Cardiac Screenings: Why and When You Need Them

You probably take your car into the shop to change its oil periodically. You likely do some maintenance around the house, like cleaning out your gutters or swapping your air filters. 

Your body is no different. Tackling maintenance on a regular basis can go a long way toward preventing serious issues. That’s particularly true when it comes to your heart health. 

Here at Manhattan Integrative Cardiovascular in Midtown East Manhattan, New York City, David Bolon, MD, offers cardiac screenings to help you get this preventive care. By visiting our office, you can check your heart health and get a jump on treating any problems that arise before they have a chance to grow. 

When to start screening

The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends starting certain cardiac screenings at age 20. You have various screening tools available to evaluate your heart health, and Dr. Bolon and the AHA recommend using them all periodically. 

Specifically, you should get your blood pressure checked starting at age 20. Assuming it stays healthy — under 120/80 mm Hg — you only need to get this cardiac screening every other year. 

At 20, you should also start checking your cholesterol regularly, which means getting a fasting lipid profile. When you have healthy cholesterol levels, the AHA and Dr. Bolon generally recommend these screenings every 4–6 years. 

At age 45, you should start getting your blood sugar levels checked every three years. 

At each of your annual physicals with your doctor, you should also discuss your lifestyle habits and current weight. Your doctor can help you develop a plan to protect your overall health and may recommend a more detailed cardiac health evaluation with a specialist like Dr. Bolon. 

If your blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, or any other screening comes back with less-than-ideal results, Dr. Bolon recommends more regular screenings. This way, he can closely monitor the factors that impact your heart health — and help you develop a plan to prevent issues like heart attacks. 

What to expect at your screening

Ultimately, most people benefit from a thorough cardiac screening every other year or so, starting at age 20. Dr. Bolon and our team can provide that right here at Manhattan Integrative Cardiovascular. 

Our cardiac evaluations start with a conversation about your personal and family health history and lifestyle choices. This helps Dr. Bolon determine if you would benefit from genetic testing and more advanced screening, like an echocardiogram or a carotid ultrasound. 

Even if you don’t have anything suggesting a higher risk of heart health problems, Dr. Bolon and our team perform a thorough evaluation. That includes checking your:

• Blood pressure
• Cholesterol 
• Blood sugar
• Body mass index

If you want to schedule your thorough, convenient cardiac screening, call (716) 303-4738 or book your appointment online today.