Blood and Lab Tests for Heart, Stroke and Cardiovascular Disease

The 9-1-1 on heart attack and stroke.

The 9-1-1 on heart attack and stroke.

It would seem that heart attacks and strokes are easy to recognize. Sudden pain, grip the chest, fall on the floor, dial 9-1-1, right? Not always. Women and men have similar symptoms of heart attacks and strokes. The challenge lies in the fact that many people don't know they are suffering from one of these potentially catastrophic events until it is too late. Because symptoms may be mild, many assume it is something less dangerous.  If you experience the following symptoms - especially if you are at high risk or have blood tests that show potential for problems, do not hesitate to call 9-1-1. A false alarm may be a little embarrassing. Missing the symptoms can be fatal. Speed in gaining help can save your life.

Risk factors for heart disease

There are several risk factors contributing to cardiovascular disease. Some of these can be changed through lifestyle choices.

• Age - We can't stop the clock. More than 83 percent of people who die of coronary heart disease are 65 and older.
• Sex - Men carry a greater risk of heart attack than women - and have heart attacks earlier in life. However, women should remain vigilant, as they age, women who suffer heart attacks are more likely than men to die from them within a few weeks of the first heart attack.
• Genes - If your parents or grandparents had heart disease, chances are more likely that you will develop the disease as well. African Americans, Mexican Americans, American Indians, native Hawaiians and some Asian Americans also have a higher risk than Caucasians because of a number of factors. African Americans have a higher incidence of high blood pressure and higher rates of obesity and diabetes.
• Smoking - Smokers have a much higher risk of cardiovascular disease.
• High blood cholesterol - Although some cholesterol issues are genetically related, many factors such as diet and exercise can affect high cholesterol.
• High blood pressure - in addition to increasing the risk for heart attacks, it increases your risk of stroke, heart attack, kidney failure and congestive heart failure.
• Sedentary lifestyle - Regular activity helps reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
• Obesity- Being overweight can cause undue strain on the heart and contributes to other risk factors that increase likelihood of cardiovascular disease.
• Diabetes mellitus - uncontrolled blood sugar can increase the incidence of heart related events.
• Stress response - studies point to a relationship with managing stress and heart disease. The better you are able to manage stress, the more you decrease your risk.
• Alcohol abuse - can lead to several factors that increase risk for heart attacks.

Risk factors for Stroke

Many of the same risk factors for stroke are similar to those of cardiovascular disease.

• Age 
• Genetics 
• Sex (gender) - Similar to heart disease, stroke is more common in men, however more than half of total stroke deaths occur in women.  
• Prior stroke, TIA (mini stroke) or heart attack
• High blood pressure - High blood pressure is the leading cause of stroke.
• Smoking
• Diabetes mellitus 
• Carotid or other artery disease - atherosclerosis - plaque buildup in artery walls. This narrowing of the artery walls can cause blockage and lead to stroke. The carotid artery is located in your neck.
•  Peripheral artery disease (PAD)- is the narrowing of blood vessels carrying blood to leg and arm muscles caused by plaque build-up. People with PAD have a higher risk for carotid artery disease and stroke.
• Atrial fibrillation - an abnormal heart rhythm can cause blood to pool and cause clots. If a clot breaks off, it can clog an artery and cause a stroke
• Other heart disease - a combination of heart problems can increase risk of stroke.
• Sickle cell disease (also called sickle cell anemia) 
• High blood cholesterol 
• Diet high in saturated fat
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Obesity  
• Geographic location - Strokes are more common in the southeastern United States
• Socioeconomic factors - Studies have linked lower income people with higher risk of strokes.
• Alcohol and drug abuse 

Symptoms of Heart Attacks

• Chest discomfort - usually in the center of the chest. This pain can be constant or go away and come back. It can be mistaken for indigestion. It is often described as pressure or pain.
• Left arm, back or jaw pain
• Shortness of breath
• Breaking out in a cold sweat
• Nausea
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Anxiety - foreboding sense of doom

Symptoms of Strokes

• Sudden numbness or weakness in your face, arm or leg - especially on one side of the body
• Sudden confusion - difficulty understanding and speaking
• Sudden trouble seeing out of one or both eyes
• Sudden dizziness, disorientation, difficulty walking, loss of balance

Sudden severe headache with no known cause

• http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4648
• http://www.wral.com/lifestyles/healthteam/story/3155259/
• http://www.medicinenet.com/c-reactive_protein_test_crp/article.htm
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apolipoprotein_B
• http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4726
• http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4716
• http://www.strokeassociation.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1200037
• http://www.cdc.gov/wisewoman/
• http://www.wral.com/lifestyles/healthteam/story/3155259/
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myocardial_infarction
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stroke
• http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/apob/test.html