What are the items of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular examination

The cardiovascular and cerebrovascular examination items mainly include blood pressure monitoring, blood lipid testing, blood glucose testing, electrocardiogram, carotid ultrasound, transcranial Doppler, cardiac ultrasound, coronary CTA, and head magnetic resonance imaging.

1. Blood pressure monitoring:

Blood pressure is the basic indicator for evaluating cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health. Long term hypertension can damage vascular endothelium and accelerate atherosclerosis, which is an important risk factor for stroke and coronary heart disease. Routine measurements include clinic blood pressure and home self measured blood pressure. If necessary, 24-hour dynamic blood pressure monitoring can be performed to comprehensively understand the fluctuation of blood pressure throughout the day and help doctors determine whether to initiate or adjust antihypertensive treatment plans.

2. Blood lipid testing:

Abnormal blood lipids are one of the core pathogenic factors of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. The risk of atherosclerosis can be assessed by drawing blood to check the levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Low density lipoprotein cholesterol, also known as bad cholesterol, can easily deposit and form plaques on blood vessel walls when its levels are too high, leading to vascular stenosis or blockage. High density lipoprotein cholesterol helps to clear excess cholesterol from blood vessels.

3. Blood glucose detection:

diabetes is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. High blood sugar levels can damage blood vessels and nerves, accelerating the process of arteriosclerosis. Routine tests include fasting blood glucose and two-hour postprandial blood glucose, and if necessary, glycated hemoglobin testing to reflect the average blood glucose level over the past three months. Early detection and intervention of blood glucose abnormalities can significantly reduce the probability of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events.

4. Electrocardiogram:

Electrocardiogram is the most commonly used method for checking cardiac electrical activity. Conventional resting electrocardiogram can screen for cardiac problems such as arrhythmia, myocardial ischemia, and myocardial infarction. For patients with chest tightness, palpitations, or suspected coronary heart disease, doctors may recommend dynamic electrocardiogram or exercise stress electrocardiogram to capture abnormal electrical signals of the heart during daily activities or exercise, and evaluate myocardial blood supply.

5. Carotid artery ultrasound:

The carotid artery is the main blood vessel connecting the heart and the brain. Carotid artery ultrasound can visually observe the thickness of the blood vessel wall, the presence or absence of plaque formation, and the nature and size of plaques. Carotid artery plaque is a window of systemic atherosclerosis, and its existence and stability are closely related to the risk of stroke. This examination is non-invasive and convenient, and is an important means of evaluating cerebrovascular health status and screening high-risk populations for stroke.

6. Transcranial Doppler:

Transcranial Doppler uses ultrasound to detect the blood flow velocity, direction, and spectral morphology of major intracranial arteries, which can evaluate the blood supply status and vascular elasticity of cerebral blood vessels. It is commonly used to screen for cerebral vascular stenosis, spasm, or occlusion, and has important value in identifying the causes of symptoms such as headache, dizziness, and cerebral ischemia. This examination is non-invasive, reproducible, and commonly used to monitor the treatment effectiveness of cerebrovascular diseases.

7. Cardiac ultrasound:

Cardiac ultrasound, also known as echocardiography, can display the structure, valve activity, wall motion, and pumping function of the heart in real time. It can diagnose congenital heart disease, heart valve disease, cardiomyopathy, pericardial effusion, and evaluate the degree of cardiac dysfunction. For patients with heart murmurs, palpitations, shortness of breath, or heart failure symptoms, cardiac ultrasound is an essential examination item.

8. Coronary CTA:

Coronary CTA is a CT scan performed after intravenous injection of contrast agent, which can clearly display the course, stenosis, calcification or plaque of coronary arteries. For patients with typical symptoms of angina or electrocardiogram indicating myocardial ischemia, this examination can non invasively assess the severity of coronary artery disease and help doctors decide whether further coronary angiography or interventional treatment is needed.

9. Head magnetic resonance imaging:

Head magnetic resonance imaging is one of the most accurate imaging methods for examining brain structure and lesions. It can clearly display brain tissue, cerebral blood vessels, ventricular system, as well as the presence or absence of new or old cerebral infarction, cerebral hemorrhage, brain tumors, or white matter lesions. For patients with symptoms such as headache, dizziness, limb numbness and weakness, unclear speech, or decreased memory, head magnetic resonance imaging can help identify the cause and evaluate the overall health status of cerebral blood vessels. There are many cardiovascular and cerebrovascular examination items, and the specific selection of which items needs to be comprehensively judged based on factors such as individual age, underlying diseases, symptoms, and family history. It is recommended to undergo targeted examinations under the guidance of a doctor, pay attention to controlling blood pressure, blood lipids, and blood sugar, maintain a low salt and low-fat diet, exercise moderately, quit smoking and limit alcohol consumption, and undergo regular physical examinations to effectively prevent the occurrence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.