Pay Attention to Your Heart

Pay Attention TO YOUR HEART Uncover Hidden Cardiovascular Risks

Think you’re too young for a heart attack or too healthy to have heart disease? The risks for cardiovascular disease may be hidden and could Dr. Khurram Nasir lead to a heart attack or stroke without warning. That’s why it’s important to identify the risks and be proactive about taking care of your heart.

Dr. Khurram Nasir, a preventive cardiology specialist at Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center, stresses the need to pay attention to your heart. “You can take steps now to protect your heart, and it starts with getting a heart health checkup,” Nasir said.

HEART AND VASCULAR SCREENING A few simple tests can check for early signs of heart disease. “First we look at blood pressure, cholesterol levels, body mass and lifestyle factors that may put you at risk for heart disease,” Nasir explained. “Next, we take an in-depth look at family history of heart disease to better understand your risk.”

A heart scan, also known as calcium scoring, provides a detailed image of the heart and blood vessels. “Getting a heart scan can uncover hidden signs of heart disease so we can take action to reduce the risk of having a heart attack or stroke,” Nasir said.

If more information is needed, a cardiologist may order additional blood tests or lipid panels, 24-hour blood pressure monitoring, an ultrasound of the neck, imaging of smaller blood vessels, an exercise stress tests or other tests.

WHO NEEDS A HEART SCAN? Nasir recommends monitoring your heart health earlier than you might think. “If you’re over age 40, it’s time to check your heart health and consider getting a heart scan, especially if you have one or more risk factors for cardiovascular disease.” Risk factors include having high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes or a family history of heart disease at an early age (before age 65 for women and before age 55 for men).

Even if you don’t have risk factors, a heart scan may be helpful in detecting heart disease. “Among those who don’t have a family history of heart disease or other known risk factors, 1 in 5 have significant hidden risks, such as early signs of fat deposits in arteries,” Nasir said. “A heart scan is like a mammogram of the heart, and we should be thinking the same way about proactively checking for signs of heart disease.”

HELPING YOUR HEART Having a picture of your heart health gives you an opportunity to take action to reduce your risk factors. “Your heart health factors are unique, and being able to focus on those factors is key to heart disease prevention,” Nasir said. “Knowing this helps us pinpoint next steps that may have the most benefit for you.”

Depending on your results, recommendations may include diet changes, an exercise plan, heart medications, heart monitoring or a combination of preventive measures.

How’s Your Heart Health?

If you have high cholesterol or other risk factors, we can perform a heart and vascular screening to analyze your risk for heart disease. Please visit houstonmethodist.org/heartscans to learn more or call 713.DEBAKEY (332.2539) to schedule an appointment with a cardiologist at Houston Methodist.