The Number One TestThat Predicts You Might Die Suddenly From A Heart Attack

The surprising number one test to identify your risks of a heart attack is not what you think.

David Mokotoff, MD
Curated Newsletters
7 min readNov 4, 2024

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Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Other than cancer and Alzheimer’s disease, people fear heart disease and stroke. It is, therefore, no surprise that millions of dollars are spent by insurance companies and individuals trying to identify their risk of death and disability from heart-related illnesses. There are many tests available. However, I believe one tops the list.

But before we get to the answer, I need to post a disclaimer: The following does not constitute medical advice or recommend what is best for your body and health. You should always consult your physician for these specific concerns and recommendations.

Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG)

This quick and easy test is the oldest for examining your heart’s health. It records the electrical signals from the heart, is inexpensive, safe, and provides valuable information. However, its ability to predict a heart attack is woefully poor. EKGs can only identify old heart attacks in 48% of cases, which is about as useful as flipping a coin. Their ability to predict future ones is even worse.

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David Mokotoff, MD
David Mokotoff, MD

Written by David Mokotoff, MD

David Mokotoff is a top and boosted writer. He is a retired MD, passionate about health, medicine, gardening, and food, https://tinyurl.com/y7bjoqkd