Tuesday 8 September 2015

Healthy heart tip #7– Get regular checkups

Cardiovascular diseases have become a major lifestyle problem and one of the reasons it has become so prevalent is the ignorance about it. Most of us lead an unhealthy lifestyle without recognising the impact it has on our heart health. It is not only critical  to realise the importance of a healthy lifestyle but also the importance of  regularly monitoring your health.

Heart disease does not develop overnight and even if its symptoms are not very evident, it begins in adolescence and may advance rapidly in adulthood. Also, a sedentary lifestyle, obesity, high cholesterol levels, diabetes, hypertension increase your risk of heart disease. Hence, it is important to go for regular screening, especially after you turn 30 to identify any signs and symptoms that hint at heart disease. Also, if you already suffer from heart disease, keeping a tab on blood cholesterol levels or  an ECG may trace any small changes that may help avert any big problem later.

Tests that are done for monitoring your heart

Blood tests to monitor your blood glucose levels, lipids and triglyceride levels, fibrinogen and c-reactive protein. A regular chest X-ray that can help diagnose conditions like congestive heart failure, enlargement of the heart and heart infections. An ECG to assess the heart rhythm and measure the electrical activity of the heart.  Other tests that should be a part of your regular heart check up are a stress test, CT scan, echocardiography and MRI. Read more about thesetests.

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