Heart disease, sometimes called cardiovascular disease in medical circles, refers to a wide range of possible diseases and conditions that can affect how well your heart pumps blood throughout your body. One of the most familiar types is congestive heart failure. A heart attack occurs when blood supply is cut off to an area of the heart and that area dies. Some people have arrhythmias, which occur when the heart beats incorrectly. Congenital heart disease is something a child is born with while coronary artery disease occurs over time when the blood vessels feeding the heart become blocked. Other types of heart disease with which our doctor may diagnose you could include cardiomyopathy and heart valve disorders. Because heart disease covers such a large range of problems, your treatment options are often just as multitudinous.
Our team prefers to start with conservative measures whenever possible to treat symptoms because this is often the least invasive treatment method possible and, thus, comes with fewer risks. For example, our doctor may prescribe a medication to treat high cholesterol, high or low blood pressure, poor heart rhythms or fluid buildup in your body that can make it difficult for your heart to pump blood efficiently.
If medications do not work effectively or if they are not appropriate for the situation, our doctor may prescribe a minimally-invasive procedure. For example, certain arrhythmias may be treated with a less involved procedure the encourages the heart to go back into a correct pattern. Angioplasty and stent placement do require minor surgery, but you will be awake and comfortable throughout the entire procedure. This procedure can open up vessels that feed blood to the heart.
However, heart surgery may be a necessity in some cases. For example, if angioplasty or stents cannot effectively treat coronary arteries that lead to the heart, open heart surgery may be necessary. It all depends on the unique situation.
Finally, you will most likely need to make some lifestyle changes to treat heart disease. Changing your diet and exercise patterns is huge in improving heart health. You may need to limit sodium in your diet, eat a low-fat diet and increase fruits, vegetables, and healthy grains each day. Our physician will also discuss an appropriate activity level for you and may recommend cardiac rehab activities following a more intense heart disease treatment.
We invite you to ask our team at Cardiac Associates of North Jersey about which treatment may be right for you at your first heart disease consultation. We pride ourselves in providing the best patient care with the most up-to-the-minute treatment options. Contact us today to schedule an appointment at our office in Oakland.
