What kind of annual test should i do for my heart? am 59 female, bmi of 22, and returning to active sports after 7 years of light physical activity.

Physical/EKG: See your doctor. Getting "cleared" for exercise primarily hinges on your history. If you've been active without symptoms and your ekg is normal, then there is no evidence that a stress test "just to be sure" will prevent anything in a person who feels well. Any test can have a false positive result, and a positive stress test means an invasive test like a heart cath (which has complications).

None needed: If your blood pressure is less than 120/65 mmhg, if your total cholesterol is less than 180 mg/dl, if you don't have diabetes, if you never smoked and have no symptoms with exercise (chest pain, shortness of breath, palpitations, dizziness), then you don't need any cardiac tests. Keep up the good work with the exercise!

Only basic tests: The only annual tests recommended are history and physicsl exam by your primary doctor along with a blood pressure, blood glucose, cholesterol check, blood test for electrolytes and kidney function and a urine analysis to make sure there is no protein or abnormal red cell or cast. These are sufficient tests to identify and modify risk for heart attack, stroke and vascular disease.