Planning to start up with an exercise program? Well, here is what you need to do it. A heart check-up is a must before an exercise program. There is a specific reason behind this. In this blog, we shall explore why you need a heart check-up before starting an exercise program. Let's take a deep dive into what kind of heart diagnostics are required before starting an exercise program.
In the quest to get physically fit, the majority of people are turning to the gym. Let's not forget that many youngsters are falling prey to heart issues due to strenuous exercise. In this context, GS Hospital Hapur, a top heart care hospital in Ghaziabad, focuses on bringing about awareness of heart health among youngsters to take an initiative and check their heart health before starting an exercise program.
Warning signs of heart issues
As a part of the check-up, here are the warning signs of heart disease which are also considered risk factors. Here are some important warning signals of heart issues that one must know.
- High blood pressure
- High blood cholesterol
- High blood sugar levels
- Overweight and obesity
- Metabolic syndrome
- Addictions such as smoking or alcohol use
- Chest pain or discomfort
- Fluttering in Chest
- Slow or racing heartbeat
- Shortness of breath
- Dizziness or vertigo
- Fatigue
- Swelling of legs or abdomen
As per research and American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines, it has been observed that heart health screening tests should be done as early as 20 years of age in people who have a strong family history of cardiac issues or higher health risks of developing cardiac issues.
Let us go ahead and read more about the steps to monitor your heart health in the next part of the article.
Types of tests involved in heart check-up
Routine heart health screenings are very important as a part of preventive health check-ups for everyone. Getting a heart health screening done at early stages of life can help prevent any heart issues. An advanced test along with a routine screening test may be required as recommended by your doctor. A detailed consultation with your doctor can help in evaluating the problem of cardiac issues.
Routine cardiac screening tests
As per AHA (American Heart Association) guidelines, it is recommended to do the following routine cardiac screening tests as follows:
● Blood pressure test
● Lipid and cholesterol profile
● Blood sugar test which includes fasting and postprandial blood sugar test along with HbA1c
● Body mass index and waist circumference
● The inflammation marker test, the C-reactive protein (CRP) test is very important to check out for inflammation associated with any heart disease
● Strong family history of cardiac issues.
Advanced cardiac test
If you are at high risk of cardiac problems, your doctor may recommend advanced cardiac tests which are as follows:
ECG test
ECG test is also known as electrocardiography which involves placement of small sticky electrodes on the chest connected to the ECG machine. This machine helps in recording the electrical activity of the heart and provides accurate information about heart rate and rhythm.
Exercise cardiac stress test
The stress test is a very important test to check your stamina levels. Electrodes are applied to your chest and attached to an ECG machine. Then you are asked to walk or run on a treadmill, or pedal on a stationary bike to assess your heart’s response to physical stress.
Echocardiography
A professional uses an ultrasound machine to check for the heart's rhythmic activity and to assess the heart functioning of the heart valves. This is mainly to check overall heart pumping activity or stress-related issues.
Coronary catheter angiography
A small tube or catheter is inserted into the arm or groin area and threaded through an artery to your heart. A contrast dye is injected through the catheter allowing you to take X-ray pictures of the heart to check for narrowed or blocked arteries.
Cardiac CT scan
In this test, you are positioned under a CT scanner with electrodes attached to your chest to record your heart’s electrical activity. This scanner helps to create images to check up for plaque build-up in your coronary arteries.
Nuclear stress test
A nuclear stress test uses an imaging machine to take pictures while at rest and after exercise to know the blood flow from the arteries to the heart.
CTA (Coronary angiography)
This test helps provide insight into the heart’s activity to create pictures of your heart based on CT scan images. A contrast dye is injected into the bloodstream to make it easier to check for plaque buildup in the coronary arteries.
Screening questions before heart check-up
Your doctor may ask a screening question before complicated heart check-ups. Here is the list of screening questions before heart check-up which you must know.
● Assess your weight and body mass index
● Measure the blood pressure
● Laboratory blood tests for cholesterol and blood sugar levels
● Lifestyle modifications such as diet, physical activity, and addictions
● Personal history, past medical history, and family history
● Changes in health such as appetite, sleep, thirst, and weight changes
In case of any irregular parameters, the doctor will assess your heart’s activity or functioning through a Holter monitor. A Holter monitor is a small battery-operated device that works as a compact portable ECG machine to record the heart’s functioning for 24-48 hours to rule out any irregular parameters.
When should you get a heart checkup?
Here are some of the guidelines for when you should get a heart check-up. The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends the following schedule for heart health screenings.
● Annual and regular check-ups for weight and BMI
● Blood pressure test every 6 months from 30 years of age
● Blood cholesterol test every year as routine screening
● Blood glucose test every year as routine screening
It has been confirmed that weight, BMI, blood pressure test, blood cholesterol test, and blood glucose are ideal parameters to check for any kind of heart issues.
Heart health at home
It is important to monitor heart health at home by taking into consideration the following test.
● BMI and body weight on the scale
● Home blood pressure monitor to check the blood pressure
● Glucose monitors to check blood sugar levels
● A wearable fitness tracker, smartwatch, or device to check heart rate and rhythm
Tips for maintaining heart health
To help lower the risk of heart disease, it is important to practice a healthy lifestyle. Here is a quick sneak peek into tips for maintaining a healthy heart.
- Avoid smoking, alcohol, and tobacco
- Ensure to follow a healthy diet with nutrient-rich foods including fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
- Give at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week
- It is important to limit your consumption of trans fat, saturated fat, and sugar-sweetened foods and drinks.
- Take steps to maintain healthy weight loss by focusing on fat loss rather than muscle mass or bone density.
- Ensure to get regular check-ups done for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, prediabetes, and other health conditions.
- Get routine heart health screenings which is important to maintain overall heart health
Conclusion
GS Hospital Hapur, the best hospital in Uttar Pradesh, works towards providing correct guidance to patients for the best preventative therapy for heart-related issues. Also, if you are already suffering from cardiac problems, GS Super Specialty Hospital is considered the top hospital for Heart Treatment in Ghaziabad.
Here are the steps followed by your doctor for heart health at GS Hospital. To monitor heart health, your doctor will undergo a series of tests which includes blood pressure, blood cholesterol, sugar levels, and other diagnostic tests on a regular basis to rule out the health issues. A periodic and timely check-up is a must with your doctor. Your doctor will also ask you about medical history, lifestyle changes, diet, hydration, and sleep habits to check the risk factors for your heart issues.
Apart from this, there are many other tests which are available to evaluate the heart’s function and health. Your doctor will evaluate positive findings and recommend the best treatment for good heart health.
