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The importance of heart health screenings
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Michael Jackson AP Photo
When it comes to our health, it is so important to be proactive about what steps we need to take to preserve our bodies and minds. Unfortunately, with all of the ambiguity and red tape in the health care system, medical providers don’t always offer every option available for preventative care that aims to minimize disease BEFORE it happens as opposed to treating it after it occurs. Many times, it is only people with symptoms or risk factors who are the focus for practitioners. Because of this, we need to be our own health advocates and make sure we are educated about the multitude of preventative health screenings available to us.
With the recent death of Michael Jackson at the age of 50 of a heart attack (pending autopsy results), there is a new focus on cardiovascular conditions. Heart disease is the #1 killer in the United States today, but it is preventable and there are several ways to proactively manage heart health.
Unfortunately, in times of economic pressure, people tend to be less focused on their health. They believe gym memberships cost too much. They eat less healthfully because there is a perception that fresh fruits and vegetables and other healthy food choices are too expensive. However, canned fruits and vegetables are inexpensive, healthy substitutes and it’s free to walk around the neighborhood or a mall. There is no legitimate excuse to let a healthy lifestyle fall to the bottom of the priority list. And, in fact, with stress being so much higher in people’s lives during economic downturns, it is the most important time to focus on healthy living.
The American Heart Association has several online resources to help us get educated on our heart health. Some of these specific tools include: a Risk Assessment to pinpoint risk factors like high cholesterol, inactive lifestyle and poor diet habits; a Treatment Decision tool to help guide a patient’s next steps if there is a risk; MyStart, which guides diet and nutrition choices for a healthier lifestyle; and Heart360, a tool that tracks cardiovascular wellness. There is also a Minnesota American Heart Association blog with updates on current heart health topics.
In addition to the tools on the American Heart Association website, there are heart screenings that actually view the heart and vessels using imaging technology. These screenings can often see potential clots, calcifications and narrowed vessels in patients who might not have any risk factors. In the Twin Cities, there are several heart screening options including the Minnesota Heart Clinic, Minneapolis Heart Institute and the St. Paul Heart Clinic. And while some heart screenings aren’t covered by insurance if a patient has no risk factors, the cost is an investment in health and can potentially uncover abnormalities that are not obvious through blood tests and lifestyle habits.
Now is the time to get actively involved in our own health by knowing what risk factors we have, what our next steps should be and doing everything we can to maintain a healthy body. Through all of these simple steps, we can live more peacefully and happily knowing our hearts are beating strong and can sustain us through all of our endeavors regardless of the state of the economy or limitations of the healthcare world
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