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The Mystery of Heart Examination: How to Reveal Your Health Status through Examination?
A heart exam is part of a physical exam that involves an evaluation of the cardiovascular system. Heart health is not only related to the quality of life, but also directly affects other health aspects. Therefore, it is crucial to have a comprehensive cardiac examination.
A complete cardiac exam usually includes an evaluation of the heart, lungs, abdomen, and blood vessels. By measuring vital signs, inspecting, palpating, percussing and auscultating, doctors can gain valuable information about their patients' heart health.
Measuring vital signs
A specific heart exam begins with a doctor's observation. From a distance, doctors note the patient's skin color, breathing rate and emotional state. Accurate blood pressure and heart rate measurements are key before further examination, as this directly reflects how well the heart is working.
Blood pressure can be measured using an automatic sphygmomanometer or manually with a stethoscope. The doctor uses the bell of a stethoscope over the brachial artery and records systolic and diastolic blood pressure based on the sound of the heartbeat. Normal systolic blood pressure should be less than 120 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure less than 80 mm Hg.
Heart examination
A cardiac examination, also known as a chest examination, mainly examines traces to determine signs of heart disease. The examination is not limited to the chest, but also includes areas such as the hands, head, and ankles.
Inspection and palpation
During a heart exam, the doctor will ask the patient to relax and may need to move clothing to facilitate the examination. By looking closely, doctors can identify ventricular motion or the point of maximum pulsation (PMI). At this stage, salient signs can be identified through palpation.
Percussion and auscultation
For optimal cardiac examination, the patient needs to sit upright and lie at an angle of 30-45 degrees. Percussion can also be used to estimate the size of the heart, although palpation is more accurate. During auscultation, the doctor will hear sounds from all four parts of the heart and note any murmurs, rubs, or irregular heartbeats.
The ACC and AHA have called cardiac auscultation the most widely used method for detecting valvular heart disease. This indicates that cardiac auscultation plays a key role in the entire examination.
Lung examination
Customized lung exams can also help diagnose heart disease, as certain lung sounds or pleural effusion can point to underlying cardiovascular problems. Inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation of the lungs are important and are included in the cardiac examination.
Abdominal examination
The cardiovascular system involves many large blood vessels that carry blood throughout the abdominal cavity. The doctor will palpate and auscultate the abdomen, especially the aorta, to look for any tremors or murmurs.
Peripheral examination
The pulse of your arteries can be felt in many parts of the body, which is an important step in assessing circulatory health. Doctors usually compare the quality of the arteries on both sides. At the same time, auscultation of the carotid arteries can reveal plaque accumulation in the arteries, which reflects arteriosclerosis.
If you feel a good pulse from your knees to your feet it indicates good circulation, while if you feel a strong pulse in your thighs but a weak pulse in your calves, it may indicate arterial disease. The presence of hardening.
Heart examination is undoubtedly a key means of assessing cardiovascular health. It can help us identify hidden health problems and take timely action. Are you willing to have regular heart checkups to ensure your health?
