How do I know if I have a healthy heart?

By Hannah Raasch MD

Feb 6, 2013

Updated Nov 17, 2023

5 min read

Each year, an estimated 785,000 Americans will have a new heart attack. Many of these Americans were unaware that their hearts were sick, and may not have understood the importance of taking steps to find out if they had a healthy heart.

Knowing certain things about your health and your heart will help you reduce your risk for heart disease.

Ask yourself these questions:

Is my blood pressure high? (Ideal blood pressure is 120/80)
Do I use tobacco?
Do I have diabetes?
Is my cholesterol high? (Goal is a lipid level below 200 mg)
Do my siblings or parents have heart problems?
How do I feel? Do I have any common heart symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea, fatigue?

If you answer yes to one or more of your questions, make sure you visit your doctor to discuss your heart health.

You can also learn more about heart disease and keeping your heart healthy at the Intermountain Heart Institute’s Healthy Heart Fair, on Saturday February 9, 2013 at Intermountain Medical Center in Murray from 9 to 1 pm.