Heart Disease-Cardiovascular Disease

Lifestyle habits and behaviors that you develop early in life help you prevent cardiovascular disease when you get older. Maintaining a healthy eating and exercise routine throughout your life is the best way to ensure you don’t develop serious heart disease. Your doctors at the Medex Diagnostic and Treatment Center in Queens, NY always prefer to prevent heart disease instead of having to treat it. But they have access to the most up-to-date equipment and techniques to treat heart-related conditions and any serious complications that have already developed. Call today for an evaluation of your heart health.

Heart disease, also called cardiovascular disease, is a broad term that refers to a group of disorders of the heart and blood vessels that make up your cardiovascular system. Heart disease is the most common cause of death worldwide, and it’s also a leading cause of disability. But you can prevent many forms of heart disease simply by making healthy lifestyle choices.

You need a team of experienced doctors, working together, to see you through any heart problems you may be experiencing. The cardiologists and other specialists at the Medex Diagnostic and Treatment Center strive to be the medical practice of choice for patients in the Queens, New York area. They’ll counsel you about the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease.

Types of Heart Diseases

There are many different conditions that fall under the umbrella term of heart disease. The most common is coronary artery disease. This condition causes a buildup of plaque in your arteries, squeezing the passages so that the heart can’t get enough oxygen and blood. Other types of heart disease include:

• Heart valve diseases
• Arrhythmias
• Peripheral artery disease
• Heart infections
• Heart failure
• Congestive heart failure
• Aorta disease

Complications from heart disease can happen without warning, even if you haven’t experienced any symptoms. Untreated cardiovascular disease has the potential to lead to the development of serious complications, including:

• Heart attack
• Aneurysm
• Stroke

Preventing Heart Disease

While not all types of heart disease are preventable, you can avoid many by making good lifestyle choices. A healthful lifestyle greatly reduces your risk of heart conditions. Your Medex doctor takes the time to learn what you’ve done to reduce your chances of developing heart disease and preventing severe consequences. Then your cardiologist recommends other choices, such as:

• Developing a regular strength and aerobic exercise routine
• Eating more healthily, concentrating on reducing sodium and increasing your intake of fiber, fresh fruit and leafy green vegetables
• Achieving and maintaining your best weight
• Keeping your blood pressure under control
• Getting sufficient sleep
• Reducing and managing stress through a variety of popular programs
• Avoiding excessive drinking and smoking

Listen to your Queens cardiologist. If you have diabetes, you need to keep your condition under control. Prevent damage to blood vessels by taking those extra steps to avoid additional heart disease complications.

Diagnosing the Symptoms of Heart Disease

The symptoms you experience if you have heart disease vary depending the condition you have. You may not experience any symptoms until you have a stroke or a heart attack. But before you have a traumatic heart event, watch for symptoms such as:

• Pressure or pain in your chest
• Unexplained pain in your left shoulder, arms, jaw, back or elbows
• Unexplainable fatigue
• Nausea and dizziness
• As shortness of breath
• Cold sweats

Your doctor at the Medex Diagnostic and Treatment Center may decide to put you through a variety of tests if he suspects you have heart disease. The first step is a thorough medical history of your family and a review of your lifestyle. Then come the physical exam and blood tests. Other tests that may be done to diagnose heart disease include:

• Echocardiogram
• Electrocardiogram
• Stress test
• Cardiac MRI
• Cardiac CT scan

What Causes Heart Disease?

There are many possible causes of cardiovascular disease, including congenital defects, infections and lifestyle choices. One of the most common causes of heart disease is atherosclerosis, a condition that includes a buildup of fatty plaque in your arteries. This causes the blood vessels to narrow and inhibit the blood flow to your heart. Smoking accelerates the growth of plaque in the arteries.

Health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol increase your risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Leading a sedentary lifestyle, consuming a diet of mostly junk food and excessive use of caffeine and alcohol gradually impact your health, including your heart health.

Treatment of Heart Disease in Queens

The earlier you have heart disease diagnosed, the easier it is to treat. The most important thing you can do to improve heart disease and for overall health and longevity is to make the lifestyle changes your Medex doctor recommends. Not only your heart, but every part of your body benefits from behaviors such as exercising, losing weight if needed, reducing stress and eating a low-sodium and low-fat diet.

Your doctor may prescribe medication or medical treatments, including surgery, depending on the extent of the damage done to your heart and the type of heart disease you have. For top-notch care from primary care physicians and specialists such as cardiologists and vein specialists, schedule an appointment at the Medex Diagnostic and Treatment Center today.

We can help you find a doctor. Call (718) 275-8900

Licensed by the state of New York, Medex is an Article 28 diagnostic and treatment center. Our physicians provide comprehensive care for patients of all ages in the Forest Hills, Queens area, for over 15 years. Start receiving expert care now by calling or scheduling an appointment online with one of the skilled specialists.

FAQ

1. What is the difference between heart disease and cardiovascular disease?
   “Heart disease” generally refers to conditions that affect the heart itself (e.g., coronary artery disease, heart valve problems), while “cardiovascular disease” encompasses all disorders of the heart and blood vessels (including stroke and peripheral artery disease).

2. What are the most common types of cardiovascular disease?
   The most common types include coronary artery disease (blockages in the heart’s arteries), heart failure (weakening of the heart muscle), arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms), and cerebrovascular disease (strokes).

3. What are the major risk factors for developing heart disease?
   Key risk factors include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, obesity, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, excessive alcohol use, and a family history of early heart disease.

4. How does high blood pressure contribute to cardiovascular disease?
   Hypertension puts extra strain on the arterial walls, promoting plaque formation, arterial stiffening, and damage that can lead to heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure.

5. What symptoms should prompt me to seek immediate medical attention?
   Warning signs include chest pain or pressure, shortness of breath, sudden weakness or numbness (especially on one side), slurred speech, sudden severe headache, and fainting.

6. How is cardiovascular disease diagnosed?
   Diagnosis may involve blood tests, electrocardiogram (ECG), echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart), stress testing, cardiac catheterization, CT or MRI scans, and vascular ultrasound studies.

7. What lifestyle changes can reduce my risk of heart disease?
   Adopt a heart‑healthy diet (rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins), exercise regularly (150 minutes of moderate activity per week), maintain a healthy weight, quit smoking, limit alcohol, and manage stress.

8. How does diet affect cardiovascular health?
   Diets high in saturated fat, trans fat, salt, and added sugars raise cholesterol and blood pressure. A Mediterranean or DASH‑style diet helps lower these risks and promotes arterial health.

9. What role does exercise play in preventing heart disease?
   Regular aerobic exercise strengthens the heart muscle, improves circulation, lowers blood pressure and LDL cholesterol, raises HDL cholesterol, and helps control weight and blood sugar.

10. When are medications indicated for cardiovascular disease prevention?
    Medications—such as statins for cholesterol, antihypertensives for blood pressure, and low‑dose aspirin for certain high‑risk individuals—are used when lifestyle measures alone are insufficient.

11. What is coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)?
    CABG is a surgical procedure that uses vessels from elsewhere in the body to bypass blocked coronary arteries, restoring blood flow to the heart muscle.

12. What is angioplasty and stenting?
    Angioplasty involves inflating a small balloon inside a narrowed artery to open it, followed by placement of a metal stent to keep the artery patent and improve blood flow.

13. How is heart failure managed?
    Treatment includes medications (ACE inhibitors, beta‑blockers, diuretics), lifestyle changes (low‑salt diet, fluid restriction, exercise as tolerated), and in advanced cases, devices (defibrillators, pumps) or transplantation.

14. What is atrial fibrillation and how is it treated?
    Atrial fibrillation is an irregular, often rapid heart rhythm. Treatment may involve rate or rhythm control medications, blood thinners to prevent clots, and procedures like cardioversion or ablation.

15. Can stress cause or worsen heart disease?
    Chronic stress raises blood pressure and heart rate, promotes inflammation, and can lead to unhealthy coping behaviors (overeating, smoking), all of which elevate heart disease risk.

16. How does diabetes increase cardiovascular risk?
    High blood sugar damages blood vessels, accelerates plaque buildup, and increases the risk of coronary artery disease, stroke, and peripheral artery disease.

17. What are the warning signs of a stroke?
    Use the FAST acronym: Facial drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, Time to call 911 if any of these symptoms appear suddenly.

18. How often should I have my cardiovascular risk checked?
    Adults should have blood pressure measured at every healthcare visit, cholesterol checked every 4–6 years (or more often if high), and a diabetes screen every 3 years starting at age 45 (earlier if risk factors exist).

19. Can heart disease be reversed?
    While established arterial plaques cannot vanish completely, intensive lifestyle changes and certain medications can stabilize or even partially regress plaque buildup and significantly reduce events.

20. When should I see a cardiologist?
    See a specialist if you have ongoing chest pain, abnormal stress test or ECG, heart rhythm issues, heart failure symptoms, or multiple cardiovascular risk factors requiring expert management.