Cardiac Care

Cardiac care

Cardiac care involves medical management and surgical treatment for problems affecting your heart, arteries, and blood vessels. Common cardiac conditions include everything from coronary artery disease (also called CAD) and heart muscle disease to arrhythmias, heart attacks, and congenital defects.

Know your risk

Knowing your level of risk for developing a heart condition is half the battle of managing it. Some common risk factors include:

• Family history of heart disease.
• High blood pressure.
• High LDL (bad) cholesterol and low HDL (good) cholesterol.
• Obesity.
• Physical inactivity.
• Smoking.
• Uncontrolled diabetes.
• Uncontrolled stress and anger.

If you have any of these risk factors, along with some of the symptoms that could signal a potential heart problem, consult a cardiologist as soon as possible.

If you’re concerned about your heart health or feel that your lifestyle choices might put you at a higher risk for a heart attack, take the CAD risk assessment, then follow up with your doctor or a heart specialist. This is a free, quick assessment provides a personalized report outlining your risk factors as well as suggested next steps to improve your heart health.

Symptoms to watch for

You’re unique, so depending on your age and other factors, your symptoms may differ from the next person’s. But some similar warning signscan alert you to a potential heart problem, including:

• Discomfort, pressure, heaviness, or pain in your chest, arm, or below your breastbone.
• Extreme weakness or anxiety.
• Frequent nausea or dizziness.
• Irregular heartbeats or palpitations.
• Shortness of breath or trouble breathing when resting or during mild physical activity.

If any of your symptoms are ongoing or if they come on suddenly, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room immediately.