Heart Disease Specialist

What is heart disease?

Often, the term “heart disease” is used interchangeably with coronary artery disease, which is a specific type of disease. Actually, heart disease is a broad term that includes different medical conditions, including coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, infections of the heart or the sac that surrounds it (the pericardium), valve diseases and congenital heart defects, as well as other issues that affect the function or health of the heart.

What symptoms does heart disease cause?

Heart disease can cause many different symptoms, depending on the underlying cause. Symptoms can include:

• angina (pain in the chest, back, arm, shoulders or jaw)
• shortness of breath
• dizziness or fainting
• chronic or acute fatigue
• chronic cough
• cold sensations in the hands and feet
• swelling in the ankles and feet
• fever or rash (when an infection is present)
• palpitations or heartbeat irregularities
• nausea

How is heart disease diagnosed?

Diagnosis begins with a physical exam, as well as a detailed review of the patient’s symptoms and medical history. An EKG will be performed to assess the heart’s electrical activity, and the doctor will listen to the heart using a stethoscope. Blood work may be ordered, as well as a chest x-ray or echocardiogram (an ultrasound of the heart). Depending on the patient’s symptoms, a cardiac stress test may be recommended to assess how well the heart functions during physical activity, or a minimally-invasive procedure called angiography may be performed to examine the coronary arteries and heart muscle. Some patients may be asked to wear a device called a Holter monitor or an event monitor to assess the heart’s activity over a longer period of time, typically 24 hours.

How is heart disease treated?

Treatment for heart disease can vary widely depending on the underlying cause. Infections typically are treated with medications, sometimes administered through an IV over several days. Other types of heart disease including congestive heart failure can also be managed with medications. Some issues require surgery, which may be performed using minimally-invasive techniques through small incisions or with traditional approaches that use large incisions into the chest cavity.Managing heart disease also requires lifestyle changes, like eating a heart-healthy diet, exercising appropriately, quitting smoking and losing excess weight.