Simply Heart Health

You may be like many other people and can give a fairly accurate summary of your basic medical information that includes details of your past surgeries and recently prescribed medications, and perhaps even some of your vital numbers. However, did you know that those vital numbers can reflect your past and present heart health status and the direction of that status?

Most of the time those numbers in your chart simply remain there as a part of your medical record. However, you should make an effort to understand them and, with your doctor, be knowledgeably equipped to ward off cardiovascular disease.

Maintaining and improving heart health begins with regular checkups and tests and asking your doctor questions about your vital numbers. Should you discover that your blood pressure indicates that you are at increased risk for a stroke, or that you have abnormal cholesterol and triglycerides (blood lipids) increasing your risk of having a heart attack, you can assume more responsibility for your own health and team with your doctor to decrease your risk factors for stroke or heart attack.

Assuming the responsibility for your own health is important for a proper patient-physician relationship. When you know your medical history and recent lipid laboratory results and can bring at-home blood pressure readings to your appointment with your doctor, you can aid him or her in getting to know you and your needs.

The Benefits of Tracking Your Cardiac Numbers

The responsibility of knowing and maintaining a record of your key test results is not solely the responsibility of your doctor. If you know your health status and take an active role in your heart health you can avoid health problems. You can and should document your blood pressure readings, cholesterol tests and other results you get from doctor visits and health screenings. It’s easy to do in a journal or a computer spreadsheet and easy to take it with you on your next appointment.

While documenting your numbers look at the direction they are taking and if they show success if you are under some treatment plan or if something needs to be changed to allow improvement. Often viewing your numbers on paper or computer screen will keep you motivated to continue a heart healthy diet and exercise regimen.

Look for ways that you can do more to assume responsibility of your health and prevent heart disease. The American Heart Association notes that 48% of adults have high lipid levels. Additionally there are 45,000,000 people in America that smoke even though the dangers of smoking have been pointed out repeatedly. A smoker has twice the risk of having a stroke, and two to four times the risk of developing coronary disease.

It’s important that you improve controllable heart attack or stroke risk factors. Smoking is the prime risk factor that you can and should control. However, smoking is the number one risk factor you can control, and your health will improve as soon as you quit. Your doctor should access your smoking status with every visit. If you are a smoker and want to quit, have a talk with your doctor or even your pharmacist. Either should be able to recommend an aid to help you quit.

The second controllable risk factor is diet and exercise. You need to eat right and be active physically to lower your blood pressure, reduce stress, and help control your weight. Obesity leads to diabetes. People who have diabetes: are at higher risk for heart disease, have additional causes of heart disease, may develop heart disease at a younger age, and may have more severe heart disease.

You can take control of your health by staying current in your comprehension of heart disease, understanding blood pressure and being aware of your test results role in heart health. Getting involved by scheduling regular checkups, developing an exercise plan, and following a heart healthy diet means you’re doing as much as you can to prevent a cardiovascular event.

Good blood pressure, weight control, and low cholesterol are all vital in order to prevent heart disease. Team up with your doctor so that you both are working to maximize the health of you, the most important member of the team.