The cardiovascular system is made up of the heart and blood vessels, it is responsible for pumping blood to the different organs of the body. A healthy heart is essential to provide the oxygen and nutrients our bodies need. But how do you know if you’re healthy? Here are some guidelines to help you identify if your cardiovascular system is working properly and what symptoms might indicate something is wrong with your heart.
One of the signs of a healthy heart is that it correctly interacts with the other organs of the body, such as the lung and kidney, effectively pumping oxygenated blood. When this conduction process is not carried out correctly, symptoms begin to appear that may indicate the presence of cardiovascular disease. Some of them are:
- Constant fatigue
- Chest pain radiating to the arm
- Dizziness or fainting
- Difficulty breathing
- Palpitations
There is a symptom that can be an important indicator of coronary risk in men and that is erectile dysfunction, which can be a predictor of the development of cardiac pathology. It is also possible that it occurs after suffering a cardiovascular event.
It is important not to neglect the presence of symptoms and attend a health institution for evaluation. According to the symptoms, risk factors and family history, the doctor will determine which tests should be performed to identify the presence of cardiovascular disease. There are different measurements to determine how the heart is functioning, one of them is the ejection fraction, which allows establishing how much blood leaves the left ventricle when the heart contracts. This can be measured with tests such as echocardiogram, MRI, and CT scan of the heart.
Habits that help us maintain a healthy heart
Implementing healthy lifestyle habits is the best way to preserve cardiovascular health. This includes preventive actions such as:
Have a balanced diet and as natural as possible with the consumption of fruits and vegetables, both animal and vegetable protein and carbohydrates, avoiding foods with a high content of salt, sugar and fat.
Avoid a sedentary lifestyle through physical activity. The recommendation is to perform an average of 150 minutes a week of aerobic physical activity.
Do not smoke, and if you have this habit, do everything possible to quit, since it is one of the most important modifiable risk factors not only for cardiovascular disease, but also for other diseases.
Maintain the appropriate weight, according to the body mass index. –––
Preserve your mental health and reduce stress levels.
Control risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes and heart rate.
