Cardiology Care

Your heart plays a vitally important role in your overall health. This organ the size of a large fist beats around 115,000 times each day, pumping about 2,000 gallons of blood through the body. This ensures that the organs and tissues throughout your body have the essential oxygen they need to function.

Because of that, when your heart isn’t functioning at its best, you can experience a wide range of issues affecting nearly every part of your body. Having access to advanced cardiac care is essential.

We offer an array of cardiac services provided by a team of specialized heart doctors. We care for a wide range of heart health issues, including:

  • Arrhythmia
  • Cardiomyopathy
  • Congenital heart disease
  • Coronary artery disease
  • Heart attack (myocardial infarction)
  • Heart disease
  • Heart failure
  • High blood pressure

Our range of services includes a full spectrum of diagnostic testing to determine an accurate diagnosis, identify any underlying medical conditions and provide advanced cardiac care, including cardiac surgery, when needed. Treatment extends to post surgical care, including cardiovascular rehabilitation and continued monitoring.

Cardiac Research

We are committed to bringing the latest cardiovascular medical and device therapy to our patients, and we use clinical research as one avenue for our patients and physicians to access new and developing cardiovascular treatments.

Heart Health Information

Black Americans and Heart Disease

CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE IS THE #1 CAUSE OF DEATH FOR BLACK AMERICANS IN THE U.S.

Black Americans are at greater risk for cardiovascular disease and stroke than White Americans.

men 49 percent black vs 32 percent white women 44 percent vs 37 percent
Black men and women have higher rates of heart disease than White men and women.
high blood pressure-min
High blood pressure is a leading cause of heart attacks and stroke. About two out of every five Black American adults have high blood pressure, and less than half of them have it under control.

What is Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)?

Coronary artery disease, or CAD, happens when cholesterol-containing deposits (plaque) build up on the inner walls of coronary arteries over time. This causes the arteries to harden and narrow, which decreases blood flow to the heart. As a result, your heart doesn’t get the blood, oxygen and nutrients it needs, which can lead to chest pain or other symptoms. In some cases, it can lead to a heart attack which is caused when the heart muscle dies because of the absence of blood flow. The build-up of plaque can be attributed to poor lifestyle habits such as smoking and obesity, but it can also be caused by things that cannot be avoided, such as aging or a family history of heart disease.

Common Symptoms of CAD

People may feel heart disease symptoms during stress, physical activity or even at rest. It is more common to experience these symptoms while walking, going up stairs or moving around. It is important to note that women often do not exhibit the same symptoms as men when having a heart attack. If you feel these signs, seek help from a health care provider immediately.

Common Symptoms

1 Chest Pain-160x160-min
Chest Pain or Pressure (Angina)
2 Fatigue -160x160-min
Fatigue
3 Shortness of breath -160x160-min
Shortness of Breath
4 Sweating -160x160-min
Sudden Profuse Sweating

Common Symptoms for Women

1 Discomfort -160x160-min
Discomfort in Back, Shoulders, Arms, Jaw, Neck
2 Insomnia -160x160-min
Insomnia or Inability to Sleep
3 Shortness of breath -160x160-min
Shortness of Breath
4 Dizziness - 160x160-min
Lightheadedness or Dizziness
5 nausea -160x160-min
Nausea or Vomiting

Reduce Your Risk

There are things you can do to reduce the risk of having a heart attack:
1 quit smoking -min
Quit Smoking
2 lower cholesterol-min
Lower Cholesterol
3 Exercise Regularly-min
Exercise Regularly
4 Control Diabetes-min
Control Diabetes and High Blood Pressure
5 visit your doctor-min
Visit your Doctor Regularly

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms or know that you have certain risk factors, here are some questions you can ask your doctor:
  • Could I have a heart problem?
  • What caused my heart problem?
  • What treatments do I need? What are the side effects?
  • What should I do if my symptoms get worse quickly?
  • What can I do to prevent this from getting worse or having a heart problem again?
  • Should I eat different foods?
  • How will this affect my day-to-day activities, such as working, or caring for my children or grandchildren?
  • What can I do to feel less stress and worry?
  • How often do I need to come in for an office visit?

Don’t delay the care you need.

Information provided by Boston Scientific.

Sources: 
1. NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
3. American Heart Association
4. Mayo Clinic
5. Cleveland Clinic