Heart Health Test

Understanding Heart Disease Risk: Cholesterol, Triglycerides, and Blood Sugar

Heart disease (also known as cardiovascular disease), including coronary artery disease, heart attack, and congestive heart failure, is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the US. Cardiovascular disease is preventable for many people, and understanding the different risk factors is the first step in maintaining a healthy heart muscle. Screening via measurements of cholesterol and other markers can help shed light on one's risk factors.

High LDL cholesterol and triglycerides have been linked to a number of diseases, such as coronary heart disease (including heart attack), stroke, peripheral artery disease and atherosclerosis, high blood pressure (hypertension), and type II diabetes. Because LDL cholesterol can trigger the formation of plaque and damage the heart's arteries (or coronary arteries), controlling your blood cholesterol levels can be key to reducing your risk for these disorders.

Not only do we measure your lipids (total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and triglycerides), but we also measure another important marker for cardiovascular disease: HbA1c.

HbA1c levels are considered to be a good measure of your 90-day glucose levels and do not vary as much day-to-day as your standard glucose marker. HbA1c measurements are not a substitute for measuring daily glucose if your healthcare provider has prescribed that you do so. High HbA1c levels are widely considered to be indicative that you either have or have an elevated risk for developing, type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Diabetes is a significant risk factor for heart disease.

How often you should test your lipids and/or HbA1c depends on many factors, so talk with your healthcare provider about the testing frequency that’s right for you.

The Everlywell Heart Health Test is not a heart scan or EKG; instead, this test can help identify or monitor certain risk factors associated with heart disease, such as elevated LDL cholesterol levels.

(Heart tests typically refer to specific forms of cardiac testing a cardiologist or other specialist might carry out in certain clinical contexts. Examples include echocardiograms, CT scans, and exercise stress tests—which may help a healthcare professional better understand someone's abnormal heart rhythm and heart rate.)

If you’re wondering how to test for heart disease risk or how to check heart health at home, the Everlywell Heart Health Test can be a great place to start—but be sure you share your results with your healthcare provider to better understand your specific risk for developing heart disease.

Per AHA guidelines, you should consider taking this test if you:

• Take cholesterol medication

• Have a family history of high cholesterol or heart disease

• Have a personal or family history of type 2 diabetes

• Are overweight

• Drink alcohol frequently

• Smoke

• Don't exercise

When it comes to heart health, it’s important to check triglyceride and cholesterol levels (the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association guidelines recommend cholesterol screening in healthy adults ages 20 and older every 4-6 years), and testing HbA1c levels can provide more information about your heart health risks. This test allows you to check several different key indicators of risk for heart disease—all from the convenience of home.

In addition to knowing your numbers, Everlywell can provide suggestions to jumpstart a healthier lifestyle with your results from our Heart Health Test. As always, we encourage you to share your results with your healthcare provider, who can provide more specific guidance on lifestyle changes.

• Importance of Heart Health

• Mindfulness can improve heart health

• Tips for avoiding heart disease

• Why routine lab testing for heart disease matters