How Healthy is your Heart – 4 Signs of a Healthy Heart

The heart is a vital organ that plays crucial functions in our body. According to the World Health Organization, India accounts for 1/5th of deaths from cardiovascular diseases, especially among the younger population. Risk factors such as smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus dyslipidaemia and obesity are associated with increased CVD cases among young Indians. In this day and age, having a healthy heart is a blessing, but it also takes some effort from your end to maintain its health.    There are a variety of signs and habits that signal a strong heart. However, how to know your heart is healthy?  Let’s look at some signs of a healthy heart; these signs are a combination of medical symptoms and lifestyle habits:   

1. You have plenty of energy 

A good sign of a healthy heart is having good energy levels throughout the day to be able to perform everyday activities. Suppose you constantly feel fatigued or have difficulty doing daily activities such as climbing upstairs, carrying groceries or simply strolling around. In that case, that might be a sign that your heart is not functioning well. This occurs because the heart has to work overtime to provide the body with blood and in turn oxygen. Eventually, your heart might not be able to pump enough blood to meet your needs. So, if you have a strong heart, it may translate to having enough energy throughout the day to keep up with your daily activities without feeling fatigued.

2. Heart rate

We’ve all heard the term resting heart rate, so how is this a healthy heart symptom? Heart rate is the number of times your heart beats every minute. Most adults' resting heart rate should be 60 to 100 beats per minute. The heart rate can be checked at the wrists, inside the elbows, at the neck and at the top of your foot.  However, a well-trained athlete might have a heart rate closer to 40 beats a minute. Generally, a normal heart rate signals better cardiovascular health, that is, a strong heart since the heart is beating at a steady condition. Therefore, regular exercising is key to a better resting heart rate. 

3. Blood Pressure

Blood pressure is yet another indicator of good heart health. A normal blood pressure reads as 120/80 and is considered a sign of a healthy heart. The ‘120’ is a measure of the force your heart exerts on the walls of your arteries each time it beats and is termed systolic blood pressure. While the ‘80’ is a measure of the relaxed heart muscle in between beats is termed diastolic blood pressure. Any number above 120/80 is not a sign of a healthy heart.  You are at a much lower risk of heart disease or stroke at normal blood pressure levels.

4. Cholesterol

Cholesterol receives a bad reputation. However, normal cholesterol levels are essential for cell production. A normal cholesterol level is diagnosed as less than 200 mg/dl. Primarily, there are two types of cholesterol, Low-density Lipoprotein (LDL) or bad cholesterol and High-density Lipoprotein (HDL) or good cholesterol. The LDL cholesterol is susceptible to oxidation and is responsible for clogging the arteries, leading to health problems. HDL, or the "good" cholesterol, picks up the excess cholesterol and takes it back to your liver. High levels of LDL cholesterol is harmful to our body and should be checked. One way to do that is to add more low-cholesterol foods to your heart-healthy diet plan. You should also choose the right kind of cooking oil,which is rich in fatty acids that can lower LDL cholesterol. An edible blended oil like Saffola Total is clinically proven to reduce cholesterol levels in the blood.   These signs above are essential in understanding whether our heart is healthy or not. However, nothing can trump a doctor’s appointment. Make sure that you get regular checks done by the doctor and engage in a healthy lifestyle.