How to Know If Your Heart is Healthy

We all strive for optimized heart health. But how do you know if your heart is healthy? Many of us find out when it’s too late.

Fortunately, there are several tests you can take that provide insight into your heart health. There are also several things you can do to keep your heart healthy.

Let’s find out how we can support heart health for long-term longevity.

How Do You Know if Your Heart is Healthy

Your overall health and athletic performance provide some indication that your heart is healthy, but medical tests provide accurate results. They include:

• Blood Tests: According to Healthy Western Australia, heart damage releases substances in your blood. Doctors can use blood tests to determine how much your heart has been damaged. The test will also reveal cholesterol levels, vitamins, and minerals, providing insight into overall health.
• Electrocardiogram (ECG): An ECG reads your heart’s electrical impulses and shows how well your heart is beating. It can also diagnose abnormal heart rhythm and heart attack.
• Chest X-ray: The Mayo Clinic recommends a chest x-ray for measuring heart health. It will reveal the state of your lungs and can also diagnose an enlarged heart.
• Exercise and Stress Tests: These tests involve the subject engaging in physical activity, such as walking on a treadmill or riding a stationary bike, while their heart is monitored. It reveals how the heart responds to physical activity. The test can also detect heart damage.
• Heart CT Scan: A heart scan uses an X-ray tube to collect images of your heart and chest, gathering heart health insights.

How to Improve Heart Health

Regardless of what a test may reveal, staying heart-healthy is always advisable. Here are some lifestyle improvements to consider.

• Add Nuts to Your Diet: According to Hopkins Medicine, nuts are the ideal heart-healthy snack. They are rich in healthy fats, which may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
• Stay Physically Active: Exercise may be just what the doctor ordered for a healthy heart. It improves blood flow, lowers cholesterol, and reduces stress hormones. Aim for at least 30 minutes of exercise five days a week for optimal heart health.
• Get Enough Sleep: Heart.org recommends sleep for heart health. During sleep, your heart rate slows, and blood pressure drops, reducing stress on the heart. It also helps your body fight inflammation related to high blood pressure.  
• Quit Tobacco: Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death. About a third of tobacco-related deaths are attributed to heart disease. Seek out a tobacco cessation program to keep your heart healthy.
• Control Cholesterol: Non-HDL or “bad” cholesterol can increase the risk of heart disease. Diet modifications and physical activity will keep cholesterol under control. Talk to your physician to determine if medication is necessary.

Supplements Can Help

Various all-natural supplements provide heart support. Recommended products include:

• Terry Naturally Clinical OPC Heart: Fortified with grape seed extract, this product supports circulation and blood flow, healthy cholesterol, healthy heart rhythms, normal blood pressure, and cardiovascular function.
• Priority One Healthy Heart: This vegetarian formula promotes energy production in the heart muscle cells to support a healthy cardiovascular system.  
• Kyolic Heart, Bone & Immune Health: This supplement is made with a unique blend of nutrients that support heart, bone, and immune health.
• Codeage Liposomal CoQ10: Liposomal CoQ10 contains various forms of the antioxidant Vitamin E and Coenzyme C10, producing cell energy. It is highly bioavailable.

So, how do you know if your heart is healthy? Medical tests may be the only way to learn, but if you eat healthy, exercise, and get plenty of sleep, you will likely get good news from the doctor. What do you do to support heart health?

FAQs

How Can I Check My Heart Healthy at Home?

You can monitor your pulse during rest and exercise by taking your pulse, or you may use wearable devices. A healthy resting heart rate is between 60-100 beats per minute. Heart rate should get much higher with vigorous exercise.

What are the Symptoms of a Poor Heart?

Common symptoms of heart failure include wheezing, a persistent cough, confusion, and rapid heart rate.

What are the Silent Symptoms of Heart Disease?

You may experience heart disease if you have chest pain, lightheadedness, cold sweats, nausea, weakness and fatigue, shortness of breath, and pain in the upper body.