Earlier than you think …
If cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality in the world, many wrongly think that they only concern seniors. However, according to cardiologists, a preventive heart balance may (and should) be considered much earlier. Even in the absence of symptoms. This check-up generally includes measurement of blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol. “The electrocardiogram does not enter the standard prevention assessment: it can be justified in athletes or in the presence of unusual symptoms (palpitations, abnormal shortness of breath, chest pain). In these cases, the ECG is used to search for a precise cause and not for general screening”explains Professor Gérard Helft, cardiologist and president of the French Cardiology Federation
There is no extremely precise age to make a cardiac check-up. “”A first blood test, with control of blood sugar, cholesterol on the one hand and measurement of blood pressure – three major risk factors – is completely justified in young adults, around 20-25 years. This is the ideal moment to obtain reference figures. It is also an opportunity for the doctor to interrogate on family history and lifestyle“, Specifies our interlocutor. In case of smoking, information is essential to obtain smoking cessation. This assessment is often carried out in women when she consults a gynecologist, but nothing prevents it from doing so in young men.
Then, we recommend making a check-up around 40 years, or even 35 years if risk factors are present (tobacco, hypertension, diabetes, cholesterol, overweight) or if there are family history of cardiovascular disease. It is also advisable to consult your doctor in case of unusual symptoms: chest pain, unusual shortness of breath, headache, earring, visual flashes, dizziness … In the absence of aggravating factors, we recommend monitoring every 5 years. “”When we get older, past fifties, the search for cardiovascular risk factors can be a little more frequent, every 2-3 years for example“Says the cardiologist.
What really matters is the addition of risk factors. The overall cardiovascular risk can be easily calculated using a questionnaire proposed by the French Cardiology Federation. This score assesses the probability of developing cardiovascular disease in the next 10 years taking into account several factors such as age, sex, blood pressure, cholesterol, smoking and the presence of diabetes. It identifies people at high risk and adapting preventive measures accordingly.
