Your heart health is one of the most crucial aspects of your overall well-being. Checking your heart health at home can help you feel more confident about your health and even reduce healthcare costs. However, it’s important to know how to check your heart health correctly to avoid any mistakes.
Here are some ways you can check your heart health at home.
5 Simple Ways to Check Your Heart Health at Home
There are several ways to monitor your heart health, some of which can be done at home, while others require professional help. While home tests can provide helpful information, more serious conditions, like heart blockages, can’t be diagnosed without seeing a doctor.
These simple steps can help you keep track of your heart health and give you useful information to discuss with your healthcare provider during checkups.
1. Learn How to Check Your Heart Rate
Checking your heart rate at home may seem tricky, but with a little practice, it’s easy. A normal heart rate for a healthy adult should range between 60-100 beats per minute. Here’s how you can check it:
- Place your index and middle fingers on your neck, just beside your windpipe (or on your wrist over the radial artery).
- Once you feel your pulse, count the beats for 15 seconds.
- Multiply the number you count by 4 to get your heart rate per minute.
Occasionally having a low or high pulse can happen, but consistently abnormal readings could indicate conditions like bradycardia (slow heart rate) or tachycardia (rapid heart rate). These can be linked to issues like:
- Thyroid problems
- Heart disease
- Chronic stress
- Anxiety
- Smoking
- Certain medications
- High cholesterol
- Diabetes
2. Monitor Your Blood Pressure
Measuring your blood pressure is another easy way to check your heart health. High blood pressure often doesn’t show symptoms, but it can lead to serious problems, so regular monitoring is key. Here’s how to do it:
- Make sure you haven’t eaten or drunk anything 30 minutes before checking.
- Sit down and relax for at least 5 minutes.
- Keep your feet flat on the floor and avoid crossing your legs.
- Rest your arm at chest height on a table.
- Take off any clothing on your arm so the cuff can contact your skin.
- Place the cuff snugly around your upper arm (not too tight or loose).
- Stay still and quiet while the monitor takes your reading.
3. Try At-Home Heart Health Tests
There are various tests that can help you monitor your heart health, and many of them can be done at home. With some providers, you can order a test kit, collect a finger prick blood sample, and mail it in for analysis. Some of the tests available include:
- Total cholesterol
- HDL and LDL cholesterol
- Triglycerides
- High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP)
- Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C)
- Cardiac biomarkers like Troponin
- Apolipoprotein tests
Some reliable online providers offering these tests are:
- LetsGetChecked
- myLAB Box
- Health Testing Centers
4. Discuss New Symptoms with Your Doctor
While at-home tests and a healthy lifestyle can greatly reduce your risk of heart disease, it’s still essential to see your doctor for regular checkups. If you notice any new symptoms, make sure to share them with your healthcare provider. This helps them give you the most accurate diagnosis and care.
5. Know the Warning Signs of Heart Disease
It’s important to remember that some heart conditions, like heart attacks, can’t be diagnosed at home. However, being aware of early warning signs and seeking medical attention quickly can save your life. According to Mount Sinai, some early signs of heart disease include:
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Persistent cough or wheezing
- Swelling in your legs or feet
- Pain or fatigue in the legs that improves with rest
- Numbness in your feet or legs
- Fatigue
- Palpitations or irregular heartbeat
By staying informed and monitoring your health at home, you can catch potential issues early and discuss them with your doctor to maintain a healthy heart.
