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February -

Heart health is highlighted in February and emphasizes eating right, exercising, paying attention to signs of heart attack, and much more. 

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Cardiac clearance -

For a lot of people, cardiac clearance is just a stamp from the doctor saying it's okay to proceed with surgery. However, it's much more than that. It can help reveal heart issues that you may not have noticed, reduce surgical risk, and possibly save your life.

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What is cardiac clearance? -

Cardiac clearance is an evaluation to see how well your heart will tolerate surgery stress. Even if your operation is unrelated to the heart, it's important to ensure your heart can handle the anesthesia, medications, and blood flow changes.

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People at risk -

Those at the most risk are individuals with existing heart disease, high blood pressure, or who have a family history of heart issues.

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Clearance evaluation -

When it comes to cardiac clearance, your doctor or cardiologist may run tests such as an electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, or nuclear stress test. These are done to detect irregularities or signs of heart disease including arrhythmias, valve issues, or even blockages.

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Discoveries -

If something unknown is discovered during the tests, addressing it before your surgery is extremely important for both your safety and a smoother post-surgery recovery.

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Why should all doctors be focused on heart health? -

All doctors, regardless of specialty, should focus on heart health. Surgeries of any kind can be extremely strenuous on the heart and impact the outcomes for other regions of the body.

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Possible emotions -

If your treatment is delayed due to heart health issues, it's normal to feel frustrated. However, pausing and addressing your heart health could actually save your life.

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What you can expect -

A cardiac clearance will likely start with your doctor reviewing your risk factors associated with a family history of heart health, lifestyle habits such as smoking or exercising, and if you have hypertension or diabetes.

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Honesty -

It's extremely important to be honest with your doctor during these exams. As much as you want to get your surgery done, safety should come first.

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Basic screenings -

You'll also likely do some basic screenings including blood work to check things like cholesterol levels, diabetes risk, and other markers. 

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Possible imaging -

Depending on your overall health, imaging or a stress test may be needed.

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Blood thinners -

If you are taking blood thinners and any other medication for blood pressure, be sure you inform your doctor.

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Embrace the process -

A cardiac clearance isn't just some box that you need to check off before surgery, it's a potentially life-saving process, so try to embrace it.

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Can heart health change with time? -

Yes, heart health can absolutely change as we age. It's important to pay attention to your heart health and do regular check-ups with your doctor as you age.

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Heart health -

Even if you're not getting surgery, a heart health checkup is still advised. If you've been putting off getting your heart checked out, use this February Heart Month as an "excuse" to go soon.

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Screenings -

To help manage and lower your risk of heart problems, it's important to pay attention to the quality of your diet, engage in physical activity, don't smoke, and measure your blood pressure and total cholesterol.

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Blood pressure -

High blood pressure is especially important to measure as usually there are no symptoms.

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Normal levels -

Check your blood pressure once a year if it's normally below 120/80 mm Hg. However, if it's higher, your healthcare provider may want to check it more frequently

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How is blood pressure measured? -

You can measure your blood pressure with a machine. You place the cuff around the bare arm as pictured and let it inflate. Then the air will slowly drain from the cuff and a reading will appear on the machine. 

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Cholesterol -

It's also important to have your cholesterol checked as it can severely impact your life and heart health.

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Testing -

More frequent tests may be needed if your doctor determines your risk for heart disease or stroke is higher.

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How can I improve my cholesterol levels? -

Similar to high blood pressure, cholesterol can usually be controlled and managed through lifestyle changes and/or medications.

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Body weight -

To calculate your body mass index (BMI) your doctor may want to measure your waist circumference or measure your body weight. These measurements can tell your doctor how healthy you are.

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Obesity -

Being obese means you are at a higher risk for health problems such as heart disease, stroke, and more.

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Blood glucose -

If you have high blood glucose, or blood sugar levels, you're at a greater risk of developing insulin resistance, prediabetes, and type 2 diabetes. 

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More measurements -

If you're over 45 years old, overweight, or have at least one additional cardiovascular risk factor, the doctor may suggest you do a glucose test.

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Smoking, diet, and physical activity -

If you smoke, you should schedule an appointment with your healthcare professional to discuss ways to quit. You can also discuss your diet and physical activity levels.

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Improvements -

There is always room for improvement in life and our diet and exercise are no different. Talk with your doctor about how you can become healthier and reduce heart health risks.

Sources: (CNN Health) (American Heart Association) (NIH)

See also: 30 of the healthiest winter vegetables and fruits to try

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