The heart is the powerhouse of our body, responsible for pumping blood and vital nutrients to every organ and tissue. It works tirelessly day and night, keeping us alive and healthy. Just like a machine, it needs regular maintenance and care to keep it functioning at its best.
Heart health refers to the condition of our heart and its ability to perform its functions effectively. This includes maintaining a healthy blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and a normal heartbeat. When our heart is healthy, it can efficiently pump blood throughout the body, providing adequate oxygen and nutrients to all organs, and helping us to stay energized and focused throughout the day.
In essence, heart health is the foundation of our overall well-being. It allows us to live our lives to the fullest, without being hindered by any physical limitations. There are several key factors that contribute to maintaining a good heart health, this includes:
- Regular exercise: Physical activity helps strengthen the heart muscle, lower blood pressure, and improve circulation.
- Healthy diet: A balanced diet that is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins can help maintain a healthy weight, lower cholesterol levels, and reduce the risk of heart disease.
- Maintaining a healthy weight: Being overweight or obese can increase the risk of developing heart disease, high blood pressure, and other health problems.
- Not smoking: Smoking damages the cardiovascular system and increases the risk of heart disease.
- Managing stress: Chronic stress can have negative effects on heart health, so it’s important to find ways to manage stress, such as through exercise, meditation, or other relaxation techniques.
- Regular health checkups: Regular checkups with a healthcare provider can help identify and manage any risk factors for heart disease, such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol.
At Asian Hospital and Medical Center, we encourage everyone to take necessary steps in maintaining good heart health. Our Asian Cardiovascular Institute is well equipped with globally trained experts, medical team, and state-of-the-art facilities to give the most comprehensive and efficient heart health assessment through a thorough heart health screening.
What is Heart Screening?
Heart health screening is a medical evaluation that assesses an individual’s risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, and diabetes. Heart screening involves a series of tests and evaluations that are used to assess an individual’s risk for heart disease and detect any signs of heart problems. Some common heart screening tests include:
- Blood pressure measurement: This test measures the force of blood against the walls of the arteries and can help identify high blood pressure, which is a risk factor for heart disease.
- Cholesterol screening: This test measures the levels of cholesterol and other fats in the blood, which can help identify individuals at risk for heart disease.
- Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG): This test measures the electrical activity of the heart and can detect abnormal heart rhythms or signs of previous heart attacks.
- Echocardiogram: This test uses ultrasound to create images of the heart and can help identify heart problems such as heart valve issues or heart failure.
- Stress tests: These tests evaluate the heart’s response to physical activity and can help identify individuals at risk for heart disease or detect signs of heart problems.
Who needs to conduct Heart Screening
The American Heart Association recommends that all adults undergo heart health screening beginning at age 20, with more frequent screening recommended for individuals with certain risk factors such:
- Individuals with a family history of heart disease
- Individuals with high blood pressure or high cholesterol
- Individuals with diabetes or prediabetes
- Individuals who are overweight or obese
- Individuals who smoke or use tobacco products
- Individuals who have a sedentary lifestyle
- Individuals who are over the age of 45 for men and 55 for women
Benefits of Heart Screening
Heart screening can have many benefits, including:
- Early detection of heart problems: Heart screening can identify heart problems in their early stages, when they are often easier to treat and manage. This can help prevent more serious heart issues from developing.
- Prevention of heart disease: Heart screening can identify risk factors for heart disease, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. By identifying these risk factors early, individuals can take steps to manage them and prevent heart disease from developing.
- Peace of mind: Heart screening can provide reassurance for individuals who may be concerned about their heart health but have no symptoms or known risk factors for heart disease.
- Improved quality of life: By identifying and managing heart problems early, individuals may be able to improve their quality of life and reduce the risk of complications from heart disease.
- Cost savings: Early detection and treatment of heart problems can lead to cost savings by preventing more serious and costly heart issues from developing.
Heart health screening is an important tool for identifying individuals at risk for cardiovascular disease and helping them make lifestyle changes or receive medical treatment to reduce their risk. Do not take your heart health for granted. Conduct a regular comprehensive check up and be one step ahead of cardiovascular diseases.
To schedule a consultation, please call Asian Cardiovascular Institute at (02) 8771 – 9000 local 5748 or 5929
Sources:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Heart disease. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/index.htm
- American Heart Association. (2021). Healthy living. Retrieved from https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living
- Harvard Health Publishing. (2021). The heart-healthy lifestyle: 10 steps to lower your risk of heart disease. Retrieved from https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/the-heart-healthy-lifestyle-10-steps-to-lower-your-risk-of-heart-disease
- World Health Organization. (2019). Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cardiovascular-diseases-(cvds)
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. (2021). Heart-healthy lifestyle changes. Retrieved from https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/heart-healthy-lifestyle-changes