Cardiac surgeon explains three 'red flags' that you could have a weak heart

A cardiac surgeon has shared what he believes are three red flags that point towards having a weak heart.

Dr Jeremy London, a certified cardiothoracic surgeon with over 25 years of clinical experience, regularly shares his tips on social media, including how a simple test can suggest that you have a heart blockage.

And now, speaking on YouTube, the popular surgeon shared his advice for three things you shouldn't ignore if you want to keep your ticker ticking.

Happy heart, happy doctor (Getty Stock)

The red flags that you could have a weak heart

Speaking on a YouTube video, Dr London identified shortness of breath while walking, difficulty breathing when laying down and swollen legs.

He said: "It should start with a history of physical examination. Shortness of breath when walking, the inability to lay flat and breath comfortably and swollen legs. All the signs of many different heart conditions should be red flags."

How is your heart measured?

When it comes to measuring heart strength, doctors can find out a lot by simply using an echocardiogram or an ultrasound probe that's placed on the chest.

Dr London added: "This typically can measure ejection fraction, which is the percentage of blood that's ejected from the heart with each beat. Normal is 65 to 70 percent.

"If it's markedly decreased from that, that could be an indication of heart failure or a weak heart."

Why is heart function important for surgery?

Having a strong heart is vital for surgery because it allows you to deal with the stress of the surgery better while also likely improves your recovery time afterwards.

Dr London said: "In my world of cardiac surgery, heart function is the single most important determinant of how patients do with surgery.

"Patients with strong hearts do much better than patients with weak hearts."

How can you improve your heart health?

Unsurprisingly, taking care of your body is key to improving your heart health, which includes looking after your teeth and gut, while also avoiding stress and getting enough sleep.

While Talking Heads famously sang 'born with a weak heart, I guess I must be having fun', you can still have fun and look after your heart, as fun often comes in the form of exercise which can reduce stress and improving your heart strength, killing two birds with one stone.

But if you do struggle with any of the aforementioned 'red flags', then maybe it's worth getting your heart checked out.