Hello, my name is Gregory. When I was a young lad, I had to enter the health care world in an unexpected way. I developed a serious disease out of the blue that took doctors by surprise. I went through so many different testing procedures before my doctors could diagnose the rare disease. Everyone around me reeled as they tried to understand the purpose and process of the diagnostic tests. I hope to help others understand these important tests better through this website. Please come by often to learn all you need to know about medical diagnostics and working closely with health care professionals.
Talking About Diagnostic Tests For Medical Care
Obesity and Heart Disease: 3 Ways Doctors Can Help Motivate Healthy Changes
Nanja Bongers
Many studies have shown that there is a direct link between obesity and heart disease. Even though you are aware of this, it may be hard to lose the extra pounds and get yourself into proper shape. To help get a little motivation, it's a good idea to see a doctor for heart disease diagnosis and treatment. Not only can a doctor help you get through various treatments, but they can present a number of tests and results that will help you see how serious heart issues can be. Many cardiologists can use the following three methods to get you motivated and ready to make positive changes for your health.
Heart Age Test
The age of your actual birth does not represent the age of your heart. Obesity can cause rising blood pressure and stress, which increase the toll on your heart. This means that your heart's age may be dramatically higher than your actual age. When visiting a cardiologist for heart treatments, they can run a simple test to determine the age of your heart. This test involves a number of health factors.
For overweight people, factors in the test include your weight, actual age, and the BMI. The BMI is your body mass index, and it compares your weight to your height and what the average should be. Other parts of the heart age test include additional risk factors, like your daily diet, smoking habits, or exercise habits. Blood tests, including blood sugar and blood pressure, will also be factored into the heart age. Your doctor may use results from your last appointment or test both of those elements at the current appointment.
Seeing the results and your actual heart age is great motivation tool for making a change. For example, if you are 28 years old and your heart is rated 45 years old, this could be a huge wake-up call for making positive changes before any heart diseases get worse. In a few months you can return to the doctor to retake the test and determine if your heart age has gone down. Getting close to your actual age is a great motivator and goal to go for.
Coronary Calcium Scan
Having physical proof of a heart problem is an ideal way to signal change for the better. When calcium deposits are found in the arteries of the heart, it also means that plaque can form there. Once plaque forms, it can harden and tighten up the passageways through the heart. An easy way to tell if you have calcium in your heart is through a coronary calcium scan.
A coronary calcium scan grades your heart on a number-based scale. The ideal score for this test is a "0," and it means that no calcium or plaque is present in the heart. If your scan is higher than a "0," then it's a great sign that you may have heart problems. One of the main factors in these tests is high cholesterol. By lowering your cholesterol and eating healthy, you can help prevent the calcium and plaque from rising in your heart.
Healthy Referrals
A cardiologist wants you to reverse heart disease and any risk factors, but they understand that the process can be hard and challenging. This why you can get extra motivation by requesting referrals that can truly help you change your lifestyle for the better. Instead of just taking prescribed medications, focusing on physical and lifestyle changes can make a huge difference and help put more responsibility in your hands.
One type of referral that a cardiologist can recommend is a physical therapist. By attending physical therapy, you can learn proper exercises and get on track for a healthy lifestyle. Along with working out at the facility, a plan can be made for getting in shape at home. Along with a physical therapist, you may get referred to a nutritionist. These professionals can help set up a healthy diet plan. This includes recipes or restaurant guides for the best items to order. Having extra people on your side is a great way to make changes for the better.
Contact a cardiologist for an appointment. Many of them will offer these motivators and get you on the right track for a healthy heart. To learn more about heart disease treatment, contact a representative from an establishment like Van Wert County Hospital.
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