Heart health check-up: The older you get, the more attention you need to pay.

Let’s take a moment to check yourself if you do any of these

• Stress from work or life
• Insomnia, restless sleep, insufficient rest
• Having cigarettes and alcohol as close companions
• Exercising less than 3 times per week
• Having a family history of heart disease

If your answer is “Yes”, you are one of those at risk of dying from heart disease without realizing it. Nowadays, heart disease is not something distant. It is a silent threat that can take your life and the lives of your loved ones without warning signs. Heart health screening is an option that helps you stay ahead of heart disease even if you have no symptoms yet.

Why? Should you get a heart health check

Because many diseases often show no symptoms in the early stages. By the time most people find out, the condition is already severe or difficult to treat. Annual health check-ups help detect problems that could become dangerous at an early stage. Heart health screening is the same; it helps you understand your risks, identify trends toward future heart disease, so you can prevent and take good care of yourself. If abnormalities are detected early… treatment is easier than when detected at an advanced stage.

How many methods are there for heart examination?

• Electrocardiogram or EKG is a test to check if there are any abnormalities in each heartbeat rhythm by attaching sensors on the chest skin. It is a painless and safe test suitable for all ages and genders.
• Heart ultrasound or ECHO uses the same principle as an ultrasound by sending safe sound waves into the chest and receiving the reflected sound to create images on the screen. It shows the shape, size, function of the heart muscle, and whether the heart valves are working normally.
• Exercise stress test or EST is an EKG test during exercise by walking on a treadmill or cycling to screen for abnormalities such as shortness of breath, chest pain, irregular heartbeat, or changes in the EKG to diagnose and classify diseases accurately.
• Calcium scoring (CT Calcium Scoring) is a test to check the amount of calcium in the blood vessels using a high-speed CT scanner to assess the risk of coronary artery disease in the future and reduce the chance of sudden death from heart disease.
• Coronary CT angiography (CTA) is a method to examine the heart’s blood vessels for narrowing, blockage, or other abnormalities. The patient must receive a contrast dye injection before the test to help doctors evaluate accurately. It is suitable for those who cannot undergo treadmill testing.

The heart… can also be checked for abnormalities by MRI

Currently, Phyathai Sriracha Hospital uses MRI to diagnose ischemic heart disease from coronary artery disease, congenital heart defects, cardiomegaly, and heart failure to determine treatment options such as medication, balloon angioplasty, or surgery. This helps patients avoid unnecessary exposure to contrast agents and is suitable for patients with kidney impairment or those allergic to iodine-based contrast agents.

Who should get screened?

• Men and women aged 40 and above
• Those with a history of diabetes, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure
• Those who enjoy eating sweet, fatty, or salty foods
• Regular smokers and those close to smokers
• Those with a family history of heart disease
• Those who do not get enough rest, have poor sleep quality, and often feel fatigued

No history of heart disease doesn’t mean no risk!

Have you ever wondered why some people with no history of heart disease suddenly die from it? Dr. Ekalak Kunsiripaiboon, a cardiologist at Phyathai Sriracha Hospital, has the answer!

“Sudden death from heart disease mainly occurs due to two common causes. The first is acute coronary artery blockage, which is a dangerous and frightening condition because it shows no warning symptoms. Even if the artery is narrowed by more than 50%, if the heart can still pump blood, no symptoms appear, so most patients are unaware they have the condition. The second cause is arrhythmia. Normally, the heart rate is 60-100 beats per minute, so if the heart rate is below 60 or above 100 beats per minute, it is considered arrhythmia, which reduces the heart’s ability to pump blood… leading to “heart failure!” This is often found in younger people. Both causes can be treated and prevented by regular heart disease screening.”