Heart attack kills millions of people every year around the world. Since the coronavirus pandemic, its risk is seen increasing even in younger people. Health experts say that people who already have heart problems, high blood pressure, or cholesterol may be at higher risk of heart attack. This is an emergency in which the patient needs immediate medical attention.
Heart attack is a sudden problem, to prevent it, it is important to keep blood pressure and cholesterol under control and take care of heart health continuously.
Is there any way to know in advance whether you are at risk of a heart attack or not? In a study related to this, Swedish experts have given great relief. According to a Swedish study, a new home test can detect the risk of a possible heart attack in just five minutes. Experts say that it is quite accurate and with its help millions of lives can be saved every year.
Test to detect heart attack
Scientists said that this is an artificial intelligence-based kit (DIY test kit) with a questionnaire set that can identify people at risk of heart attack with the same accuracy as a doctor's examination. According to research, this test can help detect the risks of heart attack with the same accuracy as blood tests and blood pressure.
The study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association used data from 25,000 people aged 50-64 years. Goran Bergstrom, professor at Gothenburg University and head of the study, says, our test has helped to easily identify the risk of coronary atherosclerosis and heart diseases in about two-thirds of the people.
This can be detected with a DIY test
Researchers write, that heart attack often occurs suddenly. Many people who have heart attacks are also healthy and asymptomatic, but investigation reveals that fat has accumulated in their coronary arteries, which is known as atherosclerosis. This test has been named DIY. It consists of 14 questions related to your age, gender, weight, belly fat, whether you smoke or not, blood pressure levels, family history of heart diseases, blood fat, and blood sugar.
The AI-based algorithm is used
Experts said that this AI-based algorithm is based on responses that can detect the risk of heart attack in high-risk people by assessing the answers to all the questions. If we can make these test kits widely available to people, it can prove helpful in identifying those at risk of heart attack and saving their lives.
Professor Bergstrom says we are soon going to test it in the United States as well to evaluate how the test works on different groups.
Test kit will be available soon
The team of experts said that we will start making DIY kits available in some places by the end of this month, which will first be available to local doctors. The kit, in addition to giving an accurate reading of heart attack risk, will also give patients cholesterol readings, estimate their heart age, and calculate a body mass index score.
People between the ages of 40-75, who are currently taking blood pressure medication, can get the test done free of cost from their doctor. Pocdoc, the maker of the kit, says that performing the test and getting the results can all be done within nine minutes.
(PC: ISTOCK)
