleague, cardiologist Andrew Sumner, M.D. “Your physician will help you understand your results in the context of your overall health and family history. The aggressiveness of your risk reduction therapy should be propor-tional to your future heart disease risk.”

How to get them and understand them

A good first step to understanding your numbers is to ask about them before you have your test. “When your physician prescribes a test, ask her why it’s being done, what it’s looking to determine, and what it means if your numbers are or aren’t normal,” says gynecologist Kristin Friel, M.D., of Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network.

Depending on your doctor’s preference, you’ll get your results either by phone or by mail. If you don’t receive your numbers, call and ask for them, Friel says. “If you don’t understand your results, ask to talk with your physician or schedule a follow-up visit.”

What to do with them

If your numbers fall in the normal range for your cardiovascular risk group, your heart health is on-track. Even so, you should get the recommended screening tests as scheduled and track your results. “That can help you learn, for example, if you’re keeping your cholesterol levels at goal or if they are gradually becoming abnormal,” Sumner says.

If your numbers aren’t normal, you can take steps. The first one: “Educate yourself,” Derr says. “If your cholesterol is high, ask your physician about it and visit Web sites like americanheart.org (American Heart Association) to learn what makes cholesterol high.”

New beginning

Your doctor may recommend other tests if there is a specific reason you could benefit from them. These include high sensitivity c-reactive protein, a blood test that detects inflammation inside blood vessels. Levels less than 1.0 mg/dl indicate a very low risk for a future heart attack, while levels above 3.0 identify the highest-risk group.

Though your numbers will guide your future course, there are basics you can do to stay heart-healthy. “Exercising for 30 minutes a day, eating a low-fat, high-fiber diet and quitting smoking are always smart choices,” Sumner says.

Want to Know More? Click here for a report card to keep track of your heart numbers, and click here for resources to help you control cholesterol and blood pressure, or all 610-402-CARE.

Published from Healthy You Magazine May-June 2007

This page last updated 2/12/08 04:08 PM

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