Your lifestyle habits and daily routine can increase or decrease your risk factors for heart disease. You can experience symptoms of heart disease if your heart muscles or blood vessels are damaged, affecting the transportation of blood. The Woodlands Northwest Houston Heart Center offers treatment for various types of heart disease, including hypertension and peripheral arterial disease (PAD).

It is important to go for regular checkups so your specialist can detect heart disease early and offer treatment.

Diagnosis

While you can experience symptoms of heart disease occasionally, an evaluation from your specialist will give you a correct diagnosis. Common symptoms include shortness of breath, chest pain, fainting (syncope), and leg pain. Once you discuss your symptoms with your doctor, they will ask for specific tests, including electrocardiography (EKG), cardiac PET (positron emission tomography), and nuclear stress testing.

Treatment options

Your specialist will recommend a treatment plan depending on your condition and symptoms. While you can have chest pains with congestion, another person might experience varicose veins, which point toward circulatory problems. Common treatment methods include:

Pacemaker implantation

Your cardiologist can recommend a pacemaker implantation procedure if you have an irregular heartbeat. The pacemaker will help regulate your heartbeat and prevent your heart from beating slowly. The process takes around two hours, but it might take longer if you have another heart procedure.

Balloon angioplasty

You might need a balloon angioplasty procedure if you have narrowed or blocked arteries due to cholesterol buildup. The method involves the insertion of a balloon into the target artery, and your specialist will inflate it when it reaches the blocked area. It will widen the artery and promote better blood circulation.

Laser therapies

If you have varicose veins, your specialist can use laser energy to destroy the affected veins. The procedure is non-invasive, and it targets the damaged vein, destroys it using heat energy, and reroutes the blood to a healthier vein.

How to minimize your risk factors for heart disease

Although you cannot change a heart defect from birth, you can reduce your risk factors for heart disease through your lifestyle choices. What you eat and the amount of exercise you engage in daily will directly affect how your heart functions. Losing extra weight and maintaining a healthy weight will improve your chances of a healthy heart.

Your diet should include heart-healthy foods like fresh vegetables, fruits, and nuts. To avoid cholesterol buildup in your arteries, avoid processed foods and ensure your diet consists of lean proteins like fish and chicken.

Include a weight training regimen and aerobic training in your exercise plan. Every adult should factor in one hour of exercise daily to ensure strong heart muscles and improve blood circulation. If you sit or stand for long periods, take breaks and stretch your feet to promote blood circulation.  

If you are a smoker and experience heart disease symptoms, it might be time to consider quitting. Smoking leads to plaque buildup in your arteries, eventually leading to blood circulation problems.

If you experience symptoms of heart disease, visit Northwest Houston Heart Center for treatment. The qualified cardiologists and trained staff will review your medical history and perform diagnostic testing before offering an individualized treatment plan. Call or book your appointment online to improve the quality of your life.