What is heart disease?
Heart disease refers to various complications of the heart. While many singular conditions fall into the category, coronary artery disease, heart attack, and heart failure are a few of the most well-known.
The team at Life Imaging Fla specializes in early detection for signs of heart disease.
What are some signs and symptoms of heart disease?
Because there are so many different types of heart disease, there are also many possible symptoms. You might have several, or you might have none at all. There are also signs of heart disease that your physician or radiologists can easily detect with simple tests, though you might not feel any difference yourself.
Possible signs and symptoms associated with different types of heart disease include:
- Fatigue
- Leg or abdomen swelling
- Heart rhythm changes
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Trouble breathing
- Chest pain or tightness
Various tests can tell you more information, like your blood pressure level or the amount of plaque buildup along the walls of your arteries.
How can I reduce my risk for heart disease?
Reducing your risk for heart disease doesn’t have to require medical intervention. While you can’t control the genetic factors, you can examine your lifestyle and take steps toward improving the health of your heart in your day-to-day life.
To reduce your risk for heart disease, you can:
- Stop smoking
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Find a healthy way to manage stress
- Exercise for around 30 minutes a day
- Reduce salt and unsaturated fat in your diet
- Monitor and control other health conditions, like diabetes or hypertension
It’s important to keep in mind that some forms of heart disease, like heart issues present from birth, will not improve with lifestyle changes. However, taking these steps can still help you maintain your heart’s overall health.
How is heart disease diagnosed?
Life Imaging Fla offers two different types of tests that can detect different forms of heart disease and lead to a diagnosis.
Stress testing
A stress test shows how effectively your heart can pump blood when you exercise, as your heart works harder under these conditions than at rest.
If you’re unable to walk on a treadmill or ride a stationary bike safely, as required in stress testing, the team gives you a medication to get your heart working as if you were exercising.
The team takes measurements like your blood pressure and heart rate throughout the test.
Low-dose CT scanning
Low-dose CT scanning is one of the most effective ways to detect and quantify coronary artery disease and other forms of heart disease. The scan takes multiple X-ray images and combines them into a detailed image of your heart and nearby structures.
After your tests, the team at Life Imaging Fla prepares a full report regarding your heart health. This includes a Coronary Artery Calcium (CAC) score, which indicates the amount, size, and density of calcium deposits in your coronary arteries.
To schedule a test and detect signs of heart disease early on in their development, call Life Imaging Fla or request an appointment online today.
