Every 33 seconds, somebody in the United States dies from cardiovascular disease. Every year, more than 800,000 have a heart attack. You don’t want to be one of them.
Nevertheless, heart disease is rampant in the United States and is the leading cause of death for all genders and most ethnic groups. In the Hollywood version of a heart attack, you get a warning sign in the form of chest pain or left-arm pain, but heart disease doesn’t always have warning signs in the real world.
In fact, 1 out of 5 heart attacks is “silent.” You had one and didn’t know it, but your heart is damaged.
Kimberly Bolling, MD, a skilled and experienced clinician, wants you and everyone in your family to have a healthy heart. At our office in Bowie, Maryland, she offers electrocardiogram (EKG) testing, as well as other tests to catch heart problems early.
How can you know if your own heart is healthy? Following are a few ways to track your heart health.
Your pulse (i.e., how many times your heart beats per minute) can be an early indication of heart health or potential cardiovascular disease. A healthy, steady pulse may be a sign that your heart is healthy. However, if your pulse is erratic, skips beats, or is too high or low, you need to contact your doctor.
Check your pulse by placing your middle and index fingers on the veins in the underside of your wrist. If that’s not possible, try the side of your neck, top of your foot, or inside your elbow. After you feel the beats against your finger, count them over a 60-second period.
Normal resting pulse rates range from 60-100 beats per minute (bpm). Lower than 60 bpm or higher than 100 bpm could indicate a problem or may require a medication adjustment. Contact Dr. Bolling if your pulse is too high or too low.
You should also track your heart rate as you exercise, to ensure you reap the cardiovascular benefits of your workout without straining. Your target heart rate during exercise changes with age, so be familiar with your numbers before you hit the gym.
High blood pressure (HBP), also known as hypertension, is one of those “silent killers” that doesn’t have symptoms. Dr. Bolling always checks your blood pressure during your visit to our clinic so we can stay on top of your heart health.
If you have a family history of HBP or have heart issues, you may wish to invest in a blood-pressure cuff for self-monitoring. Or, come to our office more often.
Blood pressure consists of two numbers: systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure. Systolic measures how much stress your blood exerts on blood vessels during a pump. Diastolic measures the pressure of blood against vessels in between beats.
If your blood pressure indicates that you’re in hypertensive crisis, head to the nearest emergency room.
A simple device called an EKG lets Dr. Bolling see how well or poorly your heart functions. It’s an easy test with quick results that lets her determine on the spot if you’re at risk for a heart attack. It can even tell her if you’ve already had one.
The EKG uses electrodes that we attach to your chest, arms, and legs. The electrodes measure the electrical activity at various points of your pulse and sends that information back to the EKG, which translates the activity into waveforms. An EKG can identify:
We recommend EKGs before starting a new exercise program or weight loss regimen to ensure that your heart is healthy enough to withstand the strain.
You’re more likely to have a healthy heart (but still need to test it!) if you’ve adopted heart-healthy habits. Be sure you:
Do you want to know how healthy your heart is? Book an EKG with Dr. Kimberly L. Bolling online or over the phone today.
