Why are young people dying of Heart attacks?

When Should You Consider Getting an Echo for Heart Monitoring

An echocardiogram, commonly referred to as an "echo," is a diagnostic test that is importan tfor monitoring heart health. It uses ultrasound waves to create images of the heart, assessing its structure, function, and blood flow. Not everyone needs echocardiograms every year; however, there are specific conditions that advise one to take the test. If you're wondering whether to have that echocardiogram for heart monitoring, there are important things that can help you make the decision.

1. Symptoms of Heart Disease

If the symptoms point more towards the presence of heart disease, then he/she is advised to go on for an echogram, which will be helpful in early detection and treatment. Common symptoms are as follow: 

•  Chest pain or discomfort
•  Shortness of breath
•  Irregular heartbeat or palpitations
•  Unexplained fatigue
•  Dizziness or fainting spells
•  Swelling in the legs, ankles, or feet (edema)

All these symptoms might be manifestations of conditions like heart valve disease, heart failure, or even cardiomyopathy-enough to be diagnosed by an echocardiogram.

2. High Blood Pressure or Hypertension

Long-standing high blood pressure can lead to complications with the heart, ranging from an enlarged heart to poor function of the heart. Well, today, an echocardiogram can evaluate how well the heart is pumping and any structural changes that might have come as a result of high blood pressure.

3. History of Heart Conditions or Family History

A personal or family history of heart disease, getting an echocardiogram can be preventive. Abnormalities in congenital heart defects, heart valve disorders, or genetic cardiomyopathies typically do not present early symptoms, but an echocardiogram could identify the problems before they escalate.

4. After a Heart Attack

An echocardiogram is commonly performed after a heart attack to assess the extent of damage done to the heart muscle. The test measures the heart's pumping efficiency (ejection fraction) while determining whether any changes in heart structure occurred because of the attack.

5. Monitoring Heart Valve Disease

These valves are the gates controlling how blood flows into the heart, and when one isn't functioning well, it can lead to very dangerous complications. If you've been diagnosed with valve disease, an echocardiogram will help doctors monitor the progression of that disease and whether it will require a surgical approach or medications.

6. Diagnosing Heart Failure

Heart failure occurs when the heart cannot pump blood efficiently. When a doctor thinks you have heart failure, he will likely order an echocardiogram for assessment of the function of your heart chambers and a measurement of ejection fraction, or the percentage of blood being pumped out of the heart with each beat. 

7. Heart Evaluation Prior to Surgery

Before undergoing major surgery, especially non-cardiac surgeries, doctors would always require an echocardiogram to assess whether your heart is fit to handle the stress of anesthesia and surgery. 

8. Monitoring for Blood Clots or Infection

An echocardiogram would be performed to detect most infections concerning the heart, like endocarditis, or to find a blood clot that could stroke or other complications. 

Conclusion

An echocardiogram is a good tool in the diagnosis and monitoring of many heart conditions. Symptoms of heart disease, having a known history of heart conditions, high blood pressure, or a history of a previous heart attack suggest the need for those at risk to see the cardiologist for an echocardiogram as early detection and timely intervention can achieve a lot in improving heart health and overall well-being.

How to Prepare for an ECG Test for Accurate Results

By taking the necessary steps before the test, we can also ensure that it yields accurate results.

1. Loose, Comfortable Clothing: Knowing the chance that you must strip out of clothes (like your top for electrode placement), you should wear something loose and comfortable. Do not wear full-length sleeves or tight-fitting garments that hinder the test.

2. Abstain from Caffeine and Smoking Before the Test: It is known that caffeine affects heart rate and will produce an inaccurate ECG reading. Hence, you should stop coffee, tea, energy drinks, and cigarettes for at least a couple of hours before the test.

3. Avoid Heavy Meals, but Keep Hydrated: Drink plain water before your ECG test, for dehydration usually leads to heart rate irregularities, but eat as less heavy or fatty foods as possible just before the test since digestion will sometimes alter the heart's activities.

4. Do Not Use Lotions or Oils on Your Skin: Lotions, oils, and creams can disturb the electrodes' attachment. The skin should be clean and dry in the chest area to allow proper electrical transfer between the electrodes and your skin.

5. Inform Your Doctor About the Medications

6. Stay Relaxed and Calm: Stress and anxiety also elevate heart rates which, thereby, compromise test results. Just keep calm in the process before and during the test, or practice deep breathing exercises or listen to soft music if you want to.

7. Avoid Heavy Strenuous Exercise Before Test: Intense physical activity can cause temporary adjustments of heart beat or rhythm. Avoid vigorous activity for at least a few hours prior to an ECG.

8. Remove all metal such as accessories: Metal objects like necklaces, bracelets, and belts interfere with ECG recordings. It is best that you remove all metallic accessories before the test to prevent disturbances.

9. Comfortable Room Temperature: Being too cold causes muscles to shiver and that would reflect in the results of the ECG. Hence it is, if possible that they ensure the testing room is comfortable for avoiding involuntary shivering.

10. Know what to Expect: Familiarizing oneself with the ECG procedure is helpful in avoiding anxiety. The test does not involve any pain, or much time, and is mostly non-invasive. Electrodes are attached to the chest and limbs for heart activity capturing, and analyzed by a medical professional.

Conclusion:

Proper preparation before an ECG test can significantly enhance accuracy of results. Follow all of these steps and reliable readings are achieved, helping your doctor in diagnosing and effectively managing possible heart conditions. Always consult your healthcare provider if you require any other clarifications.

Decoding Heart Health: Top Tests for 2024 and Simple Ways to Detect Blockages at Home!

When it comes to health, we should never compromise. But heart health often goes unnoticed until it’s too late. Ignorance can prove to be a bane instead of a boon. Why wait for warning signs when you can educate yourself early on to help tackle the crisis better? Wouldn’t it be great if you are well-informed about the significant heart screenings ranking on top in 2024? Dive in:

1. *Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)*: This test measures the electrical activity of your heart and can detect irregular heart rhythms.              It’s a simple non-invasive test used to electrical activity of the heart, detect heart blockage, irregular heartbeats and clear indications of prior myocardial infractions. Regular ECG screenings can help shed light on whether your heart requires further examination or not incase of any abnormalities and provide helpful insights on heart health. 

2. *Echocardiogram*: This ultrasound test shows the structure and function of your heart, helping identify issues like valve problems or heart muscle abnormalities.

3. *Stress Echo test*: This test monitors your heart's activity while you exercise to check for any abnormalities that may not be present at rest. To delve deeper, A stress test determines the heart functionality during physical activity. It can be instrumental in diagnosing coronary artery disease and evaluates the presence of abnormal heart rhythms under stress revealing useful information for cardiovascular risks. 

4. Lipid Profile: Numerous Cardiovascular diseases like coronary artery disease risk can be partially determined by getting the Lipid Profile test that also includes certain parameters like  total cholesterol, LDL, Cholesterol, HDL Cholesterol and triglycerides. Higher cholesterol levels may lead to plaque accumulation in the arteries, that increases the risk od heart attack and stroke. 

5. *Coronary angiography*: This invasive test involves injecting a dye into your arteries to check for blockages using X-rays. The primary purpose of this screening is to identify any abnormalities in your heart valves or heart muscles or any narrowing or blockages of arteries. 

5. Cardiac Risk Markers: Cardiac Risk Markers are biomarkers released into the blood to check the presence of stress of heart damage. These substances are helpful when the heart muscle is injured or there is higher level of strain of the heart.  A few popularly measured cardiac biomarkers are myoglobin, creatine kinase (CK-MB), troponin, and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP).

6. *CT Coronary Angiography*: This non-invasive test uses a CT scanner to create detailed images of your heart and blood vessels. A computerized tomography (CT) Coronary angiogram can be defined as an imaging test used for examining the arteries that supply blood to the heart.  A CT Coronary angiogram utilizes a progressive X-ray machine to create images of the heart and its blood vessels. This test helps diagnose a variety of heart conditions.  

7. CT Calcium Scoring Scan: CT Calcium Scoring Scan assesses the calcium accumulation in the coronary arteries, shedding light on the risk of coronary artery disease and possible future cardiac events. This scan is not recommended for everyone.  You should only get it done if your doctor suggests you to take it to understand the cause of any unidentified underlying symptom. Identify potential heart issues early on, before the cardiac event. 

Heart screenings are not always required for everyone, but they can be recommended for individuals who are at higher risk of heart disease or experiencing symptoms that could indicate an underlying heart condition. These screenings are designed to assess the health of the heart and help detect any potential issues early on.

Here are 10 warning signs that you may need to consider before going for heart screenings:

1. Chest pain or discomfort: This can be a sign of a heart problem, especially if it occurs during physical activity or extreme emotional stress.

2. Shortness of breath: Difficulty breathing, especially without a good reason, can be a sign of heart issues.

3. Fatigue: Extreme tiredness that does not improve with rest could be a warning sign of heart problems.

4. Dizziness or lightheadedness: Feeling faint or dizzy can be a sign of poor blood flow to the brain due to heart issues.   

5. Irregular heartbeat: Palpitations or a feeling that your heart is beating irregularly could be a symptom of a heart condition.   

6. Swelling: Swelling in the legs, ankles, or feet can be a sign of heart failure or other heart problems.   

7. High blood pressure: Hypertension is a significant risk factor for heart disease and should be monitored regularly.   

8. High cholesterol: Elevated cholesterol levels can lead to a buildup of plaque in the arteries, increasing the risk of heart disease. 

9. Diabetes: Individuals with diabetes are at higher risk for heart disease and may benefit from regular heart screenings.

10. Family history: If you have a family history of heart disease or sudden cardiac events, you may be at higher risk and should consider heart screenings.

It's essential to consult with a healthcare provider to determine if you need heart screenings based on your risk factors and symptoms. Regular check-ups and screenings can help detect heart issues early and prevent complications.

As for simple ways to detect heart blockages at home, it's essential to note that direct at-home tests to diagnose heart blockages are not possible. However, you can monitor your heart health and look out for symptoms that might indicate potential blockages. These can include chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, dizziness, and palpitations.

Manipal TRUtest offers a wide range of Radiology services with assured quality, accuracy, and trust backed by 70 years of Manipal legacy. You can easily schedule your booking for PET CT Scan through our WhatsApp Chatbot, Mobile App, or Website. 

Sources:

5 Preventive Heart Screenings You Should Prioritize in 2024

https://www.healthline.com/health/heart-disease/how-to-check-heart-blockage-at-home
 

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