“An understanding heart warms all that are graced with its presence.”–Fortune cookie
Heart diseases, also referred to as cardiac diseases are used to denote a range of cardiovascular conditions. These diseases are one of the most widely prevalent health disorders that have affected the lives of millions of people across the globe. It is one of the leading causes of death in most of the developed countries around the world.
To make women more aware of the danger of heart disease, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and partner organizations are sponsoring a national campaign called The Heart Truth®. The campaign’s goal is to give women a personal and urgent wakeup call about their risk of heart disease.
Did you know that 1 in every 4 women in America die of heart disease.
Prevention of heart disease is easy,if you can take control of your risk factors.
To help to lessen the severity of your condition. If you smoke, you’ll have to stop it. If you have heart disease, it is extremely important to control it. Eating well, engaging in regular physical activity, and maintaining a healthy weight will help. And if you have diabetes, you will need to manage it carefully.
You also may need certain tests, medications, or special procedures. This section explains each of these and how they can help to protect your heart health.
Screening Tests
In most cases, you will need some tests to find out for sure if you have heart disease and how severe it is. If your doctor doesn’t mention tests, be sure to ask whether they could be helpful. Most screening tests are done outside the body and are painless. After taking a careful medical history and doing a physical examination, your doctor may give you one or more of the following tests:
1. Electrocardiogram(ECG or EKG) makes a graph of the heart’s electrical activity as it beats. This test can show abnormal heartbeats, heart muscle damage, blood flow problems in the coronary arteries, and heart enlargement.
2. Echocardiogram test is is a test done to check how the valves and chambers of your heart are working. The test can also reveal the size of the heart and the thickness and movement of the heart wall.
During an echocardiogram, a health care provider — typically a radiographer or sonographer — uses sound waves produced by a device called a transducer to create a moving picture of your heart. Echocardiograms are painless and noninvasive..
Preferred Cardio Checkup aims to engage people in a global effort for management of cardiovascular diseases. We advocate reducing the impact of heart diseases through the advancement of research and utilization of technology and its application along with promotion of healthy and well balanced living. PCC provides heart and cardiovascular screening tests near you at no out-of-pocket charge. Call to schedule your appointment in our Dallas/Fort Worth office 972-281-7328.
Author: Mary Jane Benner