Heart disease causes 1 in 4 deaths among Americans today — but about 80% of those deaths are preventable. At San Antonio Premier Internal Medicine, with three offices in San Antonio, Texas, the patient-focused providers offer comprehensive heart disease care — from prevention to treatment — to help you stay healthy and enjoy your life to the fullest. Schedule your appointment online or call the office nearest to you today.
Heart disease is a group of diseases that affect the structure or function of your heart.
The most common type of heart disease is coronary heart disease, in which the blood vessels going to your heart narrow and harden, usually due to cholesterol buildup. This prevents your heart from getting the blood it needs to work correctly.
Other types of heart disease include heart rhythm disorders, heart valve problems, heart muscle problems, and other blood vessel diseases.
Heart disease can lead to heart attack, stroke, and even death if untreated. Fortunately, most heart disease-related deaths are preventable with the proper medical care.
Heart disease may not cause any symptoms in the beginning. But, as the arteries narrow, you can experience issues like difficulty breathing and angina (chest pain).
You can’t rely on symptoms to tell you if you have heart disease. About 1 in 5 heart attacks are “silent,” which means they don’t cause symptoms. So, regular heart disease screening is very important in protecting your health.
At San Antonio Premier Internal Medicine, the caring specialists perform heart disease screenings as part of your primary care and regular checkups. Cholesterol tests, blood glucose tests, blood pressure monitoring, and other tests can determine whether you’re at risk for heart disease and whether you need diagnostic testing and treatment.
Some people inherit heart disease, but in most cases, it occurs in people who have certain risk factors, including:
The good news about these risk factors is that they’re very controllable. Many people with these risk factors have several issues at once, making it particularly important to take steps to improve your health before a heart attack happens.
Treatment of heart disease depends on many individual factors, including the type of disease, its effects, and your health history. In most cases, heart disease treatment includes healthy changes like improving your diet and exercising more frequently.
You may also need medication to help lower your cholesterol or reduce other risk factors. But medication works best when combined with a healthy lifestyle.
Some types of heart disease may require a surgical procedure. For example, if you have a heart valve disorder, you may need valve repair to help your heart work properly.
Heart disease is controllable, and the San Antonio Premier Internal Medicine providers are here to help you live your best healthy life. Book your appointment online or call the office nearest to you for heart disease help now.