How to Tell if Your Heart is Healthy
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| How to Tell if Your Heart is Healthy |
Your heart is the most important muscle in your body, and it keeps you alive day in and day out by beating continuously without you even noticing. But the most important thing you can do to maintain the health of your heart is to keep it as healthy as possible. Here are some of the key signs that indicate you have a healthy heart, so you can know when something isn’t right.
5 Ways To Determine If Your Heart Is In Good Shape
Checking your Blood Pressure
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| How to Tell if Your Heart is Healthy |
Checking your blood pressure may be one of easiest ways to determine whether or not you have a healthy heart. When it comes to high blood pressure, there are two numbers that matter: systolic and diastolic pressures. Systolic refers to how much force is exerted on your arteries when your heart beats and contracts; diastolic refers to how much force is exerted on your arteries between beats when your heart relaxes and fills with blood again. A normal blood pressure reading is considered to be less than 120/80 mmHg. Anything above 140/90 mmHg indicates hypertension, which can lead to stroke, kidney failure, coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure. It’s recommended that people at risk of developing hypertension get their blood pressure checked at least once every year—and more often if they’re showing signs of hypertension.
Monitoring your Cholesterol Levels
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| How to Tell if Your Heart is Healthy |
Monitoring your Cholesterol levels can also help you determine whether or not your heart is in good shape. Know your cholesterol numbers Cholesterol has gotten a bad rap—and for good reason. For decades, we’ve been told that high cholesterol levels contribute to heart disease. However, there are some situations where high cholesterol can actually be healthy. So what does all of this mean? It means you should know your total cholesterol and HDL (high-density lipoprotein) levels. These numbers give you insight into how well your heart is functioning and can help detect any problems down the road.
Know your Blood pressures Numbers
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| How to Tell if Your Heart is Healthy |
If you’re not sure what your blood pressure numbers are, take a reading. If your systolic pressure (the first number) is above 120 or your diastolic pressure (the second number) is above 80, you need to talk with a doctor or make some changes. These numbers indicate that high blood pressure may be present, and that there may be serious consequences in your future such as heart attack or stroke. Reducing salt intake and exercising regularly can both help reduce blood pressure.
Ask Your Doctor About Any Risk Factors You May Have
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| How to Tell if Your Heart is Healthy |
If you have any risk factors for heart disease, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, ask your doctor about making lifestyle changes that could improve your heart health. Ask about getting regular exercise and eating a healthy diet. You can also speak with your doctor about whether or not it’s time for you to take medication or even see a specialist in cardiology.
Get an ECG Test
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| How to Tell if Your Heart is Healthy |
An electrocardiogram (ECG) gives you a snapshot of your heart’s overall health, revealing whether it’s beating normally and what kind of shape it’s in. If you experience symptoms such as palpitations or dizziness, get an ECG test done immediately—as these can indicate that your heart isn’t working properly.
Drink Plenty of Water
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| How to Tell if Your Heart is Healthy |
Just like other organs in your body, your heart needs water. When you drink plenty of water each day, it helps keep blood pressure levels in check. That can lower your risk for health problems and make you feel better overall.
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