A heart surgeon with 25 years of experience, Dr. Jeremy London, has shared a simple way to check if your heart might have a problem.
He says you don’t need complicated tests like blood work, X-rays, or an ECG to start understanding your heart health. Instead, you can do a quick check at home that takes only a few minutes and doesn’t require any special tools.
Dr. London explains that paying attention to your body is the first step. If you notice certain signs, it might mean your heart isn’t working as it should.
These signs include feeling tightness or pain in your chest, having trouble breathing, or experiencing pain that spreads to your jaw or arms when you’re active. If this pain goes away when you rest, it’s a sign that something might be wrong with your heart.
Why does this happen? Dr. London explains that if your heart has a blockage in one of its arteries (the tubes that carry blood), part of your heart doesn’t get enough blood when you’re active.
This lack of blood can cause pain or discomfort. When you stop and rest, the heart doesn’t need as much blood, and the pain goes away. This kind of pain is often called angina, which is a warning that your heart isn’t getting enough blood flow.
Angina itself isn’t usually life-threatening, but it’s a sign that you might be at risk of something more serious, like a heart attack or stroke. It’s also a symptom of a condition called coronary heart disease (CHD).
This happens when fatty deposits, called atheroma, build up in your arteries over time. These deposits make the arteries narrower, which reduces the amount of blood that can flow to your heart.
The British Heart Foundation says many people don’t even realize they have blocked arteries until they start noticing symptoms like chest pain or difficulty walking long distances because of leg pain (claudication).
Dr. London warns that even if you don’t feel any symptoms, it doesn’t mean your heart is completely healthy. That’s why it’s important to see a doctor if you have concerns.
Dr. London’s advice is simple: do this basic check at home by listening to your body. If you notice any of the signs he mentioned, make an appointment with your doctor right away. Acting early can help prevent more serious problems. Remember, it’s always better to be safe and check in with a healthcare professional if something feels off.
