The 5 Medical Tests for Your Heart That Can Save Your Life

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For years, cardiologists have pointed to high blood pressure, cigarette smoking, family history, and high cholesterol as the key clues that someone may be developing heart disease—the leading cause of death in the United States. Now, however, research led by doctors at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center found that a combination of five simple, newer tests is more effective in predicting cardiovascular disease than looking at the lifestyle factors alone. After studying a group of healthy individuals for more than ten years, the researchers found that those who scored poorly on all five tests were 20 times more likely to develop heart disease than those with good results. Here’s what you need to know about these breakthrough tests.