Advocate your own heart health by checking your pulse rate regularly, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and getting a routine physical at least once a year. In addition to preventive measures that promote a healthy cardiocirculatory system, your health care provider can monitor your heart health and prescribe medication to head off potential or serious heart problems.
Resting Heart Rate
Resting heart rate is one measure of heart health, according to the American Heart Association. To calculate your resting heart rate, take your pulse while you're completely relaxed. Avoid taking your pulse while under unusual stress or emotional pressure. Find a location on either side of your neck close to your throat or on one of your wrists to find your pulse. Use two fingers to find your pulse. Count the number of beats per minute, or count the number of beats per 15 seconds and multiply by four to get your pulse rate per minute. A normal pulse rate for most adults is between 60 to 80 beats per minute, while an athlete's pulse rate is often even lower, according to the American Heart Association.
Stress Testing
One sure way to check heart health is to have your heart rate monitored during a stress test, also known as an exercise test or a treadmill test, according to the American Heart Association, because it "helps a doctor find out how well your heart handles work." A stress test helps medical professionals diagnose heart problems, such as arrhythmia, coronary artery disease and risk for heart attack. A stress test also helps health care providers determine what sort of exercise is appropriate for you and at what level you should exert yourself, according to the American Heart Association.
Heart Health Hazards
If you have an unhealthy heart, you may notice a very rapid resting heart rate or other tell-tale symptoms as determined by your health care provider. Weight gain, obesity, high or unhealthy cholesterol levels and unhealthy lifestyle habits often contribute to the development of heart problems or cardiovascular disease, including risk of stroke, according to the Mayo Clinic. Heart disease is "responsible for 40 percent of all the deaths in the United States," and is the number one killer of women and men around the world, reports the Mayo Clinic. However, healthy lifestyle changes often help to reduce the risk of heart disease and may even reverse it.
Disease Prevention
Proper diet and exercise are well-known promoters of heart health. Other lifestyle changes promote heart health, including stopping smoking and losing weight, according to the Mayo Clinic. With your health care provider's advice, get plenty of aerobic exercise, work out within your target heart rate zone and eat balanced and whole foods daily, including a variety of whole grains, vegetables, fruits, lean protein and healthy fats. Avoid foods high in cholesterol, trans fats, saturated fats and sodium, according to the Mayo Clinic. Work out aerobically for at least 30 minutes a day and balance aerobic exercise with some strength training and stretching. Check your pulse rate during and after exercise to help maintain heart health.
Self-monitoring
With your health care provider's recommendation, monitor your cardiovascular health at home and away from home. Check your pulse wherever you are and test your blood pressure at most pharmacies, or with a home kit. Also, watch your stress levels throughout the day and learn ways to calm yourself, recommends the Mayo Clinic, such as using breathing techniques or participating in yoga or tai chi.
