World Heart Day: Decode the common heart tests for a healthy life

By Dr Prashant Shetty

Fast-paced life has increased stress levels and hypertension, and put our hearts at risk. The changing lifestyle over the past two decades have put the Indian heart at extreme risk, making cardiovascular diseases (CVD) a national healthcare challenge.

India, known as the global cardiac capital, has a cardiovascular disease death rate of 272 per lakh population. A recent study states that in India, around 41% patients have low levels of good cholesterol, while a greater patient population (around 71%) suffer from high LDL cholesterol levels.


While it is important to focus on promoting an active lifestyle and avoid/control consumption of tobacco /alcohol, one should ensure a balanced nutrition for healthy heart.


One should periodically undergo tests and keep a tab on the vitals of heart's health. Here's a smart way to decode the most common heart tests:

HsCRP - C Reactive Protein
This protein is produced when there is inflammation within your body. So a positive HsC-reactive test indicates that there is some inflammation in the body. If it is in the arteries, chances of cardiac disease, heart attack, and stroke increases. It also helps to indicate cholesterol levels. It involves a simple blood test. Test results below 1.0 mg indicates low risk, between 1.0 to 2.9 mg indicates intermediate risk, and more than 3 mg indicates high risk. One needs to consult a doctor while interpreting HsCRP tests because HsCRP flares up due to other inflammations as well.

Creatine Kinase-Muscle/Brain (CK-MB)
This test is an important cardiac marker and helps in predicting possible myocardial infarction. It checks the enzyme creatine kinase in your blood. The human body makes 3 forms of creatine kinase, which are found in the heart, muscles, brain and other organs. High CK-MB levels can directly indicate heart damage, and the test is usually prescribed to patients suffering heart attack. The normal serum CK-MB range from 3 to 5% (percentage of total CK). This also is a blood test, and higher levels of CK-MB mean the person has suffered heart attack or muscle damage.

Lipid Profile Basic
This test is the cholesterol report. The test reveals the composition of good cholesterol (high density lipoprotein or HDL), bad cholesterol (low density lipoprotein or LDL) in the blood, and blood fat or triglycerides. HDL should be more than 60 mg/dL (1.55 mmol/L), and LDL in the blood should be less than 100 mg/dL (2.59 mmol/L). Normal range for triglycerides is less than 150 mg/dL (1.7 mmol/L). This test helps the doctor determine the chances of atherosclerosis or the condition of plaque deposition in arteries.

Vitamin B12 Cyanocobalamin
This is yet another crucial test which gives insight into heart's health. The normal level of vitamin B12 in your bloodstream is between 190 and 900 ng/mL.

NT-Pro B-Type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP)
The test is useful in diagnosis of congestive heart failure. Normal level of NT-proBNP is less than 125 pg/mL. Studies have shown that the measured concentrations of circulating NT-proBNP increase with the severity of CHF based on the New York Heart Association classification.

Haemoglobin A1c
The test is used in evaluating the long-term control of blood glucose concentrations in diabetic patients. Diagnosis of diabetes and identifying patients at increased risk for diabetes (prediabetes). People without diabetes should have haemoglobin between 4% and 5.6%, and if it reaches between 5.7% and 6.4%, chance of getting diabetes is higher. Diabetes is the condition which if left uncontrolled leads to various heart-related diseases.

(The author is Executive Director (Biochemistry, Haematology & Immunoassay Department) at iGenetic Diagnostics)