How many times does your heart beat every minute?

On average, the heart of an adult human beats 60-100 times per minute, but you hardly notice it. Unless, of course, it’s on overdrive, like after running for the bus or before giving a big speech.

However, external metrics like the heart rate can only go so far to gauge your heart health. So, how do we uncover what’s going on beneath the surface and reduce the risk of heart disease?

Here’s how following your heart can help you to stay on top of your overall health.

How is my heart connected to my health?

The main function of your heart is to pump blood around your body. This blood carries oxygen and nutrients to all your body parts, and brings back unwanted carbon dioxide and waste products formed during normal muscle activity and metabolism. The heart also takes on the responsibility of maintaining the pressure in your arteries.

While there are risk factors related to your heart health that you cannot change such as family history, sex and age, there are many lifestyle changes you can make to move the needle in your heart’s favor. Increasing the level of daily physical activity, getting a good night’s sleep and following a well balanced diet are a few everyday regimes proven to boost cardio health.

Did you know that your emotional state can also affect your heart health? Research shows that high levels of stress can cause problems with blood vessels and blood pressure, increasing the risk of heart related diseases.

If your heart is not doing well, it can manifest as a multitude of health implications. While their symptoms can range from fatigue to heart attacks, heart diseases can also develop symptomless – without any visible, physical signs. However, they all have varying, yet significant, degrees of impact on your overall health and life quality. Therefore, there’s a great benefit to spotting the early signs of heart disease and taking the steps to reduce those risks.

What can my heart tell me?

Did you know it’s possible for your heart to be younger or older than your actual age?

We’re not referring to ‘the child at heart’ or ‘an old soul’, but rather Heart Age – which is your current heart health compared to your actual age in numbers. This indicator is a reflection of your body’s ability to retain its youthful energy.

You can also learn your Heart Disease Resistance – which is your body’s ability to avoid cardiovascular diseases like stroke and heart attack compared to your peers.

By exploring your heart health and the odds of developing a severe heart related disease, you can start making small but impactful changes today to improve your future health.

To learn your Heart Age and Heart Disease Resistance download Livit by Nightingale Health.