Comprehensive Cardiac Checkup

A comprehensive cardiac checkup is done to examine the overall health of the human heart. A heart specialist takes persons through a cardiac checkup to examine the state and functions of their hearts. The rhythm and rate of heartbeat, the flow of blood and oxygen to the valves of the heart and blood pressure are also examined in this checkup.

Heart Rate

The doctor feels your pulse to check the rhythm, rate and regularity of your heart. Each pulse is accompanied by a heartbeat and the blood is pumped into the arteries with each pulse. The force that the pulse exerts evaluates the flow of the blood to the different parts of the body.

The doctor will hold your arm by the wrist with his or her middle and index fingers. He or she feels the pulse against his or her fingers. Then, the doctor counts the number of pulse in ten seconds and multiplies it by six to calculate the number of heartbeats in one minute. While feeling the pulse, it is also observed whether the rhythm of the heart is regular.

Heartbeat

The doctor checks up the heartbeat by listening to the heart with a stethoscope. A “lub dub” is created when the valves of the heart open and close respectively. This sound refers to the heartbeat. By listening to the heart sound the doctor assesses the state of the heart and the function of the valves.

Blood Pressure

The pressure or force that the blood exerts in the arteries when it circulates around the body is blood pressure. Blood pressure is of two types- systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure. Both types of blood pressure are measured in a comprehensive cardiac checkup.

Systolic Blood Pressure - when the heart contracts, the contractions of the heart muscles create a pressure in the arteries. This is called systolic blood pressure.

Diastolic Blood Pressure - when the heart is in a relaxed state, the heart muscle expands. Then, the arteries are made to feel a pressure. This is known as diastolic blood pressure.

Sphygmomanometer is the device that is used to measure the blood pressure. Mercury is used in this measuring device. The rise in the level of mercury shows the level of blood pressure in the arteries. The rise or decline in the blood pressure level depends on certain factors such as chronic ailment, heart condition, secretion of adrenal hormone, activity, emotions, growing age and some medications.