Heart-related complications claim countless lives in California daily, often because warning signs go unnoticed until it is too late to intervene. It's crucial to recognize that maintaining a healthy heart is essential for optimal physical health. Early detection and diagnosis of heart conditions are vital for successful treatment. Our professional medical team will work with your doctor to assess your unique symptoms, medical history, and risk factors to recommend the necessary tests to evaluate your heart health accurately.
ARCpoint Labs of San Rafael, CA, performs heart health testing for those who may be uninsured or under-insured (high deductibles). Keep reading to learn more about our heart health testing services in San Rafael.
What Does the Heart Test Include?
Your heart is a powerhouse that pumps blood and transports oxygen and nutrients to the rest of your body. Therefore, blood tests can provide the information your doctor requires about your heart health. Your doctor knows how to test heart health with blood tests and may recommend one of the following:
Cholesterol Test
This test measures the amount of fats (cholesterol) in your blood. The results can help your doctor determine your risk for a heart attack or other heart conditions. Cholesterol tests may include:
- Total cholesterol - This test determines your blood's total amount of cholesterol. Cholesterol higher than 200 mg/dl can increase your risk of a heart attack.
- Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol - Too much LDL cholesterol in your blood can cause blockages in your arteries. This impedes blood flow, leading to potentially severe heart disease.
- High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol - HDL carries LDL away from the arteries and promotes free blood flow.
- Triglycerides - The amount of triglycerides indicates how high your calorie intake is. High triglyceride levels indicate excessive calorie intake, increasing your risk of a heart attack.
High-Sensitive C-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP)
The liver produces C-reactive protein (CRP) when your body identifies infection or injury; this protein can cause inflammation. With an hs-CRP, your doctor can determine your risk of a heart attack before symptoms arise. By combining hs-CRP test results with other blood tests, your doctor can clearly understand your heart health.
Lipoprotein (a)
This type of LDL cholesterol tests your risk for heart disease. Your doctor may recommend this test if you have a genetic predisposition to heart disease. Your doctor may order this test if your cholesterol level is average, but you have signs of heart disease.
Troponin T
Troponin T refers to a protein in the heart muscles. A high-sensitivity troponin T is used to determine the risk of heart disease.
What Will this Test Tell Me about My Heart Health?
Blood tests are one of the most effective measures of heart health, providing essential information about your heart performance and heart disease risk. For example, high cholesterol in your blood may indicate an increased risk of a heart attack. Other substances in your blood help determine the risk of fatty deposits in your arteries.
How Long it Take to See My Test Results?
Taking blood samples for heart health testing takes only a few minutes. However, you may have to wait a few days or weeks to get your results. How long you have to wait depends on the type of blood test and what your doctor wants to find out.
For example, you may get the results of a simple metabolic panel test within a day. The results of a complete blood count may also be available within a day. However, the results of a comprehensive metabolic panel test may take three to five days.
Get Heart Health Testing ASAP at ARCpoint Labs of San Rafael
The results of your heart health tests are crucial to treating heart disease before it escalates. At ARCpoint Labs of San Rafael, we collect blood samples and send them to labs like Quest Labs to get effective results. Our staff is trained and qualified to draw blood samples and perform other tests like urine tests.
If you want to know more about your health, visit ARCpoint Labs of San Rafael to get tested. Contact us today for more information or schedule heart health services for residents of Marin and Sonoma counties, and the North Bay.