Heart problems are more common than we think. This applies to both young and old individuals. These issues don’t apply to a specific demographic. In fact, there’s data showing afib in young people is very widespread. The most common forms of alteration in heart rhythm is fast, irregular, or slow heartbeats.

There are ways to manage and track this, though, and I’ve written some useful information on the topic. We can manually track our pulse or use different machines to assist in the process. It’s important to diagnose first, and treat later. We shouldn’t jump to conclusions with our first heart problems.

Common Causes of Heart Problems in Young People

Heart problems can show up at any age. There are many risk factors associated with these issues. Some conditions in young people include atrial septal defect, tetralogy of Fallot, ventricular septal defect, coarctation of the aorta, and transposition of the great arteries.

I’ll take a step away from complicated medical terms and provide some common causes. The most important is high blood pressure. However, we should also consider other contributors. These include high cholesterol, smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity. Treatment or modification of these variables can improve the quality of life.

Symptoms of Heart Problems

We should keep an eye on certain symptoms or signs that we might have a heart problem. Common warning signs include:

Breathlessness
Fatigue
Weakness
Edema (swelling in the legs, neck, arms)
Chest pain

Pain in these parts of the body are more serious symptoms:

Jaw
Back
Neck
Shoulder blades
Upper central abdomen
Left arm

These warning signs aren’t always indicators that we have an issue. But, we should pay attention to these and consult a doctor if we experience them for prolonged periods of time. Extreme pain on the left side of the chest, left arm, and neck means we should seek immediate medical attention.

Keep a close eye on what your heart is doing with SonoHealth’s EKGraph tool. Take a proactive measure to manage your Atrial Fibrillation today!

How to Prevent Heart Problems in Young People

We can prevent heart problems in many ways. A great first step is to exercise. Daily activity can reduce the likelihood that we’ll experience a serious heart condition. I’ve also benefited from accompanying my running routine with a healthy diet reduced in salt.

Another step in the right direction is to quit smoking. Tobacco is a huge contributor to health problems, and this includes the heart. Managing cholesterol and alcohol intake are other options. Also, we should limit our caffeine intake. This seemingly inoffensive drug can cause a spike in blood pressure.

FAQs

Can a 19-year-old have a heart attack?

Yes. Heart disease problems can appear as early as 18 years of age. The primary warning sign is high blood pressure. While the chances of a heart attack are lower when a person is younger, it’s still a possibility.

Can stress cause heart pain?

Yes. Stress can cause increased muscle tension. This can produce chest pain and an elevated heart rate. As a result, stress can force your heartbeat to grow stronger and cause unusual pain.

Are heart flutters normal?

Heart flutters, or heart palpitations, are when we experience a fast-beating heart. They’re common, but not always normal. Usually, they’re harmless. However, if we experience dizziness, shortness of breath, or chest pain, as well, we should seek medical attention.

Atrial fibrillation (or AFib) is a heart condition which causes the heart’s upper chambers pulse at a rapid and sometimes irregular pace, resulting in an irregular heart rhythm.

Although some people with AFib experience no symptoms, it is a very serious condition. AFib can raise your risk of stroke and heart failure.

For people who have been diagnosed with AFib, one of the most important things you can do to help manage the condition is watching what you eat.

Our cardiovascular system is heavily affected by everything we eat, both in the short and the long term.

To keep your heart’s rhythms beating healthily, it’s important to eat a heart healthy diet and avoid certain foods. Let’s take a look at some tips for eating with AFib.

Keep a close eye on what your heart is doing with SonoHealth’s EKGraph tool. Take a proactive measure to manage your Atrial Fibrillation today!

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Choose Whole Grains Over Simple Carbs

Whenever you can, go for whole grains over refined grains or other forms of simple carbs.

Simple carbs are little more than sugars. Sugar is a major contributor to obesity and elevated blood pressure, two things which can majorly exacerbate AFib.

Whole grains, on the other hand, are rich in nutrition. Not only are they nutritious, they have long been linked to improved heart health, with some research suggesting that eating a few servings of whole grains each day can lower your risk of heart disease.

Choose Less Starchy Vegetables And Less Sugary Fruits

Eating fruits and vegetables is always good, right? Well, if you’re eating the wrong fruits and vegetables, you might be getting more sugar in your diet than you realize.

Vegetables rich in starch such as potatoes, peas, and corn are absolutely loaded with carbohydrates and can be a major contributor to weight gain.

Instead of eating those peas and potatoes, try having a nice leafy green salad instead!

Even when it comes to fruit, some options are better than others. While all fruit is going to be a bit sugary, some fruits have much less sugar than others.

High sugar fruits to avoid include grapes, mangoes, and cherries. Swap these out for less sugary fruits, such as strawberries, black berries, peaches, and oranges.

Eat Protein Everyday: Focus On Fish Or Fowl

One of the main things to avoid in your AFib diet is large amounts of fats, especially transfats.

Red meat has much more saturated fats (the kind you want to avoid) than other sources of protein, such as fish and fowl.

This means that for those keeping the health of their heart in mind its best to eschew beef, pork, and lamb, in favor of chicken and fish.

Not only are these great sources of less fatty protein, there are some other perks as well. For example, fish are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which can help promote heart health.

Keep a close eye on what your heart is doing with SonoHealth’s EKGraph tool. Take a proactive measure to manage your Atrial Fibrillation today!

Consume Healthy Fats Like Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, And Grapeseed Oil

Though it is easy to overlook, your cooking oil plays a huge role in your diet.

Choosing the wrong cooking oil can seriously boost your consumption of undesirable saturated fats, which can raise your cholesterol and put more strain on your heart.

When selecting a cooking oil, you generally want one high in unsaturated fats and low in saturated fat.

One exceptional option for heart health is olive oil. Not only is olive oil low in saturated fats, it was found to be the only source of monounsaturated fat associated with a reduced risk of heart disease and stroke in a study with over 800,000 participants.

Consume Caffeine And Alcohol In Moderation

Studies have shown that drinking alcohol can trigger an AFib incident. Even moderate drinking can contribute to an incident. You should limit your alcohol intake to two drinks per day or less.

Though AFib patients have long been advised to avoid caffeine entirely, some research suggests that caffeine may not be entirely off limits for AFib sufferers. While caffeine consumption can trigger changes in heart rate, moderate caffeine consumption (such as a cup of coffee) is not prohibited.

Atrial Fibrillation FAQs

1. Can a heart monitor detect Atrial Fibrillation (AFib)?

Yes. An ECG heart monitor is the device used by doctors to detect and diagnose Atrial Fibrillation.

2. What is a normal heart rate for a person with Atrial Fibrillation (AFib)?

Heart rate varies based on a wide number of factors, including an individual’s body, environment, health, and emotional state. People with AFib may have a normal resting heart rate when not experiencing AFib episodes. The average heart rate is around 60-100 beats per minute. In a heart experiencing an episode of AFib, heart rate can spike to as much as 100-175 beats per minute.

3. Can Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) be caused by anxiety?

There is some research which suggests that AFib can be triggered by anxiety or panic.

Even though it’s something that few of us pay close attention to, your heart rate is an important indicator of your overall health.

Modern heart rate monitoring devices are now widely available to the public in the form of consumer grade electronics. These technologies empower consumers to keep a closer focus on their health by tracking their heart rate, collecting data which can inform their health decisions and be shared with their physician to improve their treatment.

While it is easier than ever for anyone to measure their heart rate, this raises a new question: who should bother keeping track of their heart rate?

When Should You Worry About Your Heart Rate?

There are a lot of good reasons to monitor your heart rate. It can help you track your performance and understand your body’s response to exercise. It can help you understand how your body responds to a new diet or medication. It can help encourage you along your journey to weight loss.

Not only that, it can also help you detect anomalies before they become serious.

There are a variety of health conditions which can affect your heart rate. Consistently high heart rates can be an indicator for cardiovascular problems, thyroid conditions, asthma, and more. Consistently slow heart rates have been associated with cardiovascular problems, infections, and other conditions.

Being able to keep track of and understand your heart rate can help you catch early warning signs of changes or anomalies in your body, potentially keeping you ahead of the curve by allowing you to report these results to your doctor.

Use Heart Rate Monitoring Techniques

Once you’re keeping track of your heart rate, there are a variety of techniques you can employ to get the most from your data.

If you’re tracking your heart rate for exercise data, it’s important to collect as much data as you can, especially on the highs and lows. You can crunch these numbers to figure out your average heart rate and compare it to your heart rate during and after exercise.

For those monitoring their heart rate to help with a medical condition or weight loss, it’s a good idea to keep a detailed journal of your heart rate data. Include information about what you did before each reading, such as your diet, exercise, medication, and other relevant details that can impact your heart rate.

Heart Rate Monitoring With ECG Monitor

Using our modern portable ECG heart rate monitor, it has never been easier to keep track of what your heart is up to!

All you have to do is hold your finger tip on the device’s sensor for a few seconds. The ECG monitor’s LCD screen will then display your vitals and your heart rate. You can even sync up with your iPhone or Android device to automatically record this data.

Checking Pulse At The Wrist

If you don’t happen to have a modern ECG heart rate monitor handy, it’s quite easy to record heart rate the old fashioned way!

To check heart rate literally by hand, take the index and middle fingers of one hand and place them lightly on the wrist of another hand just below the thumb.

You don’t need to press firmly at all. Just a gentle touch should allow you to feel the pulse.

To work out a heart rate, count the number of pulses you feel within 15 seconds. Multiply this number by four to get a heart rate in Beats Per Minute (BPM.)

Factors That Affect Heart Rate

Your heart is quite a complicated device. It can be affected by everything from the weather outside to your internal emotional state to what you ate for lunch.

Here are just a few of the many, many things which can affect your heart rate:

Exercise
Diet
Smoking
Alcohol
Infections
Air temperature
Posture
Drugs and medication
Body weight and size
Emotional state

Heart Rate FAQs

1. Is sleeping heart rate supposed to be lower than resting?

Heart rate typically drops to resting or below resting average when sleeping. However, the different stages of sleep can affect heart rate, causing sleeping heart rate to vary widely. Some conditions such as sleep apnea can also affect heart rate while sleeping.

2. How do you monitor your heart rate?

The easiest way to monitor your heart rate is with a modern portable ECG device. These allow you to record your heart rate by simply holding your finger on a sensor. If you don’t have such a device, you can read a person’s heart rate by taking their pulse from their wrist or neck.

3. What can your pulse (heart rate) tell you?

Your heart rate gives you a real time look at how your heart is doing. It can be used to measure your overall health, track how your body responds to stimulus such as exercise, and provide an early warning signal for certain health conditions.

Hypertension is a somewhat fancy word for something you’ve probably already heard of: high blood pressure.

Hypertension is one of the most common medical conditions faced by modern people. It is so common that the Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates as many as 1 in 3 American adults have hypertension.

For most people, hypertension does not have any symptoms. Despite this, hypertension can gradually damage the body. The increased pressure can damage blood vessels and organs in the body over the long term.

Untreated high blood pressure can eventually lead to a variety of dangerous complications, including heart attack, stroke, heart failure, aneurysm, and many other conditions.

Fortunately, there are a few simple things you can do to monitor your blood pressure and some easy to implement lifestyle changes which can help reduce blood pressure.

How To Measure Your Blood Pressure

The easiest way to tell if you have hypertension is to consistently measure your blood pressure.

You can do this with an at home EKG monitoring device or portable EKG machine. These devices are inexpensive and allow you to read your blood pressure at any time without the assistance of a doctor.

By keeping a consistent record of your blood pressure, you can help supplement the blood pressure readings which doctors will take each time you visit the clinic. This information can help your doctor to determine if you have hypertension and potentially prescribe you blood pressure control medication, or recommend changes to your diet and lifestyle which can help lower your blood pressure.

How Diet and Lifestyle Impact Blood Pressure

While there are a wide variety of factors which contribute to hypertension, two of the most common factors are diet and lifestyle.

Diets high in salt and trans-fats have been linked to higher blood pressure. Reducing salt intake and avoiding fatty foods is a good way to help bring down your blood pressure. Diets high in leafy greens and fruits can improve the health of your heart and cardiovascular system.

Sedentary lifestyles have also been linked to increases in blood pressure. Regular exercise — even thirty minutes a day of low impact exercise such as walking — can reduce blood pressure when done consistently.

Similarly, obesity is a major contributing factor to hypertension. Losing weight is a great way to help combat hypertension, especially when combined with improvements in diet and increased levels of physical activity.

Smoking and drinking alcohol have also been associated with increased blood pressure. Reducing your alcohol intake and quitting smoking can help alleviate hypertension.

See For Yourself How Your Lifestyle Affects Your Blood Pressure

If you’re one of the millions of people trying to control their hypertension, it can be extremely helpful to actually monitor how your lifestyle and diet impact your blood pressure.

While this is difficult to do if you’re only getting infrequent blood pressure readings when you visit the doctor, it is something which can be done daily with the help of your own EKG monitoring device.

Combining an EKG monitor with a simple journal which documents what you’ve done in regards to diet and exercise on a daily basis is one of the most powerful tools at your disposal for controlling your blood pressure.

Take control today!

Did you know that as much as 10% of the population may have high blood pressure and not even know about it?

This isn’t from a lack of testing, either. A condition doctors’ refer to as masked hypertension occurs when a patient has a normal blood pressure reading during an office visit, but exhibits high blood pressure outside of the clinic.

High blood pressure (hypertension) is a common condition which puts strain on your cardiovascular system and internal organs. Left untreated, it can result in serious complications.

While blood pressure tests are easy enough to administer and a routine part of any visit to the doctor’s office, blood pressure testing techniques aren’t perfect.

The main failure point of blood pressure tests is how infrequently they are administered. Getting your blood pressure read only gives you a brief snapshot of your blood pressure at the exact moment it is being read.

Blood pressure is not static. It can be highly variable and depend on all sorts of internal and environmental factors, varying throughout the day.

As a result, some individuals never get their hypertension properly diagnosed. If your blood pressure — for whatever reason — isn’t at abnormal levels when you get a blood pressure reading, you could go for extended periods with no idea that you have hypertension.

Who Should Be Concerned With Masked Hypertension?

If you have any of the high risk factors for hypertension, such as smoking, drinking, lack of exercise, obesity, or any other contributor to high blood pressure, it is worth keeping a closer eye on your blood pressure.

One warning sign can be occasional high blood pressure readings. If you find that your blood pressure is not consistently high when measured but some measurements are out of normal levels, this could be a warning sign that you have masked hypertension.

Similarly, individuals who have been diagnosed with hypertension could actually have a more severe level of hypertension than infrequent testing can reveal.

How To Determine If You Have Masked Hypertension

While you should never attempt to diagnose yourself with any medical condition, one thing that you can begin doing is monitoring your blood pressure at home.

A portable EKG monitor is a simple way to get a blood pressure reading without taking a trip to the doctor’s office. You can quickly and painlessly test your blood pressure from home with an EKG machine, letting you get multiple readings throughout the day and compiling data over the course of weeks or months.

You can compile this information into a logbook to keep an accurate record of your blood pressure over time.

If you find yourself having consistently high blood pressure levels, consult your physician. Show them your log book and your portable EKG machine. They can use this information to help diagnose you or determine a better course of treatment.

Should you be diagnosed with hypertension, you can continue using your heart monitor machine to keep close tabs on your blood pressure as you begin treatment.

Having a home EKG monitor at your disposal allows you to watch how your lifestyle affects your blood pressure. Changes to contributing factors such as diet and exercise, or cessation of smoking cannabis or drinking, can have real and noticeable effects which you can record at home using an EKG machine.

FAQ’s

What causes masked hypertension?

Masked hypertension has the same risk factors as hypertension in general: alcohol, tobacco, a sedentary lifestyle, and obesity, among others. It’s not exactly clear what is it that causes masked hypertension. Blood pressure is not a static value. BP will change, sometimes drastically, through the day. Infrequent testing can lead to improper blood pressure diagnosis. Even those suffering from hypertension may have better or worse pressure than what infrequent testing shows.

How common is masked hypertension?

Hypertension is one of the most common cardiac conditions in the world today. It’s a well-known condition that affects up to 1 in 3 adults. Conventional hypertension isn’t the only thing you need to keep an eye out for, though. Masked hypertension may be much more common than people imagine. Masked hypertension (hypertension that doesn’t show symptoms at the doctor’s office) may affect up to 10% of the population, or 1 in 10 adults.

Should white coat hypertension be treated?

White-coat hypertension, the opposite of masked hypertension, affects patients only when they are at the doctor’s office. It can be quite vexing to deal with, especially as it may evolve into sustained hypertension. Typically, health professionals recommend monitoring white-coat hypertension. A portable EKG machine can be helpful to keep track of your BP at different times of the day. Treatment is generally not required unless it becomes sustained hypertension, or there are other risk factors.

High blood pressure is one of the most common medical conditions in the modern world. As many as 80 million Americans over the age of 20 suffer from high blood pressure — nearly 1 in 3 people.

Also known as hypertension, high blood pressure can eventually lead to serious medical conditions, including congestive heart failure.

Hypertension is a sign that your heart is working too hard and your cardiovascular system is being put under strain. While modern blood pressure drugs can work wonders for keeping blood pressure under check, there are also a variety of lifestyle changes which can help you keep your blood pressure down.

Let’s take a look at a few things you can start doing right away which can help reduce your blood pressure.

Do More Exercise

Exercise is excellent for the health of your heart and cardiovascular system. Just thirty minutes of exercise a day can help reduce your blood pressure.

It doesn’t need to be intense exercise, either. Thirty minutes each day of walking, cycling, swimming, or even dancing is enough to show real results in reducing your blood pressure.

The most important thing is consistency. Exercise is great for the body, but if you fail to get in those thirty minutes a day, your blood pressure will once again be on the rise.

Eat Healthy

Eating a healthy diet full of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains has a positive effect on heart health and can help reduce blood pressure. CBD oil has also been shown to help regulate your body’s blood pressure.

Cut out as much saturated fat and cholesterol from your diet as possible, instead substituting it with heart healthy foods and salads full of leafy greens.

Avoid sodium as much as possible. Salt can be hard to avoid in the modern diet, but high sodium intake is one of the main contributors to high blood pressure. Sticking to whole grains and salads is a great way to decrease your salt intake.

Lose Weight

If you combine the two tips above — exercise and good diet — you should already be on your way to dropping a few pounds.

This is the holy trinity of lowering your blood pressure. Blood pressure increases with weight, and obese individuals are also likely to have diets full of saturated fats while performing limited amounts of exercise.

What’s more, it turns out your waistline is more than just for looks. Research has shown that belly fat actually increases the risk for high blood pressure. Another reason to stick to that diet.

Monitor Your Heart Health

Nowadays it is easier and more affordable than ever to pick up a portable heart monitor which you can use to keep tabs on your heart health between visits to the doctor’s office.

With your own EKG machine, you can actively measure the results of your efforts to reduce your blood pressure and correlate changes in your lifestyle to changes in your average blood pressure.

A home EKG or portable EKG machine doesn’t require any special training to setup or use. After a few minutes reading the instruction manual, you can begin checking and recording your own blood pressure.

Be sure to do more than just take a glance at the machine. Get a small notebook and record the date, time, and your blood pressure. It can even help to start a little journal where you record what steps you took that day to help reduce blood pressure.

You can use this information to keep a close eye on what you’re doing and how its affecting your blood pressure, both positive and negative!

Not only does this allow you to know for yourself how effective your blood pressure reduction strategy is, but your doctor will thank you as well!

If a doctor suspects that your heart is having issues, they may recommend that you get an electrocardiogram, which is usually referred to either an EKG or ECG. This test is meant to record the electrical signals being sent out when your heart is beating, and the test can detect multiple kinds of heart problems.

How Is the ECG/EKG Done?

The EKG or ECG is typically performed in a doctor’s office, hospital, or medical clinic. The procedure involves using an ECG monitor or EKG monitor, which is a machine that has a series of electrodes that get attached to points along your chest and body to monitor blood flow.

A portable EKG monitor, which is often referred to as a Holter monitor, is also another method of obtaining readings of the electrical signals of the heart. This monitor is attached to you by a medical professional at a doctor’s office or hospital, and you wear the device for a certain span of time (usually 24 to 48 hours) to record information that will later be reviewed by a doctor.

Why a Doctor May Recommend You Be Tested with an EKG or ECG Monitor

There are multiple situations when a doctor may want you to be tested with an EKG or ECG monitor, including if:

You have been experiencing heart palpitations
You have previously had a heart attack or heart condition
You are experiencing a fast or irregular heartbeat
You are dealing with shortness of breath
You’ve experienced dizziness, have been feeling lightheaded, or have been disoriented

What Can an ECG or EKG Monitor Find Out About Your Heart?

Once the EKG or ECG monitor is removed, your doctor will either discuss the readings with you at that time or at a followup appointment. These tests are highly valuable because they can diagnose a range of issues with the heart, such as:

Arrhythmias, which are irregularities in how your heart beats
Heart chamber issues, such as deformities in their shape or size
Signs that you have had a previously undiagnosed heart attack
Blocked or constricted heart arteries that are causing chest pain

An EKG monitor may also be prescribed if the doctor wants to check how well your heart is function if you are undergoing certain medical treatments. For example, if you have recently had a pacemaker put in or have started a new medication, you may need an EKG to monitor progress with the new treatment.

How Does the EKG Monitor Detect Problems with Your Heart?

The EKG or ECG is one of the safest and simplest ways to detect problems with the heart. The sensors that are placed on your body are going to be detecting the electronic impulses that your heart is receiving that make it beat. These impulses are recorded on a recording device as a visual image or displayed on a screen for the practitioner to see as they perform the test.

A trained professional can recognize discrepancies in the waves that are recorded. For example, if the waves are shallow and irregular, it can mean that you are not getting proper electronic impulses and your heart will beat at an irregular pace. If the wavelengths recorded are irregular or not as they should be, it can mean there is something going on with the amount of oxygen your heart is getting, that you have had a prior heart attack, or there is something else going on that needs to be checked out.

Overall, the ECG or EKG monitor can be one of the most effective ways to detect an issue with the cardiovascular system. Reach out to your doctor for more information about how to diagnose heart issues with an EKG or ECG monitor.

What do you need to do to keep your heart healthy?

Do you know?

No worries! Most people know the basics, but have no clue about the more unknown ways to keep their heart healthy. So here are some healthy heart tips that will help take all that guesswork and turn it into knowledge.

First, we’ll quickly review some healthy heart tips you already know. Then we will move on to some great healthy heart tips that will change your life—literally!

Healthy Heart Tips You Probably Already Know

Here’s what you probably already know about keeping your heart healthy, but if you don’t, or you need a quick refresher, these are some of the best tips for keeping your heart healthy.

Quit smoking.
Exercise while focusing on getting rid of belly fat.
Eat a healthy diet full of fiber and organic fruits and vegetables—preferably raw fruits and veggies, etc.
Know the healthy heart numbers for your blood pressure, triglycerides, blood sugar, and cholesterol.
Visit your doctor regularly.
Occasional dosage of CBD edibles

OK, now onto the healthy heart tips that will change your life!

This is going to be interesting, so keep reading to find out just how easy (and fun) keeping your heart healthy can be.

5+ Healthy Heart Tips That Will Change Your Life

1. Eat Some Salsa

Tomatoes contain lycopene which is extremely good for your heart, as well as protecting your body against certain cancers. The lycopene in tomatoes fights against the oxidation our bodies experience due to our modern-day environment, and this results in a reduced risk of a wide variety of chronic diseases.

Additionally, if you want to super-boost your salsa for added health benefits, go ahead and add a can of black beans. This will give your body some of the soluble fiber it needs to lower your bad cholesterol (LDL).

2. Laugh More

Laughing has been proven to boost your mood and outlook on life. So go ahead and sign up to receive daily jokes, watch funny movies, or enjoy more time with your friends. Now you don’t have to make excuses for having a good time, because you are now doing something healthy for your heart. Not only that, but, laughing lowers your stress hormones and this, in turn, will reduce the inflammation in your arteries while raising your good cholesterol (HDL).

3. Have Some Chocolate (but not just any chocolate)

Who doesn’t love chocolate? Well, now you can enjoy eating some chocolate guilt-free. However, make sure you are eating dark chocolate with the highest level of cacao. The higher the cacao, the healthier it will be. For example, shoot for dark chocolate that has at least 70 percent cacao so you get the most benefits from it. Also, please remember that even though dark chocolate is healthy, it’s still full of calories, so moderation is key.

Another fun fact about dark chocolate is that it’s loaded with soluble fiber and contains tryptophan, an amino acid the brain uses to make serotonin, which then makes you feel happier. Additionally, dark chocolate is good for your skin and is a natural stress reliever.

The daily recommended amount of dark chocolate is about one to two ounces per day, which is plenty to give you all the heart-healthy benefits you need and more.

4. Brush Your Teeth Twice a Day

The bacteria that cause gum disease will also raise your risk of heart disease. Therefore, make sure you floss and brush your teeth at least twice a day.

5. Sexual Activity

Did you know that having sex is good for your heart? Yep! Having sex can help lower your blood pressure which lowers your risk of heart disease. Not to mention that it reduces stress while adding a little fun to your life!

More Healthy Heart Tips

Engage in activities such as knitting, woodworking, housework, doing jigsaw puzzles.
Dancing (take a dance class if you don’t know how).
Eat fish that’s high in omega-3 fatty acids (tuna, salmon, sardines, etc.).
Yoga and stretching.
Enjoying relaxing cannabis strains.
Avoid sitting for long periods of time.
Eat heart-healthy nuts such as walnuts, pecans, almonds, etc.
Engage in a new active hobby such as bowling, hiking, biking, etc.

There are so many different fun things you can do to keep your heart healthy.

So what are you waiting for?

Let’s do this!

What’s Next?

If you would like to learn more about how to protect yourself, please Contact Us today. Let us show you how we can help take the fear out of living while helping you manage your life stress-free!

There are many medical conditions that impact your life. But that doesn’t mean you should forego the chance to travel. Exploring the world is a great way to spend time with loved ones and enrich your own life. The fact that you have a medical condition shouldn’t necessarily keep you from living life to the fullest.

Some conditions can be very serious and even minor conditions can lead to complications. When you travel, you’re also entering a new space with possible risks that you don’t know about. It’s important to do your research ahead of time so that you’re prepared to deal with your health on the road.

Medical conditions can range from permanent to temporary. Pregnancy is a medical condition that can be greatly impacted by travel. In fact, many airlines have rules about flying in the last trimester of pregnancy which may make travel especially difficult.

This list of tips can give you a great head start on planning your next trip without compromising your safety or health.

Tips When Traveling with a Medical Condition

Talk to Your Doctor First. If you have any ongoing or current medical conditions, you should discuss travel with your doctor before making travel arrangements. They will often have excellent advice on how to safely travel and may alert you to reasons you shouldn’t visit that location.
Make Sure You Have All Medications/Tools (especially CBD oil). If you’re traveling and have diabetes, for instance, it’s important that you take all the tools you need to test your blood sugar and monitor your levels, as well as medication. It’s better if you pack these items in a carry on bag so that there’s no chance that you will be stuck in another location without it. What if your bags get lost? It’s rare, but it does happen.
Find a Local Hospital in Your Travel Location. If you have a serious condition, it’s a good idea to research local hospitals in the area. This way you can make sure you know the name and how to get there in case of any emergency. You’ll also be able to review information about the hospital so you can pick the best one and feel more confident if you do need the care.
Double Check Any Medical Needs for the Location. Some locations might require you to get a vaccine. This is something you should discuss with your doctor well in advance because some medical conditions may mean that you can’t have the vaccination. For instance, if you’re going through cancer treatment, your immune system may be too compromised for the vaccine.
Verify Whether You Need a Doctor’s Note. If you have an implanted device, such as a pacemaker, you may need a doctor’s note and it may be necessary that you don’t go through the regular security screening. There may be other reasons to carry a note from your physician, as well.
Have Your Medical Records with You / Wear Any Medical Alert Bracelet. Today, you can carry your medical records right on your cell phone. This way any medical professional who needs to treat you can easily see what your condition is, past treatments, and any allergies or underlying conditions they wouldn’t be aware of on initial consult. If you have an alert bracelet it’s always best to wear it for the same reason.
Come Prepared for Your Physical Limitations. You won’t be able to just go home and pick up whatever you forgot. It’s important that you take everything that you need with you. This might include particular snacks if you need to watch your blood sugar or devices to make walking more comfortable.

Most medical conditions don’t need to preclude you from travel. It is important that you take some precautions for a safer, more pleasant journey.

An EKG or electrocardiogram is a type of heart test that tracks your heart’s electrical activity and shows it on a screen as a moving line or records it on moving paper. Doctors use EKGs to analyze the rhythm of the heart, detect abnormalities and check for cardiac issues that could cause severe health problems like heart attack or stroke.

Doctors use the EKG monitoring procedure to measure:

The speed your heart is beating and if it’s beating normally
Any heart damage
The effects of devices like pacemakers that control the heart
The effects of drugs
The position and size of the chambers of your heart

It’s typically the first test doctors use for individuals with heart disease. They might order the test if:

You have a scheduled surgery
You have palpitations or chest pain
You’ve had heart issues in the past

Before an EKG Monitoring Procedure

There really isn’t any special preparations for an EKG. You’ll want to avoid exercising and drinking cold water before your EKG. Cold water could change the recorded electrical patterns on the test. Exercise increases your heart rate, and therefore can affect the results of the test. In some cases, depending on why you’re receiving an EKG, the doctor might ask you to stop taking certain medicines you’re on for a couple days before your test.

A doctor, technician or nurse will perform the test. You’ll be provided with a hospital gown and asked to lay down on the exam table. Once you’re in position, the doctor will attach electrodes, or leads (typically ten) using easy-to-remove, sticky adhesive to your body — one on each leg and arm and six on your chest. If you are very hairy in the areas where the healthcare provider needs to place the electrodes, they might shave you.

During an EKG Monitoring Procedure

The electrodes are flat, coin-shaped plates with wires that attach to the EKG machine. They detect your heart’s electrical activity and transmit the data to the machine, where it’s processed and printed out or saved electronically as an EKG tracing.

The doctor will take readings for around five minutes. You will need to stay still during this time since motion could disrupt the pattern. There isn’t any discomfort or pain associated with an EKG.

After an EKG Monitoring Procedure

After your EKG, you can go back to your normal activities.

The doctor will review your test and look at the waves that were recorded during your test to check if the impulses are traveling properly. They’ll let you know your EKG results either at your next appointment or the same day they perform the test.

If your EKG is normal, you might not require any further testing. However, if there are any abnormalities with your heart shown in the results, you might require another EKG or another diagnostic test like an echocardiogram. If the EKG shows any results of a serious health issue, the doctor will contact you right away. If treatment is required, it will depend on the cause of your symptoms. The doctor will sit down with you and discuss your treatment plan.