Heart disease can occur at any age, however, the average age in the UK is after 40, in men and individuals with a family history of cardiovascular issues, and in those living with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. Healthy lifestyle habits like diet and exercise can help prevent heart disease, while blood tests can help you understand your risk level and motivate preventative measures.
Hodgson Pharmacy offers a full range of blood tests at each of our South London locations to help you identify potential heart problems and also help you to monitor existing heart issues.
Types of tests to detect heart problems
After a thorough physical examination, your GP will review your medical history and then run any number of tests for cardiovascular conditions, from blood cholesterol to chest X-rays to ultrasounds.
Here are a few of the most common:
· ECG
· Coronary calcium scan
· Stress test
· Echocardiogram
Types of Blood Tests
There are many different types of blood tests in the UK that are available to detect heart problems. Hodgson Pharmacy has both NHS services and private blood testing services at each of our South London branches. The common lab tests listed below are venous blood tests which can accurately check for heart problems.
Your GP may recommend one of the following blood tests if you are at high risk of heart problems:
· Total cholesterol (TC)
· Triglycerides (TG)
· High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
· Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
· Lipoprotein(a)
· Complete blood count (CBC).
Identifying heart disease early on can help individuals begin a lifestyle routine of heart-healthy habits. Here are some risk factors for heart disease that are within your control:
· Quit smoking
· Eat a heart-healthy and well-balanced diet
· Exercise regularly
· Get proper sleep daily
If results from your blood tests show that you have heart disease, your GP can help you reduce further damage and risk with lifestyle changes, medications, and (as a last resort) possible surgery. Book your blood test today at Hodgson Pharmacy. Our trained clinicians are available to answer any questions you might have about heart problems and lifestyle changes so you can start to stay healthy.
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