In the past, physicians were usually only consulted when people got ill. But this has changed as people become more and more health conscious. In more recent years, health care has been given increasing importance as we become more and more educated about our bodies and understand the importance of routine health check ups, including heart check ups with someone like a heart doctor Grayson way.
Over the years, an increasing percentage of people have recognized the value of seeking medical advice on ways to live a happy and hearty lifestyle. People continuously look for ways to reduce the chances of contracting diseases and medical conditions by focusing on their weight management, healthy diet, and different type of physical activity. In addition, doctors are increasingly highlighting the significance of prevention. This in turn has meant that the chance of the average person needing surgery or medical treatment is decreasing.
Risk of Cardiovascular Disease
Death due to cardiovascular diseases has been increasing. But experts also consider these heart diseases as preventable if diagnosed earlier. Regular screening of cardiovascular diseases is vital because it helps detect risk factors in their earlier stages. This screening can be a wake-up call for many patients. Increasing the health of your heart by routine check-up is a must if you want to to prevent complications later in life. Risk factors associated with heart disease are well known and include:
- Increasing age – Age is the prime factor. Those 60 years and over are more at risk than other age groups.
- Males – Men are more at risk than women and there are also higher chances of attack in the early years of life.
- Heredity – Heredity is another main cause of heart disease and children are more prone to different heart problems if there is a family history.
One of the most important aspects of lowering Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is promoting healthy behaviors such as physical activity, diet quality, lower BMI, non-smoking reduced cholesterol, good blood pressure and good blood glucose. Problems can be diagnosed with regular heart check-ups and these, together with specialized heart disease diagnosis and treatment, are available from ThomsonMedical.com, where experts screen for medical heart health conditions.
Blood Pressure
This is one of the prime screening tests, as high blood pressure has no external visual symptoms. High blood pressure increases the risk of stroke and heart disease. If you find your blood pressure to be below 120/80 mm hg, make sure to check it at least once every two years once you turn 20. Heart disease can affect anyone, anytime and anywhere. So it should be our responsibility to keep track of it. Blood pressure can always be monitored and kept under check, particularly if we take care of our diet and lifestyle.
Fasting Lipoprotein Profile (Cholesterol)
Make sure you check your Fasting Lipoprotein Profile every 4-6 years from the age of 20 onwards. This is a blood test that measures good and bad cholesterol. The test is recommended more often if your healthcare provider finds your personal risk of high cholesterol to be higher than average. Just like blood pressure, cholesterol can also be kept under check with a few changes to your lifestyle and diet.
Body Weight
BMI – Body Mass Index – should be regularly checked by your primary care provider. This measurement helps in checking the health status of your body. If you are obese, weight will bring you closer to higher risk of suffering health-related problems like stroke, heart attack, congestive heart failure, atrial fibrillation and other issues.
Blood Sugar or Glucose
Blood sugar or body glucose is one of the main causes of heart related problems. If body glucose is not kept under check, it will result in severe problems like stroke, heart attack or even blindness. Your doctor will help you with medication or insulin if required. It cannot always be cured but can be kept under control by following a healthy diet and exercising regularly.
Other Things To Consider
Smoking is one of mankind’s worst enemies. There is a deep connection between smoking and heart disease. Plus it’s a proven fact that chain smokers are significantly at higher risk of heart disease. Consult your doctor about ways to quit smoking. Quitting will not only help in improving your heart health but indeed improve your whole body’s health. With a proper diet and healthy physical activity, you can overcome the habit of smoking and lead a healthy and normal life.
Other factors that can be treated, modified or controlled are as follows.
- Diabetes
- Alcohol dependency
- Stress
If you suffer from any of these, consulting a physician and having heart check ups is always recommended. Make it a priority to keep cardiovascular diseases at bay and pave the way for a healthier and heartier life.
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