Heart health support for members

Because there are many types of heart disease, symptoms differ from person to person. But people often report:

Your heart disease risk goes up as you get older. You may also be at higher risk if you:

Heart disease can be diagnosed in several different ways. Your doctor will start by learning about your family history, talking to you about your symptoms and performing a physical exam. Afterward, they may order diagnostic tests, like:

• Electrocardiograms (EKGs or ECGs) – These tests record electric signals in the heart to monitor heart health and test for problems.
• CT scan – Also known as a computed tomography scan, this is an imaging test that scans for injury or disease in the body.
• MRI scan – Short for magnetic resonance imaging, this test uses a magnetic field and radio waves to create detailed 3D images of body tissues and organs.
• Blood tests – These include tests for cholesterol, triglycerides and other indicators of heart disease risk.
• Stress tests – These tests involve walking on a treadmill, riding a stationary bike or getting a drug infusion. A clinician will monitor your breathing, heart rhythm and blood pressure during these activities.

Based on your results, your doctor will determine whether you have heart disease and, if so, what kind.

Some heart disease risk factors, like age and family history, can’t be controlled. But there are plenty of things you can do to lessen your risk of heart disease or its complications.

In many cases, lifestyle changes may be enough to improve or maintain your heart health. Lifestyle changes you can make in consultation with your doctor include:

• Eating a diet that’s low in saturated fat and cholesterol – Saturated fats and cholesterol are in many foods, like processed meat, higher-fat dairy and others. Replacing these in your diet can help your heart health.
• Eating a diet that’s high in fruits, vegetables and whole grains – These foods are helpful to incorporate into a heart-healthy diet.
• Getting enough physical activity – A typical adult should get at least 150 minutes of exercise per week. This includes aerobic exercises that get your heart rate up and resistance training to keep your muscles in good shape. Remember: You don’t have to do all 150 minutes at once. Make workouts more manageable by breaking them into chunks of time, like a 20-minute walk or a 30-minute strength training session. Check with your doctor before beginning any exercise routine.
• Maintaining a healthy weight – When you have excess weight, your heart has to work harder. Excess weight can also cause high blood pressure and joint and muscle pain, plus increase risk of type 2 diabetes. If your body mass index (BMI) is 30 or greater, all HealthPartners plans provide access to a health coach at no additional cost to help you get to a healthy-for-you weight.
• Quitting smoking, vape or chew – Quitting can be hard. But it can also greatly reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke and heart failure. You don’t have to do it alone: All HealthPartners plans provide access to a health coach at no additional cost, so you can get the support you need to quit for good.

Depending on your diagnosis, additional heart disease treatment may be called for. Some of these treatment options include:

• Prescription medicine – Your doctor may prescribe blood thinners, blood pressure medicines or other drugs.
• Cardiac rehabilitation – Using a combination of education, exercise and emotional support, your care team will help coach you to better heart health.
• Surgeries or procedures – Many heart-related issues can be controlled by treatment methods other than surgery. But depending on your heart disease severity, your doctor may suggest an operation.