When it comes to checking the health of your heart, there could be a myriad of tests that could leave you feeling intimidated and confused. But for a simple and basic check-up of your heart health, two tests are often recommended. Let’s understand them better.

1. Blood Tests
   
   This is done through a simple blood test. When your heart muscle has been damaged in any way, your body releases substances in your blood. Blood tests can measure the level of these substances in your blood & help you understand the current state of your heart. Blood tests are also done to measure level of other substances in your blood like blood fats, that give an indicator of your heart health. This is the Lipid Profile test or the Cholesterol test.
   
   The test typically includes:
   
   
   • A) Lipid Profile Tests
     
     Total Cholesterol: This measures the amount of cholesterol content in your blood. A high level can increase your risk of heart disease.
     
     Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol: This is often referred to as “bad” cholesterol. A high level of LDL cholesterol in your blood causes plaque to build-up in your arteries, which could then reduce blood flow. These plaque deposits can sometimes lead to major heart problems.
     
     High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol: This is often referred to as “good” cholesterol because it helps carry away LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, keeping arteries open and your blood flowing more freely.
     
     Triglycerides: Triglycerides are another type of fat in the blood. High triglyceride levels usually mean you regularly eat more calories than you burn. High levels can increase your risk of heart disease.
     
     Non-HDL cholesterol: Non-high density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) is the difference between total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol. Non-HDL-C includes cholesterol in lipoprotein particles that are involved in hardening of the arteries. Non-HDL-C fraction may be a better marker of risk than total cholesterol or LDL cholesterol.
     
     
   • B) Inflammation Test
     
     High-sensitivity C-reactive protein: C-reactive protein (CRP) is a protein your liver makes as part of your body's response to injury or infection, which causes swelling inside the body (inflammation). Inflammation plays a major role in the process of atherosclerosis. High-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) tests help determine your risk of heart disease before you have symptoms.
2. Electrocardiogram (ECG)
   
   An ECG reads your heart’s electrical impulses. It shows how well your heart is beating. Small sticky dots and wire leads are put on your chest, arms and legs. The leads are attached to an ECG machine which records the electrical impulses and prints them out on paper.
   
   Your doctor may use an ECG to diagnose a heart attack or abnormal heart rhythms (called 'arrhythmias').
   
   Basis the results of the above tests, your doctor could prescribe other tests for a deeper understanding and diagnosis.