Heart health: Try these simple tests at home to determine how healthy your heart is

 Source:TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Last updated on -Aug 29, 2023, 14:08

How healthy is your heart?​

With the increasing number of heart diseases or heart attacks, especially among people in the younger age group, it is important to be aware of your heart health and keep a check on it. But how to do a heart check-up at home? Here are a few safe and simple tests that you can try at home. However, it is important to consult your doctor first, especially if you have any pre-existing health condition.

​Stair test​

Do you get breathless while walking up the stairs? The stair test can help determine how optimal your heart health is. A person with a healthy heart should not take more than one and a half minutes to climb four flights of stairs, according to Medanta. Failing to do so may indicate that your heart health is suboptimal. Consult your doctor for a proper diagnosis.

​Check your heart rate​

“To examine your pulse rate at home, you need to place your middle finger and index finger of your right hand on the inner wrist of your left hand to feel the tapping sound of your heartbeat. Next, you need to take a second watch and count the number of taps or pulses for 10 seconds. The number of taps should be further multiplied by six to deduce the heartbeat rate for one minute. A normal pulse measures between 60 and 100 beats a minute, and if your heart beat rate is above or below the regular count, it's time that you seek medical consultation,” Medanta explains.

Aerobic exercises​

If you feel breathlessness while performing light aerobic exercises, there is a high chance that you might have some underlying heart condition. You may also experience fatigue after performing such exercises because an adequate amount of oxygen does not reach down your muscles. It is important to consult your doctor before performing any such test, especially if you have any health problems.

​Signs and symptoms of an unhealthy heart​

Apart from the above mentioned tests, here are some signs that indicate your heart might be unhealthy:

Swollen feet, ankles and lower legs

Lack of stamina

Light-headedness

Discomfort in the chest

Left shoulder and left arm pain

Heartburn or back pain

Sexual health issues

Sleep apnoea

Blue or pale gray skin color

Pain in toes

Tips to keep your heart healthy​

A healthy heart calls for a healthy lifestyle. This includes working out on a daily basis, staying hydrated, managing your blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes; and quitting smoking and restricting alcohol intake.