What Is Heart Disease?
Heart disease includes any condition that affects the heart, while cardiovascular disease is used to refer to diseases that affect the blood vessels leading to the heart. Because the heart is responsible for supplying oxygen-rich blood to the brain and other organs, anything affecting its functioning can be dangerous and even fatal.
What Are the Different Types of Disease?
Common types of this condition include:
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Arrhythmia
- Artherosclerosis
- Cardiomyopathy
- Congenital Heart Defects
- Heart Infections
What Are the Symptoms?
Unfortunately, there are usually few obvious symptoms. One of the biggest symptoms of a heart attack is sudden death, which is why early diagnosis and treatment are so important. Other symptoms may include chest pain, lightheadedness, fluttering or racing heartbeat, fainting, shortness of breath, and numbness.
What Are the Risk Factors?
Risk factors include a family history of the condition, obesity, smoking, age, high cholesterol, diabetes, and high blood pressure.
How Is It Diagnosed?
We recommend you come into Esslinger Medical and Aesthetics for a full diagnostic evaluation. We can measure your heart rate, heart pattern, blood cholesterol, blood pressure and assess all your risk factors to determine how you can reduce your risk.
What Are The Treatment Options?
While factors such as genetics and age are out of your control, many of the risk factors can be controlled. High cholesterol and high blood pressure can be managed by medications and lifestyle changes including proper diet and exercise. Taking steps to reduce stress can also reduce your chances of developing this disease or having a heart attack.
Visit Us in Northwest Georgia for the Best Heart Disease Treatments
Dr. Jeffrey D. Esslinger is a board-certified internist, certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine, who has been treating heart patients and those at risk for heart disease for over 25 years. At Esslinger Medical and Aesthetics, we are fully equipped to diagnose your heart condition and develop a treatment plan to help reduce your risk of disease or death. To schedule an appointment, submit the form that follows or call us at (470) 888-6543.
