Understand Cardiac Checkups, Risk Factors and Prevention

What Is Heart Health?

Heart health refers to the health and function of the heart and the blood vessels that supply the body.

Several factors influence cardiovascular risk, including the following:

• Blood pressure
• Cholesterol and other blood lipids
• Blood glucose and diabetes
• Smoking or tobacco exposure
• Physical activity
• Diet
• Body weight
• Kidney health
• Family history
• Age and other individual risk factors

Some cardiovascular diseases can develop without noticeable symptoms. That is why assessing risk factors such as blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes can matter even when a person feels well. However, this does not mean that every healthy person needs extensive cardiac testing.

Early Warning Signs You Should Not Ignore

Certain symptoms may indicate a cardiovascular emergency and require prompt medical attention.

These can include the following signs:

• Pressure, pain or discomfort in the chest
• Shortness of breath
• Fainting or near-fainting
• Sudden or severe palpitations with other concerning symptoms
• Cold sweating with chest discomfort
• Sudden weakness or numbness, particularly on one side
• Sudden difficulty speaking or understanding speech
• Sudden loss of vision
• Sudden difficulty walking or loss of coordination

Symptoms can vary between individuals. Women, older adults and people with diabetes may sometimes experience less typical symptoms during a heart attack.

Recognizing the Symptoms of Heart Failure

Heart failure symptoms often develop gradually and may include fatigue, shortness of breath, swelling in the legs or abdomen, and rapid weight changes. These signs vary between young and elderly patients. Early recognition, along with regular heart health checkups, can prevent complications and support better heart health management through timely diagnosis and care.

In younger patients, these symptoms can be overlooked, while in older adults, they may appear alongside other age-related conditions. Regardless of age, early detection is key. Symptoms should never be ignored, especially in patients with a history of cardiac disease. Early detection through a timely heart health checkup can significantly improve outcomes and prevent further complications.

Heart health symptoms can present differently based on age. Younger patients may experience chest pain, dizziness, or palpitations, while the elderly often show subtle signs like confusion, fatigue, or swelling. Regular heart health checkups are vital for both groups to detect hidden risks of cardiac disease and initiate timely intervention through expert guidance and care.

Heart Attack and Stroke Are Not the Same

The term “heart stroke” should not be used to describe a heart attack. A heart attack, or myocardial infarction, occurs when blood flow to part of the heart muscle is suddenly reduced or blocked, usually because of a clot forming in a coronary artery affected by atherosclerosis [2]. A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted, usually because of a blockage or bleeding in a blood vessel supplying the brain. Both are medical emergencies, but they affect different organs and require different diagnostic and treatment approaches. If someone develops symptoms suggestive of a heart attack or stroke, emergency medical care should be sought immediately rather than waiting for a routine checkup.

How Is Heart Health Checked?

No single test can provide a complete picture of everyone’s heart health. A cardiovascular assessment generally begins with a clinical history and risk-factor assessment. Depending on the person’s age, symptoms, medical history and risk profile, a clinician may consider the following tests:

The appropriate tests depend on the individual.

For example, an ECG or exercise stress test is not automatically required as routine screening for every asymptomatic adult [3]. Similarly, echocardiography and stress testing are generally used when symptoms, examination findings, known cardiovascular disease, or other clinical considerations warrant them.

Best Foods for Heart Health: What Does the Evidence Support?

Rather than focusing on one “best” food, cardiovascular nutrition is better understood as an overall dietary pattern.

Useful choices can include the following:

• Vegetables and leafy greens
• Fruits
• Pulses, beans and lentils
• Whole grains
• Nuts and seeds in appropriate portions
• Fish where suitable
• Unsaturated vegetable oils
• Foods that provide soluble fibre, such as oats and barley

It is also useful to limit excessive intake of the following items:

• Salt
• Highly processed foods
• Foods high in saturated fat
• Added sugars
• Trans fats where present

WHO identifies unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, tobacco use and harmful alcohol use among important modifiable cardiovascular risk factors.

Foods That Support Cholesterol Management

Foods containing soluble fibre, including oats, barley, beans, and some fruits, can help support healthier cholesterol levels when incorporated into an overall balanced diet. Nuts, seeds and unsaturated oils can also form part of a heart-healthy dietary pattern. However, these foods should not be described as directly removing arterial plaque. Atherosclerosis develops through complex biological processes, and management of established cardiovascular disease may require medication and other medical treatment in addition to lifestyle measures.