[Wellness] Tests that could save your life

["Karen Patterson" <Patterson@womens-wellness.com>]

These are routine screenings for heart disease which is presently killing
more women than cancer.

C-Reactive Protiein (CRP) a protein found in blood that signals artery
inflammation, CRP may predict heart disease in women even better than
cholesterol test do, according to a November 2002 study at Brigham and
Women's Hopital in Boston.  While this blood test isn't yet part of standard
heart screening, it's available from most doctors and accepted by many
insurance plans.

Cholesterol  Have your cholesterol checked every five years, ideally
starting at age 20  This test tracks your total cholesterol (which should be
under 200), TTriglycerides (200 or lowew with 150 to 1299 borderline high),
bad cholestoerol LDL (Less than 160 mg/dl with 130 to 159 borderline) and
good cholesterol HDL (above 45, 60 or more lowers risk)  The latest thinking
is that even borderline-high cholesterol or triglycerides should be treated
with lifestyle changes or in some cases, medication.

Blood Pressure  Have it checked annually.  Previously, blood pressure below
140/90 was considered normal.  Under new guidelines people with pressure
betwen 120 and 139 systolic (the top number)or 80 and 89 diastolic (bottom
number) are considered to have "prehypertension" and should make lifestyle
changes.  Thosewith blood pressure of 160/1000 or higher are usually put on
medication.

Blood Glucose  Have your blood glucose checked every three years starting at
age 45 or earlier and more often if you have a family hisotry of diabetes.
Diabetes is a particular heart disease risk factor for women--increasing
heart attack danger three to seven times.  Diabetes is defined as a blood
sugar level of 126/dl while readings of 110 to 125 are considered elevated
and raise risk of both diabetes and heart disease.

Other test  If you have many risk factors or are experienceing symptoms,
there are more advance screening test you may ask about, including
electrocardiogram (EKG), stress tests, echocardiography (ultrasound),
angiography (X-ray and cardiac catheriterication), or heart scans using
electron beam tomography (EBT)

Best to total wellness and proactive patients,
Karen Patterson, Founder of Womens-Wellness.com and a breast cancer survivor



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