Heart Disease Q & A

What is heart disease?

Heart disease isn’t just a single condition. In fact, there are numerous types of heart disease that can interfere with the healthy function of your heart. These include:

• Coronary artery disease (CAD)
• Heart attack
• Heart arrhythmias
• Heart failure
• Heart valve disease
• Congenital heart disease
• Cardiomyopathy
• Pericardial disease
• Aorta disease

In the United States, heart disease is the leading cause of early death. However, most forms of heart disease are preventable or treatable.

What are the symptoms of heart disease?

Symptoms of heart disease vary depending on which condition you have. Some of the common symptoms of heart problems include:

• Chest pain
• Tight chest
• Pressure in your chest
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Fatigue
• Swollen legs

You might also experience changes in your heartbeat, for example, tachycardia (racing heart) or bradycardia (slow heartbeat).

The Sunstate Medical Associates team can diagnose the cause of your symptoms and provide expert treatment for people who have any form of heart disease.

They have EKG (electrocardiogram) facilities onsite to look at your heart’s electrical activity. They also carry out holter monitoring, which involves wearing a machine that records your heart over several days as you go about your life. Holter monitoring is useful if your symptoms aren’t present when you visit Sunstate Medical Associates.

What causes heart disease?

Congenital heart diseases are conditions some people are born with. In most cases, however, heart disease is something that you’ll develop at a later stage in your life.

One of the main reasons why you might develop heart disease is a condition called atherosclerosis. This is a problem that causes narrowing of your arteries. Cholesterol and other substances build up to form plaque, a sticky residue that lines the walls of your arteries.

Atherosclerosis is typically related to your lifestyle and habits, for example:

• Being overweight
• Smoking
• Poor diet
• Lack of exercise
• Excessive intake of alcohol
• Drug abuse
• Chronic stress

You can also develop heart disease if you have a health problem like hypertension (high blood pressure) or diabetes. Certain infections, poisonous substances in your environment, and connective tissue diseases can sometimes cause heart disease as well.

How is heart disease treated?

Treating heart disease usually involves addressing the underlying causes and managing the symptoms. For instance, if your lifestyle is affecting your heart health, it’s essential to make changes like losing weight and quitting smoking.

You might need to take medications as well, depending on the type of heart disease you have. If you need surgery for heart disease, the Sunstate Medical Associates team can refer you to the best cardiac surgeons.

If you have any symptoms of heart disease, the sooner you get treatment, the better your outcomes are likely to be. Call Sunstate Medical Associates today or book an appointment online.