Heart examination is not only recommended for people who already have heart disease. Healthy people also need to have a regular heart check. The aim is to detect early possible heart problems, so they can be treated as quickly as possible.
The heart is one of the most important organs that functions to pump blood throughout the body. If the heart is disrupted, then all organs of the body can be affected.
Who Needs to Have a Heart Check?
Everyone, even if healthy, needs to have a heart health check regularly and as early as possible. Especially if you are at high risk for heart problems, such as:
- Have a history of high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
- Overweight or obese.
- More than 65 years old.
- Having an unhealthy diet, such as often eating foods high in fat, cholesterol, and salt.
- Rarely exercise.
- Frequent smoking or consuming alcoholic drinks.
In addition to the things above, often stress can also increase the risk of heart problems. If you have one or more of these risk factors, you should immediately see a doctor.
Why Does Everybody Need to Have a Heart Check?
According to data compiled by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2016, there are around 18 million people worldwide who die of cardiovascular disease (heart and blood vessels). About 85% of them are caused by heart attacks and strokes.
Based on data from the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, coronary heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in Indonesia. About 13% of deaths are thought to be caused by untreated heart disease.
Therefore, checking heart health as early as possible is very important, so that heart disorders can be known from the beginning. That way, the handling can be done immediately.
Various Types of Examination of Heart Conditions
Basically, the condition of the heart can be assessed by a series of examinations, including physical examination of the heart, blood pressure examination, and supporting tests. Supporting tests for heart examination include:
1. Heart training
Heart examination is generally done with a treadmill. Therefore, this examination is also called a treadmill test. The heart training test aims to determine whether the heart is still able to pump blood efficiently when the body needs more oxygen, for example when exercising or undergoing strenuous physical activity.
This test can also detect whether certain symptoms appear, such as chest pain, when the body is undergoing physical activity or sports. In general, this examination is to assess the ability of the heart.
2. Cholesterol test
Cholesterol tests are done by taking blood samples for further examination in the laboratory. Before the examination, patients are usually asked to fast for 8-12 hours.
If you are over 20 years old and do not suffer from certain diseases, you need to have your cholesterol level checked at least once every five years. But if you have a history of diabetes, high cholesterol, stroke, heart disease, hypertension, and obesity, do a routine cholesterol check according to doctor's recommendations.
3. Electrocardiogram (ECG)
This procedure aims to check the electrical activity of the heart. Abnormalities in the electrical activity of the heart can indicate a disturbance in heart rhythm or arrhythmia. In addition, an electrocardiogram is also used to detect the possibility of a heart attack.
4. Echocardiography
Echocardiography is an examination to see the condition of the muscles and valves of the heart, using ultrasound. This procedure is often used to diagnose endocarditis, heart valve abnormalities, and congenital heart disease, and to see if there is a buildup of fluid in the lining of the heart.
5. Angiography and cardiac catheterization
Angiographic examination and cardiac catheterization often need to be done if the doctor suspects a problem with the muscles, valves, or arteries in the heart.
In addition to examinations, catheterization is also often used as a treatment procedure, for example to destroy blockages in heart arteries, dilate blocked blood vessels, or repair damaged heart valves.
6. CT scan of the heart
A heart CT scan, also known as a coronary calcium scan, is a heart examination procedure to detect plaque (atherosclerosis) that may be present in the heart arteries.
By knowing how much plaque in the arteries, doctors can predict what disorders will appear and prepare for treatment.
7. MRI of the heart
An MRI machine or magnetic reasonance imaging produces a detailed picture of the heart, so the doctor can examine the condition of the heart more thoroughly. MRI is used if there are suspicions that there is a problem in the size of the heart, thickness and movement of the heart muscle, and heart blood vessels.
Maintaining heart health needs to be done from a young age. In addition to conducting routine checks, you also need to adopt a healthy lifestyle. From now on, be diligent in exercising, multiply the consumption of fruits and vegetables, and limit foods high in cholesterol, fat, and salt.
If you are used to cooking with oil, try using oils that are more heart-friendly, such as canola oil.
This oil has very little saturated fat, but is high in healthy fats (unsaturated fats). In addition, canola oil also contains omega-3 fatty acids which are good for heart and brain health. The content of good fats is even said to be higher than other types of cooking oil.
To undergo a heart examination or check-up, you need to consult with a cardiologist. In addition to determining the type and schedule of heart tests, your doctor will also recommend the types of food and exercise that suits your condition.
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