Heart disease can develop gradually over time. By working with me to identify key risk factors, we can create a personalized plan to enhance both your heart health and overall well-being.
Heart Disease Risk Factors
Some heart disease risk factors are beyond our control while others may have much to do with everyday choices. Here are some possible risk factors of chronic heart disease:
- Heredity. Heart disease may often have a genetic component, but disease progress and plaque build-up in the arteries can potentially be slowed down by incorporation of healthy lifestyle choices. If someone already knows they have a strong family history of cardiovascular disease, a smart plan developed by you and your doctor might help to reduce some of the, “modifiable risk factors.”
- Diet. Poor choices in food consumption (including consumption of highly processed, high salt-containing, etc. foods) may eventually contribute to poor heart health. A carefully vetted nutrition plan that honors budget, cooking abilities, and willingness to try new foods can help support good heart health.
- Exercise. Physical inactivity and being sedentary can be dangerous to heart health. Many of us have jobs that keep us tied to desks for long periods of time or have work hours that make regular exercise difficult. Some people with chronic heart disease also have other bodily limitations that can affect movement. Exercise, though, comes in many forms, so I work with my patients to curate plans that align with their own lifestyle and limitations.
- Lifestyle. It is often difficult to quit some unhealthy activities. My goal is to work to understand what drives my patients, as well as their personal preferences, and find healthy ways to motivate my patients to participate in lifestyle practices that promote a healthy heart.
Symptoms of Heart Disease
The heart is made up of muscle, so it needs blood supply to function, and when a build-up of plaque (fatty deposits) occurs in the heart’s arteries it can cause narrowing of the blood vessels and in turn can compromise the heart and cause it not to function effectively. Symptoms of heart disease can vary from person to person. Some common symptoms of heart disease can include the following, though:
- Fatigue
- Chest Pain
- Shortness of breath
- Difficulty exercising
- Swollen ankles or feet
- High blood pressure
- Palpitations
- Dizziness/Lightheadedness
These symptoms can indicate a potentially serious heart complication and possibly increased risk of heart attack. It is important to note though that, some of these signs can also be indicative of other chronic conditions. This blog does not contain actual medical advice (and it is certainly not all-inclusive), so as always it is imperative that one seeks immediate medical care with any concerns/symptoms. Further, many of the symptoms of chronic heart disease can also occur in someone experiencing a life-threatening emergency which is why the information in this blog cannot replace actual immediate (emergency) evaluation by a medical professional when one is experiencing any of these concerning symptoms.
Protect Your Heart Health Now
The health of one’s heart can potentially affect their entire body—this a reality that family physicians know well. Symptoms alone might not be enough to tell the tale of what’s happening with one’s body, so appropriate history-taking and medical examination are important parts of the puzzle of forming appropriate diagnosis.
Treatment of heart disease plus treatment of other related chronic conditions can simultaneously alter how one feels, how one’s heart works, and one’s health outlook for the future. I am proud to have personal relationships with my patients and guide them on their wellness journeys with one-on-one care and attention.
If you’re ready to transform your lifestyle and elevate your wellness, schedule an appointment with me, Dr. Maria Swetech. With personalized care and preventive treatments, we can make a lasting difference in your health.
