Cardiovascular disease screenings

Cardiovascular disease includes heart disease (heart failure, arrhythmia, heart valve problems, coronary artery disease), stroke, and peripheral vascular disease.

Know the Facts About Heart Disease

Who is at risk

Risk factors for cardiovascular disease include:

• Diabetes
• Family history of cardiovascular disease
• High-fat diet
• History of previous heart disease
• Hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol)
• Hypertension
• Lack of exercise
• Obesity
• Smoking
• Stress

Symptoms

The first symptom may be a heart attack or stroke.

What you can do

There are things you can do to lower your risk.

• Quit smoking.
• Eat a heart-healthy diet.
• Control high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, and stress.

Preventive service at no cost

Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) covers cardiovascular screening blood tests once every 5 years (at least 59 months after the last covered screening tests).

Why screening is important

While some risk factors are out of your control, other factors can be changed. People can live healthier, more active lives after making lifestyle changes.

It can have benefits for CVD risk in overweight or obese adults who are at increased risk for CVD, including decreases in blood pressure, lipid and fasting glucose levels, and body mass index (BMI) and increases in levels of physical activity.

What the screening is

Blood tests for cholesterol, lipid, and triglyceride levels. These screenings include blood tests that help detect conditions that may lead to a heart attack or stroke.

Treatment

Treatment will depend on what type of cardiovascular disease your doctor diagnoses. It may include medications, surgery, and/or monitoring.

Additional tips

Changing your exercise and eating habits may have other benefits:

• Lower your risk for diabetes.
• Lose weight