Heart disease results from any functional or structural disorder that impairs the ventricle from filling or ejecting blood. This disease process results in the inability to meet the metabolic demands of the body. There are over 1 million people diagnosed with new onset heart disease yearly and approximately 1 million hospitalizations due to uncontrolled heart failure each year. Patients with heart disease that are not on optimal medication therapy result in high hospital readmissions rates and complications of disease. Symptoms of heart disease include feeling tired or weak, lightheadedness, experiencing shortness of breath, having irregular beats in the heart, inability to complete activities, chest discomfort, and/or swelling in the lower extremities. Heart disease is staged by the New York Heart Association by the degree of limitation on physical activity and by the American College of Cardiology / The American Heart Association classifications of structural heart disease. We are a strong believer that healthy living and lifestyle choices are the best way to prevent heart problems. A healthy diet, exercise, and sleep regimen is first line to ensure that your heart stays in healthy condition. We offer the latest and most effective blood work labs and methods to identify genetic and biological markers that can detect heart problems early-before they become serious or life-threatening. Reducing cardiovascular risk factors is a priority as we manage cholesterol, diabetes, hypertension, and obesity to prevent coronary artery disease and structural abnormalities.
Some keys are regular blood pressure screenings and checks on cholesterol levels. High levels of cholesterol can develop fatty deposits in your blood vessels increasing your risk of heart disease. Eventually, these deposits grow, making it difficult for enough blood to flow through your arteries. Sometimes, those deposits can break suddenly and form a clot that causes a heart attack or stroke. The American College of Cardiology published guidelines for the treatment of increased cholesterol in the prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). We offer recommendations regarding diet and medication management for high cholesterol levels to promote a heart healthy lifestyle.
High blood pressure can be classified as essential or from secondary causes. Frequent monitoring of you blood pressure and laboratory values is especially important as the incidence increases with age. The new hypertension guidelines adopted a lower definition of hypertension to less than 130/80 based on evidence showing decreased cardiovascular-event rates. Hypertension should be confirmed with two blood pressure readings on different office visits using the correct cuff size. Secondary hypertension can be caused from renal, endocrine, and urologic conditions which make initial laboratory testing an important step in management. The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet consist of consuming low-fat dairy products, limiting sodium, eating whole grains, and increasing fresh produce consumption. Medication management for close blood pressure control reduces the stress and work load of the heart to combat structural heart disease.
Smoking cigarettes can thin arteries and reduce oxygen in your blood. Smoking boost blood pressure and makes your heart work harder. While smoking even a few cigarettes each day is bad for you, the more cigarettes you smoke, the higher your risk becomes for developing heart disease. There are multiple cutting edge medications available to help individuals stop smoking and when coupled with tobacco cessation counseling, we ensure that we stay right by your side as you take the next step to quit smoking.