If my blood pressure is fine, does it mean my heart is healthy? What other tests can be done to determine if your heart is healthy? I am 28 and have heart problems in my family. Am I too young to go for a cholesterol test? Anything I can eat/drink to improve my heart function? I only exercise lightly due to fibromyalgia.
2007-07-06 23:19:48 · 5 answers · asked by 007butterfly 2 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Heart Diseases
Since you are suffering from fibromyalgia, your light exercise is good, but you must walk too, to burn your fat.
Have your EKG done on 6 monthly basis to stay in touch with any change taking place in your heart.
Since it runs in your family do a Lipid Profile once a month.
Take fat free diet and control your weight.
In your age, you have better chance of survival, by avoiding all risk factors.
Hope this will help you out.
2007-07-07 05:16:28 · answer #1 · answered by Dr.Qutub 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's great that you're asking the questions now, before you experience symptoms. Now is the time to make sure you don't have problems!
All the advice that others have given here is good. I would add that it is important to understand the nature of your family heart problems. Were they associated with coronary artery disease? Did they have high cholesterol? (check cholesterol regularly and work on lifestyle issues) Is there a history of heart failure? (periodic echocardiogram) Arrhythmia? (EKG, holter monitor) Hypertension? (get yourself a BP cuff and check BP regularly)
If you know the cause of your family's heart problems, you are more likely to be able to help your doctor focus tests on where you might be likely to follow.
For example, if there is a history of heart failure (cardiomyopathy), a periodic echocardiogram to go with an EKG would be in order.
So no, you aren't too young for a cholesterol test. At the very least, you would establish a good baseline. As to lifestyle, the big issues are controlling your weight, not smoking, taking alcohol in moderation (if at all), and eating a heart healthy diet. You can look at the DASH diet for pointers. Minimizing sodium intake and maximizing Omega 3 fatty acid intake are both good things to do and relatively easy. Regular exercise is also very important, even with the fibromyalgia. It need not be strenuous, but it really helps if you stay active.
2007-07-07 05:46:46 · answer #2 · answered by Mark M 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are 2 kind of tests: one that checks the anatomical structure of the heart like an angiograph and the other evaluates the functional aspect of the heart; like Stress Thallium Myocardial perfusion scan.
All research agrees that the functional status of the heart is far more important than the structural.... meaning, the strength and functioning of the heart is more important in maintaining a functionally stable and healthy life than getting overtly worried about a few blocks that are a part of the ageing process in any case.
No one is ever too young to take care and if you suspect anything, it is good to know.
all the same, your age is on your side and I presume you are healthy by all standards.
Follow a healthy lifestyle; stay away from smoke and smoking (indirect smoking is equally harmful; smoking is the biggest threat the Heart disease)
eat healthy - get a lot of foods that will support your heart and health
Stay fit and flexible - yoga is good for strength, stamina and suppleness
Stay stress free - Meditate to relax your mind.
2007-07-07 02:26:07 · answer #3 · answered by Maa Su 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My family too has a history of heart troubles. So I started getting checked early. But I think it was more in my early 30's. I'm 41 now. They can give you a stress test. That is where you walk on the treadmill. And it can get hard. But they get your rate way up to see what happens to you. Your hooked up to all kinds of wires. I do have PVC's. Which are incomplete heart beats. Take a pill for it and I'm fine..........As for the cholesterol, you are NOT to young to get it checked now. It should be a routine thing. People younger than you have high cholesterol. That too runs in my family and I'v had it now for about 5 years. Mine was always perfect. I do eat semi-healthy, but the rest isn's so so good for ya. I am on meds for that now. So make sure the doc. knows your family history. Get it all checked now. If your fine, He should do a test yearly on you to watch. Hope this helps.
2007-07-06 23:32:13 · answer #4 · answered by Shari 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can get a cholesterol test. Other than that, if you are not experiencing any problems I wouldn't bother with any additional tests.
2007-07-07 01:59:09 · answer #5 · answered by Harmony 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋