Heart Health Screen
£99
Why This Screen is Important
This screen evaluates key markers of cardiovascular health including cholesterol levels, diabetes risk, and inflammation which are all important factors in assessing heart disease risk.
Abnormal lipid levels may indicate increased cardiovascular risk. Elevated HbA1c suggests poor blood sugar control. High CRP levels may indicate inflammation in the body.
Key Tests Included
Cholesterol is a fatty substance that your body needs to build healthy cells, produce hormones and make vitamin D. Although cholesterol is essential for good health, having too much cholesterol in your blood can increase your risk of heart disease and stroke. Measuring total cholesterol provides an overall assessment of your cholesterol level and is interpreted alongside HDL, LDL and triglycerides to give a more complete picture of your cardiovascular health.
Often referred to as "good cholesterol", HDL helps remove excess cholesterol from your bloodstream and transports it back to the liver, where it can be broken down and removed from the body. Higher HDL levels are generally associated with a lower risk of heart disease, making this an important marker of cardiovascular health. Maintaining healthy HDL levels is often supported by regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding smoking.
LDL is commonly known as "bad cholesterol" because high levels can lead to cholesterol building up within the walls of your arteries. Over time, this can narrow the arteries and increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular diseases. Monitoring LDL cholesterol is one of the most important ways of assessing long-term cardiovascular risk and is often used to guide lifestyle changes and cholesterol-lowering treatment where appropriate.
Non-HDL cholesterol measures all of the cholesterol that may contribute to the build-up of fatty deposits within your arteries. It includes LDL cholesterol as well as several other potentially harmful cholesterol particles. Many specialists consider non-HDL cholesterol to be one of the best indicators of cardiovascular risk, particularly in people with diabetes, obesity or raised triglyceride levels.
Triglycerides are a type of fat found in your blood that your body uses as a source of energy. After eating, excess calories that are not immediately required are converted into triglycerides and stored in fat tissue. Persistently raised triglyceride levels may be associated with obesity, diabetes, excessive alcohol consumption, diets high in sugar and refined carbohydrates, and some inherited conditions. High triglyceride levels increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and, when very high, may also increase the risk of pancreatitis.
The cholesterol-to-HDL ratio compares your total cholesterol with your HDL ("good") cholesterol. Rather than looking at individual cholesterol measurements alone, this ratio provides an overall assessment of cardiovascular risk by considering both protective and harmful cholesterol. In general, a lower ratio is associated with a lower risk of heart disease, while a higher ratio may indicate an increased cardiovascular risk.
Creatinine is a waste product produced naturally by your muscles as part of normal daily activity. Healthy kidneys remove creatinine from the blood and excrete it in urine, making it one of the most widely used markers of kidney function. Raised creatinine levels may indicate reduced kidney function, although levels can also be influenced by muscle mass, dehydration, certain medications and recent strenuous exercise. Measuring creatinine alongside eGFR provides a more complete assessment of kidney health.
eGFR estimates how efficiently your kidneys filter waste products and excess fluid from your blood. It is calculated using your creatinine level together with factors such as your age and sex. eGFR is one of the most important indicators of kidney function and is commonly used to detect and monitor chronic kidney disease. A persistently reduced eGFR may suggest impaired kidney function and should always be interpreted alongside your clinical history and other blood test results.
Urea is a waste product formed when your body breaks down protein. It is transported in the bloodstream and removed by the kidneys. Measuring urea helps assess kidney function, hydration status and protein metabolism.
Sodium is an essential electrolyte that helps regulate fluid balance, blood pressure, nerve signalling and muscle function. Your kidneys and hormones work together to keep sodium levels within a narrow range. Abnormal sodium levels may occur with dehydration, kidney disease, heart failure, hormonal disorders or certain medications, and can affect normal brain and muscle function.
Chloride is an electrolyte that works alongside sodium and potassium to help maintain fluid balance, blood pressure and the body's acid-base balance. Abnormal chloride levels often occur alongside changes in other electrolytes and may be associated with dehydration, kidney disease, prolonged vomiting, diarrhoea or metabolic disorders.
HbA1c (glycated haemoglobin) measures your average blood glucose level over approximately the previous 2 to 3 months by assessing how much glucose has attached to your red blood cells. Unlike a single glucose reading, HbA1c provides a long-term picture of blood sugar control and is regarded as the gold standard test for diagnosing and monitoring diabetes. Raised HbA1c levels may indicate pre-diabetes or diabetes and, if left untreated, are associated with an increased risk of complications including heart disease, kidney disease, nerve damage and diabetic eye disease. Monitoring HbA1c can also help assess how well diabetes treatment and lifestyle changes are working over time.
C-Reactive Protein (CRP) is produced by the liver in response to inflammation anywhere in the body. It is a sensitive marker that rises rapidly following infection, injury or inflammation but does not identify the specific cause.
This marker tests for ‘High-sensitivity CRP’ which measures very low levels of inflammation that may not be detected by a standard CRP test. It is commonly used to assess low-grade inflammation associated with cardiovascular disease.
Pre-Test Instructions
- Non-Fasting Lipids: The Lipid Profile in this screen will be performed on a random (non-fasting) sample. You may eat and drink as normal before your test.