The tests, in plain English
Start with the basics: blood pressure, a cholesterol panel, blood sugar and your family history. They do most of the work. ApoB and a one-time Lp(a) test add useful detail for some people, and a heart scan helps most when your risk sits in the middle and a decision could go either way.
Think of your arteries like the pipes in a house. Blood tests show how much is flowing through that could clog them. A heart scan looks inside the pipes for buildup that's already there.
Blood pressure
The biggest single number for heart risk.
Cholesterol panel
It shows how much cholesterol and fat are in your blood, which is what slowly builds up as plaque.
ApoB
Counts the particles that actually get stuck in artery walls.
Lp(a)
An inherited marker that raises heart risk on its own, even when your other numbers look healthy.
Calcium score
A quick CT scan that shows hardened plaque already sitting in the heart's arteries.
Coronary CT angiogram
A more detailed scan that shows soft and hard plaque, plus any narrowing.
Heart health in Chicago, by the numbers
The rate of high blood pressure in Chicago is lower than the national rate. In Chicago, 31.2% of adults have high blood pressure, compared with 34.4% nationally. That adds up to roughly 2,050,000 adults across seven counties.
By county
| County | High blood pressure | High cholesterol (of those checked) | Coronary heart disease |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cook | 31.0% | 34.2% | 5.3% |
| DuPage | 30.7% | 35.9% | 5.3% |
| Lake | 32.4% | 36.8% | 5.4% |
| Will | 32.0% | 34.0% | 5.3% |
| Kane | 30.4% | 34.4% | 5.7% |
| McHenry | 33.7% | 35.7% | 5.6% |
| Kendall | 29.6% | 32.5% | 4.4% |
| Chicago | 31.2% | 34.6% | 5.3% |
| United States | 34.4% | 36.4% | 6.3% |
Source: CDC PLACES, 2023 county estimates. Chicago = Cook, DuPage, Lake, Kane, McHenry, Will and Kendall counties, weighted by adult population.
longevityclinicshub.comBlood pressure and cholesterol are part of an ordinary checkup, so your regular doctor is the place to start. The tests above add detail once you know those basics.
