Heart doctor reveals 5-minute at-home test that can spot deadly cardiac condition – would YOU try it?

A heart surgeon has revealed the simple at-home test that could reveal the symptoms of one of Britain’s biggest killers. 

In a clip posted to TikTok, US-based cardiothoracic surgeon Dr Jeremy London asked his 494,000 followers: ‘How can you tell that you may have important blockages of the heart arteries without a single blood test, X-ray, or ECG?’

‘Well, not surprisingly, you have to listen to your body.’

The heart blockage Dr London refers to is more commonly known as coronary heart disease — which develops when the blood supply to the heart becomes reduced or blocked. 

This generally happens because of the build-up of fatty deposits, called plaque, inside the arteries that supply the heart, making them narrower and restricting the vital flow of blood. 

According to Dr London a simple test can reveal if you’re at risk of the condition, that dramatically increases the chances of heart attack and stroke.

It involves first doing an activity that increases your heart rate, like exercise or intensive housework for a few minutes, and taking note of symptoms you experience.

Then, stop and rest, and note if the symptoms continue. 

If chest tightness, chest pain, shortness of breath, or pain that radiates from to the arm is felt during activity, but instantly stops when you rest, this is a ‘red flag,’ Dr London said.

He explained this could be a sign of a blockage in the artery at the front of the organ.

As heart rate increases during exercise, this blockage causes the area below to become ‘blood starved’ due to the narrowing of the blood vessels.

Dr London, who said he has worked as heart surgeon for 25-years, added that the heart rate slows as you rest, stabilising the flow of blood and relieving the symptoms.

He said anyone experiencing such problems should seek advice from a qualified doctor such as a GP for further tests. 

Narrowing of the arteries from fatty deposits is the main cause of coronary heart disease, one of the UK’s biggest killers. 

Those who are obese and who don’t get sufficient exercise are most at risk.

If left untreated, the fatty deposits break off and form a blood clot which blocks the flow of oxygen to the heart completely. 

One of the earliest signs of coronary heart disease is chest pain, known medically as angina.

At the mild end this can feel similar to indigestion. But severe angina reflects the symptoms described in Dr London’s video — direct pain or tightness in the chest, which can spread to the arms, neck, jaw, back and stomach.

The NHS states that angina can be triggered by physical activity or stress as the heart rate increase but that it normally fades quickly.

Both Dr London and the NHS advise that not everyone with coronary heart disease suffers from chest pain and people should keep an eye out for other potential symptoms like breathlessness, feeling faint, and nausea. 

Coronary heart disease is one Britain’s biggest killers responsible for about 66,000 deaths each year, equivalent to one fatality every eight minutes.

Treatment for coronary heart disease usually consists of lifestyle changes such as better diet and more exercise and medications like statins or blood thinners.

If such measures aren’t enough a patient can have surgery to open up or bypass blocked arteries.

The NHS advises Brits to take any chest pain they experience seriously and to see a GP if they have pain that comes and goes.

Those who have a sudden pain or discomfort in the chest that doesn’t go away, or that spreads to their left or right arm, jaw, stomach back, or is accompanied by sweat, nausea, light headedness or shortness of breath to call 999 for help. 

The NHS adds that while angina normally fades within 10 minutes if pain last longer than 15 minutes it may be the start of a heart attack.