You Only Need 30 Seconds to Check the Health of Your Heart

Your heart can still beat even when it is disconnected from your body, that’s how powerful it is. It’s important to keep your heart healthy in order to live a healthy life and there are a few things we can do to make sure everything is ok with it.

To help you with this matter, Bright Side is going to teach you how to check your heart’s health in just 30 seconds.

First step

Pour really cold water in a basin that is big enough to fit both of your hands. Consider putting in some ice for better results.

Second step

Place your hands in the water with the ice cubes for exactly of 30 seconds. This will help you know how your blood will respond when it comes into contact with the cold.

You can have 2 possible results.

Fingers are reddened

If your fingers are reddened this is good news. It means that you have no problems related to the oxygenation of your blood. Your heart and blood circulation are healthy.

Fingers become pale or cyanotic

If your fingertips become pale or cyanotic (meaning they have a bluish discoloration) you probably have blood circulation problems. This happens because there are low oxygen levels in your red blood cells or because you have problems getting oxygenated blood into your body.

In this case, you can still try to warm or massage the area to return it to normal. If this doesn’t happen, it’s better to see your doctor. You should also call 911 if the bluish discoloration is accompanied by the following:

• Gasping for breath

• Fever

• Headache

• Chest pain

• Sweating

• Numbness in the arms, legs, hands, fingers, or toes

• Dizziness or fainting

Bonus: Some foods that can improve your heart’s health

• Garlic: Lowers blood pressure and alleviates vasoconstriction

• Dark chocolate: Normalizes blood pressure and fights inflammation

• Cinnamon: Fights heart disease and atherosclerosis

• Avocado: Decreases the levels of “bad” cholesterol and helps clear the arteries

For more foods with beneficial properties, please feel free to read this Bright Side article.

Do you know of other tests you can use to quickly check the heart or the health of any other organ?