Every year thousands of Australians die from heart disease, making tests for heart disease extremely important. Although anyone can benefit from testing, there are various risk factors and if you have diabetes, are obese or there is a history of heart disease in your family, testing is a must. High blood pressure, a lack of exercise and a sedentary lifestyle, and smoking regularly can also increase the likelihood of heart disease. There are several different types of tests that can be carried out, and your doctor can advise you on which are most appropriate or accurate. In general, testing is quick, easy and painless and may involve a simple blood test, or perhaps being monitored while running on a treadmill and connected to an EKG. The important thing is to recognize the importance of heart disease testing, especially if you are at a higher risk.
