Every year, up to 18.5 million people worldwide die of heart disease. [1] According to statistics, heart disease is one of the most common causes of death in the Czech Republic. [2] There are many risk factors, but many of them can be controlled by proper lifestyle and following a few simple principles. The best prevention is a healthy lifestyle and regular check-ups with a doctor.
Contents: Are we taking care of our heartiest organ correctly?
How to protect the heart
How to know that the heart is in disorder
Test the heart in the laboratory
It is important to recognize and catch the disease in time. Therefore, the patient should undergo regular preventive examinations and not wait for the first symptoms.
The heart, a muscle pump, is an indispensable organ for the proper functioning of the human body. It never rests and works even when we sleep. It beats about 60 to 80 times per minute and pumps 4.5-5 liters of blood per minute. But it is also responsible for strong pounding when we feel fear, panic or joy. [3] In short, the heart is the driving engine of the whole body, and when it breaks down, there is a problem. Among the most common diseases that can affect our heart are ischemic heart disease, which can lead to myocardial infarction, heart conduction system disorders or hypertensive heart disease.
How to protect the heart
How to properly care for this vital organ? Avoid smoking , excessive stress and include enough exercise. “Obesity and general overeating, inappropriate and unbalanced diet, high alcohol consumption and a sedentary lifestyle are not good for the heart,” explains MUDr. Michaela Kalousová, cardiologist from Canadian Medical, which is part of the EUC healthcare group. However, the function of our heart is also affected by factors that we cannot influence – age, gender or family history. “In the case of a diagnosis of heart disease, it is necessary to follow the treatment set by the attending physician, otherwise there is a risk of many health complications and, in extreme cases, even death,” he adds .
How to know that the heart is in disorder
Heart disease is often hidden, without symptoms or we mistakenly attribute the symptoms to other diseases. The most common warning symptoms include shortness of breath. Chest pain, irregular heartbeat, fatigue, swelling or loss of appetite also appear.
“It is important to recognize and catch the disease in time. Therefore, the patient should undergo regular preventive examinations and not wait for the first symptoms. As part of prevention, laboratory tests are also useful, thanks to which we can detect increased risk factors for heart and blood vessel disease, such as diabetes, high cholesterol or uric acid levels. We then consult the results in detail with the patient and propose the next procedure,” says MUDr. Jaroslava Čiefová, internist from EUC Clinic Prague – Šustova.
Test the heart in the laboratory
For patients who have suspected heart disease or an adverse family history, the EUC Laboratory offers a customized test package called Healthy Heart and Blood Vessels . The patient only needs to come for the collection itself, because the advantage of the package is, among other things, the possibility to consult the results of the tests with the doctor remotely through the Doctor online 24/7 service.
The examination is performed from venous blood, usually in the morning and on an empty stomach. Before sampling, the patient should not eat or smoke for at least 12 hours. It is also recommended to drink at least a quarter liter of water or unsweetened tea. The results are available the next working day.