Heart Health Panel

How the Heart Health Panel Works

The heart health panel is simple to understand; all you need to do is place your online order and visit one of our 4000+ testing centers after setting an appointment. A certified employee will take a blood sample through a painless process that takes a few minutes. You will not take more than half an hour within the facility unless there are underlying issues resulting in delays. Once your blood sample is attained, it will be processed in a CLIA-certified laboratory, and get your results within 24 and 72 hours. It will also ascertain some heart health risk factors that might increase the chances of cardiovascular diseases.

Common Heart Health Symptoms

Heart diseases can depict various conditions impacting the heart. For instance, some diseases patients might face include blood vessel diseases such as coronary artery diseases, irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias¹), congenital heart defects, heart muscle disease, or heart valve disease. From these heart conditions, there are common symptoms that might assist in determining your condition, such as:

•   Chest pain
•   Chest tightness and discomfort (angina²)
•   Dizziness
•   Lightheadedness
•   Racing heartbeat (tachycardia³)
•   Swelling in the legs
•   Pale gray or blue skin (cyanosis⁴)
•   Easily tiring during exercise or activity
•   Swelling of the hands

How to Interpret Your Results

Our test results are made as simple as possible for easy interpretation. The blood test might ascertain different conditions. For instance, an analysis of blood cholesterol levels in your blood might indicate an increased risk of a heart attack. Additionally, other substances in your blood can assist in determining whether you suffer from heart failure or are at risk of developing fatty deposits in arteries. When reviewing the blood test results, you will see a ‘results,’ ‘flag,’ and ‘reference range’ column. The reference range will indicate the level of heart health, while the result will offer numerical values that describe quantitative blood features such as lipid levels. Finally, the final result will be indicated under the flag section, which will report whether your heart functions normally or abnormally. An abnormal flag result will indicate possible conditions hence the need for medical attention. 

Heart Blood Tests Vs. Electrocardiogram (ECG)

Heart health can be evaluated through various tests, and for instance, there is a blood test option or an electrocardiogram option. The blood tests it relies on muscle damage which in most instances is considered a heart attack. A blood test can measure the compounds the body releases into the blood after such an incident to determine the degree of heart muscle damage. Blood tests are also performed to ascertain the level of other substances in the blood, including blood fats such as cholesterol and triglycerides, vitamins, and minerals. Blood is usually taken from your vein to the laboratory for testing, and results are sent to a doctor who deciphers them. 

An electrocardiogram⁵, which monitors electrical impulses to reveal how well your heart beats, can be used in addition to blood tests to assess heart health. It is a quick test that measures electrical activity and cardiac rhythm. When your heart beats, sensors are typically affixed to your skin to monitor the electrical signals. A machine captures such signals, and a doctor examines them to look for unique patterns. It can be used with other tests to help with heart disease monitoring and diagnosis. For instance, it can identify chest pain, lightheadedness, and shortness of breath, among many other problems.