A simple test that will tell you about your heart health ... try it right away
Spanish researchers have discovered an effective and inexpensive way to assess heart health. This method allows for an initial initial measurement of patients who experience particularly shortness of breath or chest pain during any physical exertion.
Heart health deteriorates with the passage of years for many. There are several factors that can contribute to poor heart health and function: age, lifestyle, diabetes or family history. Patients may develop coronary arteriosclerosis, heart failure, or even myocardial infarction.
And at the last conference of the European Society of Cardiology, Spanish researchers presented a simple and inexpensive way to check heart health. According to scientists at the University Hospital of A Coruña in Spain, this method can make an initial measurement of patients and direct them, if necessary, to conduct more in-depth examinations, according to Fam Actual.
Climbing stairs to check the health of the heart
Try climbing stairs to make sure you have a healthy heart
For the study, 165 participants with cardiac symptoms were recruited. The volunteers in particular suffered from shortness of breath or chest pain during physical exertion.
In the course of the research, two tests were conducted. During the first test, patients walked or jogged on a treadmill until exhaustion, gradually increasing the intensity of the exercise, and then the participants took a 15-20 minute break before climbing 4 floors (60 degrees) in a rapid pace without stopping and without jogging. During this exercise, their time was measured, and the goal was to observe their heart activity during any daily exertion, while climbing stairs or during lab tests. The results were then compared.
A simple way to identify potential heart problems
According to the researchers' findings, it took more than a minute and a half for 58 percent of patients to climb the stairs. They also showed abnormal heart function when they tested on a treadmill. And for the volunteers who were in better health, they managed to climb 60 steps within 40 to 45 seconds.
Dr Jesus Petrio, lead author of the study and a cardiologist at A Coruña University Hospital, explained, “The stair tests are an easy way to monitor the health of your heart. If it takes you more than a minute and a half to go up 4 floors, we recommend that you consult a doctor urgently.”
