What is heart disease?
Heart disease is a common chronic disease that affects the way your heart functions. It’s the number one killer in the US and a top cause of disability. The heart disease umbrella includes:
- Coronary artery disease
- Heart rhythm, valve, or muscle problems
- Other types of heart defects
- Narrowed or blocked blood vessels
Heart disease can lead to a heart attack, stroke, and chest pain if left untreated. Though it isn’t always preventable, healthy lifestyle changes can greatly reduce your risk of developing heart disease.
What are the symptoms of heart disease?
Knowing the symptoms of heart disease and early detection and treatment can help prevent serious complications such as a heart attack. Common heart disease symptoms include:
- Chest tightness, pressure, or pain
- Fainting, lightheadedness, or dizziness
- Shortness of breath
- Pain, weakness, numbness, or coldness in your limbs
- Pain in your throat, jaw, neck, or upper torso
- Irregular heartbeats
- Weakness or fatigue
- Swelling in the legs, abdomen, hands, or feet
- Getting tired easily during exercise
Some heart disease risk factors, such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol, aren’t usually associated with symptoms. That’s why routine screening is so important.
What are the risk factors for heart disease?
Although heart disease can happen to anybody, certain factors increase your risk of developing it. Examples include:
- Family history of heart disease
- Older age
- Lack of physical activity
- High blood pressure or cholesterol
- Being overweight
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- Poor dietary habits
- Some chemotherapy medicines or radiation therapy
If you have one or more risk factors of heart disease or experience symptoms of the disease, see Dr. Wick at The Natural Choice Family Health Clinic for an evaluation to reduce your risk of a heart attack, heart failure, and stroke.
How is heart disease diagnosed?
To diagnose heart disease or its risk factors, Dr. Wick and her team review your symptoms and medical history. They check your blood pressure and other vital signs and complete a physical examination. Dr. Wick might use blood tests, imaging tests, or heart function tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) or stress test to diagnose heart disease.
What is the treatment for heart disease?
Your personalized heart disease treatment plan is based on your unique needs. Dr. Wick might recommend lifestyle changes, taking medications or dietary supplements, or undergoing a medical procedure in some cases.
She offers chelation therapy to improve heart issues, reduce inflammation, and detoxify heavy metals from your body. To help prevent or manage heart disease:
- Eat a healthy diet
- Get regular exercise
- Manage stress
- Don’t smoke
- Control blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure
- Maintain a healthy weight
Take control of your health to prevent or manage heart disease. Schedule an appointment with The Natural Choice Family Health Clinic over the phone or online today.
