Although you may not give it much thought or notice it, your heart works hard for you every minute of every day. It performs the crucial role of pumping blood and oxygen to all of your organs. Without proper care, serious problems can develop within your arteries.
Understanding the conditions, habits, and activities that affect your heart and how to monitor it can improve your heart health.
Read on to learn more about the common heart problems, how to know if your heart is healthy, the best tests to check your heart, and tips to keep your heart healthy.
Heart Problems Affect Men and Women
Heart disease is no longer just about men. According to the CDC, nearly the same number of men and women die from heart disease each year in the United States. In fact, the American Heart Association shares that cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for United States women at a rate of 1 in 3 women! It is also the leading cause of death for US men at a rate of 1 in 4 men.
Common Heart Problems
Heart disease refers to a number of heart conditions or symptoms including:
- Coronary artery disease (CAD) – Also called coronary heart disease, CAD affects the flow of blood to the heart. It is the most common type of heart disease and is caused by plaque buildup on the artery walls.
- Heart attack – This is often the first sign of CAD. Symptoms of a heart attack include chest pain, weakness, pain in the arms or shoulder, and shortness of breath.
- Arrhythmia – Patients with an arrhythmia may feel fluttering or palpitations in their chests.
- Heart failure – Symptoms of heart failure may include shortness of breath, fatigue, and swelling in the veins of the neck, abdomen, feet, legs, and ankles.
How Do You Know Your Heart Is Healthy?
Your heart is inside of you. You can’t see it, so how do you know whether or not it is healthy before a heart attack strikes?
You maintain a healthy lifestyle and you monitor your heart. You can track your heart health at home or with help from a physician.
Ways to Check Your Heart Health
Manage your heart health by staying on top of your symptoms. Simple ways to check your heart at home or with your family doctor include:
Check your heart rate. Checking your pulse measures your heart rate and rhythm. Each pulse equals one beat of your heart.
Put two fingers on your inner wrist. Using a watch with a second hand, check your pulse by counting the number of beats in 10 seconds and multiplying that number by 6.
Monitor your blood pressure. Your blood pressure measures the force of your blood against the artery walls. Normal blood pressure for an adult at rest is less than 120 (systolic or top number) over less than 80 (diastolic or the bottom number).
Patients with higher numbers may have high blood pressure or hypertension. Hypertension raises the risk of heart disease.
Have routine blood tests done. Blood work is a simple way to monitor your internal organs to see how they are doing. To check your heart, your physician may order blood tests to check for high cholesterol, thyroid problems, or anemia as each affects your heart.
Tips for a Healthy Heart
Taking care of your heart can reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease and improve your overall health and wellness. Consider the following tips for a healthier heart and lifestyle.
- Monitor your cholesterol – the good and the bad.
- Eat a heart-healthy diet.
- Exercise! Participate in at least 30 minutes of cardio exercise at least 3-5 days per week.
- Watch your weight. Even the loss of a few pounds can help your heart.
- Manage or find healthy outlets for your stress.
- Don’t smoke. Avoid areas where you would be subjected to second-hand smoke.
- Limit your alcohol intake. Women should not have more than 1 alcoholic drink a day and men, no more than 2 per day.
- Visit your doctor for routine checkups.
How Is Your Heart Health?
Monitoring and managing your cardiovascular health can help prevent heart disease.
How Can You Check Your Heart at Home?
The easiest way to check your heart at home is by monitoring your pulse. For normal adults, the average resting heart rate is between 60 and 100 beats per minute. Well-trained athletes may have a lower resting heart rate.
Check your heart rate as mentioned above using your fingertips and a watch with a second hand. You may also use a
What Is the Best Test to Look for Heart Problems?
Through routine medical care with your doctor, more specific tests may help monitor and diagnose cardiovascular problems. Talk to your primary care physician! He/she may recommend the following screenings for heart health:
- Blood pressure
- Fasting cholesterol blood tests
- Your BMI (body mass index)
- Blood glucose levels
- Diet, exercise, and lifestyle
Care of Heart Disease in Pineville, NC
You can lower your risk of heart disease by managing certain health behaviors and risk factors. At Carolina Medical Associates, we offer continuing care of heart disease in Pineville, NC. We help patients who have or are at risk for coronary heart disease manage their heart health. Plans for a healthy heart include treatment for cholesterol, blood pressure, smoking, weight management, glucose, and physical activity.
Contact Carolina Medical Associates
To learn more about how to check your heart health, contact Carolina Medical Associates. We offer high-quality, personalized medical care in Pineville.
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