How to Know if Your Heart is Healthy?

1. HOW TO KNOW IF YOUR HEART IS HEALTHY Before doing any tests, watch for early signs of heart problems like chest pain, shortness of breath, a fast or uneven heartbeat, feeling dizzy or faint, getting tired easily, or swelling in your legs or feet. BLOOD PRESSURE High blood pressure usually has no symptoms but can harm your heart. A normal reading is 120/80 mm Hg, and anything 140/90 mm Hg or higher is too high. Check it at home or visit your GP to stay updated on your heart health. HEART RATE Your resting heart rate should be between 60 and 100 beats per minute. To check it, sit quietly for 5 minutes, place two fingers on your wrist or neck, and count the beats for 60 seconds. If it’s too high or low, or if you feel unwell, it could signal a problem. CHOLESTEROL LEVELS A cholesterol test, also called a lipid profile, checks the levels of fats in your blood. Having too much LDL (bad)or not enough HDL (good) can raise your risk of a heart attack or stroke. BLOOD SUGAR TEST A blood sugar test shows how much sugar is in your blood. High levels, especially in diabetes, can damage your blood vessels and harm your heart. ELECTROCARDIOGRAM An ECG is a simple and painless test that checks your heart’s electrical signals. It helps find problems like irregular heartbeat, heart attack signs, or heart stress. LIFESTYLE RISK FACTORS Are you smoking, sitting too much, eating junk food, feeling stressed, or not sleeping well? Even without symptoms, these habits can harm your heart. If you said yes to any, it’s a good idea to start making healthy changes. WWW.BESTCAREMEDICAL.COM.AU