• Question: Can you tell if your heart is healthy without going to the doctor for tests?

    Asked by Cristina Riquelme to Cristina, Gemma, Loan, Michael, Praveen on 17 Nov 2015.
    • Photo: Michael Schneider

      Michael Schneider answered on 17 Nov 2015:


      No, not entirely. Most kinds of heart disease, whether in adults or children, will indeed give chest pain, shortness of breath, fainting, or “fluttering” in the chest. Others, especially at early stages, do not. That’s why, for example, doctors will check your blood pressure and cholesterol, since these are silent but are major causes of heart disease.

    • Photo: Loan Nguyen

      Loan Nguyen answered on 18 Nov 2015:


      Dear Cristina,
      In my opinion, there are high chances that you can. There is the saying that you are your best doctor. I believe that you know your body best and if you believe there is something wrong with you, chances are you’re right. There has been too many cases of mis-diagnosis or failure to diagnose by doctors that has worn my trust in doctors away.

      If you live an active lifestyle and eat healthy with no family history of heart problems, and that you are happy and not stressed then chances are your heart is happy too.

      If you have shortness of breathe walking up two flights of stairs then chances are your heart is not healthy.

      Medical conditions such as high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, and risk factors such as smoking, drinking, poor diet, inactivity can give your heart poor health. If you do not belong to the list above and you eat healthy, keep fit and no family history of heart disease, then you can be confident that your heart is fit and well.

      Hope you found my answer useful.

      Loan

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