As of 2025, heart disease is still the leading cause of death for American adults. According to the CDC, one person dies every 33 seconds from heart disease, and heart disease claimed the lives of over 700,000 people in 2022. That’s approximately one out of every 5 deaths resulting from heart disease. Additionally, and also alarmingly, heart disease is the leading killer of women, causing ⅓ of all female deaths.
Given these staggering statistics, it’s vital to stay aware of what state your heart health is in. You can take control of your cardiovascular health by understanding how to detect early warning signs, managing your risk factors, and performing at-home health checks.
Key Takeaways
- Chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, and palpitations are all early signs of heart disease.
- You can assess your heart health at home by monitoring your blood pressure and heart rate.
- Eating a heart-healthy diet, exercising regularly, and avoiding smoking and secondhand smoke are top strategies for improving heart health.
How Do You Know If Your Heart Is Healthy?
If you notice a change in your ability to perform daily activities like going up stairs or getting winded during light activities, these could be early signs of potential heart problems. Two easy tests to help gauge your cardiovascular fitness include climbing four flights of stairs in one minute and the Cooper 12-Minute Run/Walk Test.
How do you know if your heart is healthy? Keep reading below for three key ways to measure heart health and prevent a heart attack or stroke.
Three Key Ways to Measure Heart Health
- Blood Pressure Monitoring
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a critical indicator of heart health. It can progress to critical conditions like angina, pressure, or heavy feeling in the chest. You can easily monitor your blood pressure at home with a store-bought device. Normal adult blood pressure should be at or below 120/80 mm Hg. A systolic pressure of 130 or higher or a diastolic pressure of 90 or higher that stays elevated are considered high and are signs that you should see your doctor.
- Check Your Heart Rate
Your resting heart rate is a good indicator of how efficiently your heart is pumping. For most adults, a healthy resting heart rate ranges between 60–100 beats per minute. You can easily measure yours now by following these two steps:
- Place your index and middle fingers on your wrist or neck to feel your pulse.
- Count your pulse for ten seconds, then multiply that number by six to find your beats per minute.
Fitness trackers like the AppleWatch and Fitbit have heart rate monitoring features built in and can alert you to any irregularities they detect.
3. Use a Portable EKG
A portable EKG monitor can detect if your heart has an irregular rhythm and help identify
issues like atrial fibrillation. However, be careful not to rely on any of these methods for
diagnosing a heart attack. If you think you’re having a heart attack, always call 911
Immediately.
How Can You Improve Your Heart Health?
If you feel like you’ve noticed a decline in your heart health, you can take steps to reverse the decline today, starting with a heart-healthy diet. What we eat has a significant impact on how good (or bad) our body functions. By focusing on plant-based foods like fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains and limiting saturated fats, sodium, and processed foods, you can give your heart the vitamins and nutrients it needs to beat strong for a long time.
Exercise and quitting smoking are also two major ways to improve heart health. Moderate exercise, like brisk walking or cycling for 150 minutes weekly, can strengthen your heart and improve circulation, while stopping smoking dramatically reduces your risk of heart disease.
Contact RMC About Your Heart Health
Take the first steps to a healthier lifestyle and a lifelong commitment to keeping your heart healthy today! Contact us for full-service cardiologic care and services and experienced cardiologists and cardiac specialists to protect your cardiovascular health.
If you’re experiencing persistent symptoms of chest pain, shortness of breath, or fatigue, don’t wait to see a specialist. Our experts can provide a thorough evaluation to discover the root cause of your symptoms and create a personalized treatment plan to help achieve optimal heart health.