Heart Disease

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States; every 40 seconds, someone suffers a heart attack. At Genesis Personal Healthcare Medicine in New York City, the highly trained primary care providers diagnose and treat heart disease to lower the risk of life-threatening complications. Schedule a telehealth evaluation today by calling the office or requesting a visit online.

What is heart disease?

Heart disease is a chronic condition that affects the structure and/or function of your heart. Left untreated, it can lead to heart failure, a heart attack, organ damage, and/or stroke. Early detection and treatment could help you avoid symptoms and severe complications. 

The experts at Genesis Personal Healthcare Medicine help you manage your condition to optimize your heart’s health.

What are the symptoms of heart disease?

Symptoms indicating possible heart disease include:

• Shortness of breath
• Chest discomfort
• Pounding or racing heartbeat
• Neck pain
• Sweating
• Heartburn/indigestion
• Exercise intolerance
• Trouble sleeping
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Pale or bluish skin
• Swelling, often in the lower limbs
• Pain
• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Dizziness

If you have difficulty breathing and/or chest pain and suspect a heart attack, head to a nearby emergency room or dial 911.

What are the different types of heart problems?

Heart disease takes on many forms, including:

• Heart failure: the heart can’t pump enough blood to maintain the body’s functions
• Coronary artery disease (CAD): narrowed blood vessels due to fatty deposits
• Cardiomyopathy: thickened or stiff heart muscle that doesn’t pump blood well
• Arrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation: irregular heart rhythm
• Heart valve disease: heart valves are narrowed or don’t close properly
• Pericardial problems: an inflamed or stiff sac around the heart
• Congenital heart disease: heart problems present at birth

Your specialist can detect or help you manage heart disease to avoid complications. 

Which situations raise my risk of heart disease?

Heart disease is often caused by genetic issues, obesity, chronic diseases, or lifestyle habits like a poor diet and lack of exercise. Kidney problems, thyroid disorders, infections, and autoimmune diseases also increase the risk of heart disease.

Other potential causes include high blood pressure (hypertension), high cholesterol (hyperlipidemia), some medications, and addictive substances.

If you have a family history of heart disease, coagulation disorders (abnormal blood clotting), or high stress, your risk of heart disease is also higher.

How is heart disease managed?

The experts at Genesis Personal Healthcare Medicine manage heart disease by regularly following up with you. They might suggest heart function testing, stress testing, blood work, or imaging procedures.

Your provider could recommend medication management and lifestyle changes (a healthy diet, more exercise, stress reduction, quitting smoking, etc.) or refer you for a medical procedure.

They can also help you manage your cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure, and similar health indicators to optimize your heart’s health.

Schedule a telehealth heart disease evaluation at Genesis Personal Healthcare Medicine by calling the office or requesting an appointment online today.