Cardiovascular health is determined by several parameters that can be precisely measured with relatively simple procedures like blood tests. A person who has good cardiovascular health is at a low risk of a heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure and other related diseases.
Fitness Parameters
Simple metrics can be used to define cardiovascular health. For example, the heart rate can be measured before, during and after a workout in order to provide an accurate analysis of aerobic fitness. When a person is at rest, his or her pulse should be between 60 and 100 beats per minute. After working out for a few minutes, a person’s heart rate will significantly increase and reach a peak. The maximum heart rate should be promptly recorded to make some basic calculations later on. In fact, the heart rate recovery (HRR) is equal to the difference between the maximum pulse and resting pulse. Many treadmills, elliptical trainers and other fitness machines come with built-in heart rate monitors.
Blood Pressure
The blood pressure indicates the overall performance of the heart under normal circumstances. Manual and digital tests may be used to precisely measure the systolic (maximum) and diastolic (minimum) blood pressure.
People with high blood pressure (hypertension) are at a high risk of developing serious cardiovascular complications like stroke and heart attack. A diet high in sodium is often responsible for hypertension. By reducing consumption of fast food and processed food, people might be able to normalize their blood pressure. However, this is not the only solution. Our specialists can pinpoint the cause of your high blood pressure and develop a plan to help you control it.
Electrocardiography
We often recommend our patients to undergo electrocardiography (EKG) testing. This is a simple procedure that analyzes the rhythm of the heart. Connected to a machine that emits electrical pulses, multiple conductive pads are directly attached to the patient’s body in order to measure the heart’s activity. Once an electrocardiogram is complete, it provides a precise overview of cardiovascular function. This helps us determine if patients need surgery and/or other treatment options to manage life-threatening heart conditions.
Learn More About Your Cardiovascular Health
The trusted specialists at Cardiology Consultants of Southwest Florida understand that maintaining cardiovascular health is vital to living a long and healthy life. That’s why we proudly offer our personalized services to patients in the Fort Myers and surrounding areas. To take charge of your cardiovascular health, contact us today and schedule a consultation at our office in Fort Myers.
