How Routine Check-ups can Help Your Heart?

Cardiology | by Dr. Rakesh Sarkar | Published on 09/05/2022

Introduction

Heart disease has become the most common health issue worldwide. Unfortunately, in India, mortality (death rate) due to heart problems has increased by severalfold in the last decade. These days, heart disease has been significantly growing among the younger population. However, a heart-healthy diet, an active lifestyle along with regular check-ups can alleviate the risk of developing heart disease. As suggested by the heart specialist in Kolkata, seeking medical help during the initial days can prevent further damage and save lives as well. Here we have discussed the importance of regular health check-ups on your heart health in this blog. Please note that this is for informative purposes only and doesn’t appreciate overlooking the consultation of a healthcare professional. For more information on this, you can book your appointment with BM Birla Heart Research Centre in Kolkata, the only cardiac health service available in the Eastern region. 

What are regular heart health health check-ups?

A regular heart check-up test assists in analyzing the heart's health by assessing the patient’s arteries and blood vessels. Doctors recommend with growing age it is important to get regular checkups done so that one can keep track of heart health including general health. Regular checkups not only help in identifying any health issue in its initial stage but also offer a prospect to consider timely treatment before the condition worsens or it’s too late. 

It is vital to understand that regular screenings and checkups are recommended by healthcare professionals for preventive purposes. Not only does it help the patient stay in the best health but also determines the probable problems before they become dangerous.

What are the benefits of a heart health checkup?

Regular heart health checkups offer several benefits such as:

• Reducing healthcare costs because of health problems that can occur in the future 
• Identifying the health condition in its initial stage 
• Doctors can create a heart health graph for patients that they can refer to and make changes accordingly for their health. 
• Patients can work on their overall general health and involve steps for a healthy lifestyle 
• Regular checkups offer the latest medical information and updated technologies along with practices

Who should go for regular health check-ups for your heart?

People of working age (35-65 years) are the most vulnerable to lifestyle illnesses. Doctors all around the globe urge that males over the age of 35 and women over the age of 40 get yearly preventative health screenings. Assume someone has a family history of an illness. In that situation, screening tests should begin 10 years before the family's youngest member gets the condition e.g., diabetes, heart disease, raised cholesterol level, hypertension, cancer of the breasts, colon, and so on.

When are preventive heart health check-ups recommended?

Some signs and symptoms are there that should not be overlooked particularly when it comes to heart health. Here are some signs or symptoms that increase the need for preventive heart health checkups:

• Pressure or pain in the chest
• Pain in the arm
• Numbness and weakness in the arm
• Visual impairment
• Slurred speech
• Headache
• Dizziness

What are the essential heart check-up tests?

Various heart health check-up tests are there that assist in detecting and identifying the conditions related to the heart and the complete body. Here are some of the tests usually performed during heart health check-ups: 

• Cardiac screening- It is required to diagnose and treat heart issues. A cardiac screening every six months will allow you to properly evaluate your heart and rule out any abnormal changes.
• Electrocardiogram investigate risk factors for an enlarged heart, an electrocardiogram (EKG) and echocardiography are utilized.
• Angiography- The most well-known conventional invasive-based approach for identifying cardiac issues is angiography, however, it has certain drawbacks.
• Exercise EKG- This examines your heart for abnormal changes during activity. It aids in the investigation of unexplained chest discomfort or pressure. Ensures that your heart is in good shape for physical exercise.
• Cardiac CT scans- These tests produce images of the heart and blood arteries. This examines coronary artery disease and helps to examine blood arteries and heart valves for abnormalities as well. This also assists in the diagnosis of the heart's structure abnormality.
• Heart MRI- This produces both static and moving images of the heart and checks the heart's pumping function. This examines the heart's structure for issues.
• Cardiac perfusion scan- This creates images of blood flow to the heart muscle. And also examinations for any pre-existing coronary artery disease. It can be helpful in studying the effects of a heart attack on the heart muscle.

Conclusion

Regular health checkups are important when it concerns heart disease. With regular screenings and tests, your doctor can assist you with determining the heart problems and early indications before they pose any serious complications. If you feel that risk factors are beyond your control such as growing age, history of heart disease, etc., then advice received from a healthcare professional can help you manage the problem on your own. Always remember there is always more to averting heart illness than viewing your doctor often. Make sure to follow the instructions given by your doctor and you will get all the answers to your questions.