HEALTH CHECKS
Heart Health Check — Cholesterol, Blood Pressure and Cardiovascular Risk
A practical guide to private cardiovascular risk assessment, including cholesterol testing, blood pressure review and when further investigation may be needed.
Patients book a heart health check for different reasons. Some already know cholesterol is a concern. Others have a family history of heart disease, have reached midlife, or want to understand blood pressure, lipid levels and broader cardiovascular risk more clearly.
At Basuto, cardiovascular risk assessment sits within a broader GP-led health check. That means the conversation starts with your symptoms, history and risk profile — not just a lipid panel.
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What a heart health check may include
Blood pressure review. Cholesterol and lipid profile including total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides. Diabetes risk markers including fasting glucose and HbA1c. Kidney function. BMI and weight assessment. Family history and lifestyle risk discussion. Cardiovascular risk scoring where appropriate. A cholesterol number on its own is rarely the full picture — cardiovascular risk depends on the combination of several factors, which is why clinical context matters.
When to check
When to consider a cardiovascular check
A heart health check is particularly relevant if you are over 40, have a family history of cardiovascular disease or stroke, have previously been told your cholesterol or blood pressure is borderline, are overweight, smoke, have diabetes risk, or simply want a clearer baseline of your cardiovascular health.
Same-day appointments available. Book online or call 020 7736 7557.
Wider review
Broader screening options
Depending on the findings, the next step may be lifestyle advice, medication discussion, monitoring, or specialist referral. For a broader preventive review that includes cardiovascular markers alongside other health areas, a Well Man Check, Well Woman Check or Executive Health Check may be more appropriate.
Common questions
Which blood tests are typically relevant to a heart health check?
A cholesterol and lipid profile — total cholesterol, LDL, HDL and triglycerides — is the usual core, with diabetes markers (fasting glucose or HbA1c) and kidney function added. Blood pressure, weight and BMI sit alongside the bloods, and family history and lifestyle are reviewed in the consultation. A cholesterol number on its own is rarely the full cardiovascular picture.
Can a heart health check identify cardiovascular risk before symptoms appear?
It can indicate where risk is elevated — high cholesterol, rising blood pressure, early changes in blood sugar, unfavourable family history — so that it can be managed earlier. It does not diagnose heart disease on its own; it helps the GP assess risk and decide whether lifestyle change, medication, monitoring or a specialist referral would be appropriate.
What happens if my cholesterol or blood pressure comes back borderline?
Borderline readings are common and often do not require treatment immediately. The GP reviews the result against your wider cardiovascular risk — age, family history, weight, lifestyle — and will typically suggest repeat testing at an interval, lifestyle-led change, or closer monitoring before any medication is considered.
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