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Tests to determine your risk of heart disease: thyroid function and blood pressure tests, pulse rate TESTS TO DETERMINE YOUR RISK OF HEART DISEASE: THYROID FUNCTION AND BLOOD PRESSURE TESTS, PULSE RATE
Thyroid Function Test
An underactive thyroid gland, called hypothyroidism is extremely common, and actually affects one third of post-menopausal women. If your thyroid gland is underactive, all metabolic processes in your body slow down. You will probably gain weight, and the metabolism of cholesterol slows down too. This means that your cholesterol level may rise, even if you don't have other risk factors for high cholesterol. Thankfully it is easy to treat thyroid problems safely and adequately. When this occurs, cholesterol levels usually normalize by themselves.
Hormone Normal reference range
Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) 0.5-5.OmU/L
Free T 4 9.0-24.0pmol/L
FreeT3 2.2-5.4pmol/L
Blood pressure
If your blood pressure is too high, a great deal of stress is placed on your arteries, as blood whooshes through them at increased pressure. Eventually small tears occur in the inner lining (endothelium) of your arteries. This makes them stickier and it is more likely that fats and other substances in your bloodstream will cling to your arteries, starting atherosclerosis. Hypertension is a major risk factor for stroke as well as heart attacks.
The most common apparatus used to measure blood pressure is called a sphygmomanometer. An ideal blood pressure is considered 120/80 mmHg; referred to as 120 over 80. The top reading is the systolic value and indicates the pressure of blood in your arteries during a contraction of the left ventricle of the heart. The bottom reading is the diastolic value, and indicates the pressure inside your arteries when the heart is at rest.
The Australian Heart Foundation classifies blood pressure as "high-normal" if it is between 120/80 and 140/90 mmHg. You are considered to have high blood pressure if your reading is above 140/90 mmHg. It is best not to smoke or consume caffeine containing foods such as coffee for two hours before this test, as it may give a falsely high reading. Anxiety will have the same effect. It is normal for blood pressure to rise as we get older. If you have a strong family history of hypertension, it is very likely you will be affected also. It is essential to treat high blood pressure, as it is dangerous; medication is very effective at this. Cholesterol lowering drugs do not lower blood pressure.
Pulse rate
This is a simple test you can do yourself to determine how well your heart is functioning. It will tell you how many times your heart beats per minute. Find your pulse on a location such as your wrist or neck, ask someone to time you for one minute and count how many times you feel your pulse beat in that time. Generally the slower your pulse, the fitter you are and the stronger your heart. The exceptions are if you have heart disease or a pacemaker. It is important to check your pulse after you have rested for some time, or first thing in the morning. Ideally it should be below 60, and definitely not above 70.
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