Health or heart screening is generally done in asymptomatic individuals who may or may not have pre-existing cardiovascular risk factors (examples include but are not limited to):
- diabetes,
- hypertension
- high cholesterol,
- sedentary lifestyle,
- smoking and a significant family history of heart disease.
Electrocardiogram (ECG) is a safe, non-invasive and quick test. It is a 10 seconds snapshot of the electrical activity of your heart.
Useful information that can be obtained are (but not limited to):
- resting heart rate (too fast/slow or normal range)
- heart rhythm (regular or irregular)
- extra (abnormal) heart beats,
- evidence of pre-existing heart disease (e.g. prior heart attack),
- possibility of structural abnormalities of the heart (e.g. enlarged heart chambers, thickened heart walls), conduction abnormalities (e.g. heart block).
Limitations are (but not limited to) unable to assess:
- degree of narrowing of the coronary arteries;
- patients with complaints of intermittent palpitations;
- what type of structural abnormalities of the heart;
- heart valve abnormalities.
Echocardiogram (2DE) is a safe, non-invasive ultrasound study of the heart. It provides information on
- the heart’s resting function
- structure,
- size,
- valves,
- wall thickness and surrounding structures near the heart (e.g. aorta, pericardium).
Limitations are (but not limited to) unable to assess:
- degree of narrowing of the coronary arteries;
- whether there is abnormal electrical activity of the heart;
- ischemia of the heart muscles.
Treadmill is a safe, non-invasive functional assessment of the heart using physical exercise as a stressor.
The electrical activity of the heart, blood pressure response and symptoms are monitored whilst the patient runs on a treadmill. Its sensitivity is around 60-70%.
Limitations are (but not limited to)
- unable to assess degree of coronary artery narrowing;
- which artery is narrowed (if any);
- calcification of coronaries.
Do see your cardiologist to find out more on what heart screening test(s) is appropriate for you.
