Key Things You Should Know About Heart Health

Did you know that your heart beats over 2.5 billion times in your lifetime? The heart is one of the most vital organs; without your heart, you can’t live. Obviously, good heart health is important, but how do we keep one of our most vital organs in tip-top shape? 

Heart disease, the top cause of death in the U.S. and considered the ‘silent killer’ is responsible for more than 1 million deaths, annually. Find out how to prevent some of the most common heart issues (including heart disease) and keep your heart healthy. 

Common Heart Health Issues

The heart is linked to nearly every other system in the body. Without it, our bodies can’t survive. It’s no surprise that most common heart issues are linked to other systemic issues within the body. Just some of the most common heart conditions include:

• Angina
• Aortic aneurysms
• Arrhythmia
• Congenital heart disease
• Coronary artery disease
• Heart attack
• Heartburn
• Heart disease 
• Heart failure
• Heart infections
• High blood pressure
• Low blood pressure
• Valvular heart disease

Symptoms of Heart Conditions

Since the heart is connected to so many other systems and organs within the body, you may feel the symptoms of heart issues in areas such as the arms, back, chest, and legs. Some of the most common symptoms of heart issues include:

• Abdominal pain
• Angina
• Back pain
• Chest pain
• Chest pressure 
• Chest tightness
• Chills
• Dizziness
• Fainting 
• Fluttering chest.
• Jaw pain
• Leg and arm numbness
• Leg and arm pain
• Lightheadedness
• Neck pain
• Rapid heartbeat
• Shortness of breath
• Slow heartbeat 
• Throat pain

How to Prevent Heart Conditions

There are plenty of ways you can keep your heart health optimal — without medical treatments. If you’re trying to prevent heart conditions, you may need to make a few lifestyle adjustments to keep everything in tip-top shape. Some of the most common ways to prevent heart issues include:

• Regularly checking your cholesterol levels
• Eating plenty of fruits, veggies, and healthy fats
• Exercising regularly
• Getting checked for diabetes
• Keeping stress levels low with therapy and health apps
• Limiting alcohol
• Maintaining healthy triglyceride levels
• Making dental health a priority
• Managing insomnia
• Monitoring sodium intake
• Monitoring sugar intake
• Quitting smoking
• Regularly checking your blood pressure
• Wearing a heart monitor or activity tracker

Medical Treatments for Heart Health

Lifestyle changes can prevent a huge host of heart issues, though many patients will still need to consult a doctor to ensure their heart health is optimal.

The most common medical treatments to reverse heart conditions include:

• ACE inhibitors
• Angioplasty
• Aspirin 
• Beta-blockers
• Blood pressure medications
• Blood thinners
• Pacemakers
• Statins
• Surgery
• Therapy

Your heart health is not something you want to gamble on. Even if you don’t have health insurance, you can still take cost-effective preventative measures to ensure your heart stays healthy for years to come. Make an appointment with an online primary care physician to find out what preventative measures to take.