It is scary to imagine contracting any heart disease. A study confirms that one person dies from cardiovascular disease every 34 seconds in the United States. Although the disease has no cure, you can treat the issues that led to it. If you are wondering how to do that, you will get all the answers you need from Dr. Daljit Muttiana.
Cardiologists treat several conditions that affect your heart and blood vessels. What are they, you may ask? Without further ado, here are the conditions they treat below.
Angina
People with angina experience chest pains thanks to reduced blood flow to the heart. You may experience the condition when you walk uphill or in cold weather. Fortunately, it will last for five minutes. However, if you keep getting angina despite not engaging in any physical activity, you should seek immediate help.
Before cardiologists administer drugs, they will recommend eating healthy and exercising. As for medications, they may offer nitrates, aspirin, and statins. If the drugs do not work, it may be time for open-heart surgery.
High Blood Pressure
Your blood pressure is considered high if your systolic pressure is at least 130 or your diastolic pressure surpasses 80. Sometimes you may not have any symptoms, which means you can live with this condition for years without your knowledge. When they occur, you have headaches, palpitations, and anxiety.
If this condition is not controlled, you may suffer from stroke or dementia. To prevent such a possibility, cardiologists will prescribe angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors to reduce blood pressure by relaxing your blood vessels. When you take them, you may experience rashes, dizziness, and headaches.
Atherosclerosis
This condition causes your arteries to become narrow, which limits blood flow. That happens thanks to the buildup of fats and cholesterol. To limit their accumulation, you must avoid or limit your intake of donuts, cookies, white bread, buttered popcorn, or egg noodles.
Cardiologists will prescribe statins, which reduce the cholesterol in your arteries. Since the arteries are narrow, there is a chance of getting blood clots, so they will also provide aspirin. Sometimes drugs may be ineffective in lowering your cholesterol, so your doctor will recommend fibrinolytic therapy.
Myocarditis
Myocarditis weakens the heart’s muscle (myocardium) by inflaming it. As a result, your heart will be unable to pump blood to the rest of your body. When your organs do not receive enough blood, clots form in the heart, and you could get a heart attack or stroke.
If myocarditis causes irregular heartbeats, your doctor will prescribe heart medications. They will restore regular heartbeats by removing extra fluid from the body. Examples of such drugs include beta blockers and diuretics.
Cardiogenic Shock
A cardiogenic shock is life-threatening since your heart cannot pump enough blood to all body organs. Thankfully, you can survive the condition if you seek early treatment. Signs to watch out for include cold hands and feet, rapid heartbeats, swearing, pale skin, and shortness of breath.
Cardiologists will stimulate blood flow by administering blood thinners or anti-arrhythmia medicines. Another treatment they could consider is coronary artery bypass surgery. This procedure stimulates blood flow by creating new paths.
Heart diseases can be treatable as long as you do not ignore the signs. If you experience chest tightness, shortness of breath, or chest pains, it may be a sign to consult your cardiologist. After seeking treatment, your doctor will ask you to take some preventive measures.
First, you should eat heart-friendly foods such as whole grains, lean meats, vegetables, and fruits. If you are overweight, you are at risk of contracting heart disease. That means you should engage in exercises while also eating these foods.
