This post was written based on a recent appearance by Dr. Mark O’Shaughnessy of PPG Cardiology on the television program PBS HealthLine.

It’s natural to have questions about taking care of yourself. Here are some common topics you might discuss with your patients regarding cardiovascular health.

How can I prevent heart disease?

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. It is important to raise awareness that heart problems, while serious, are preventable in many ways. The main risk factors for heart disease are smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and family history. Obesity can also be a risk factor, as it makes you more susceptible to high cholesterol and diabetes.

I strongly encourage patients to start by knowing their numbers to ensure they are doing everything they can to prevent this disease, especially if they have a family history. Masu. Blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure are three main things you can discuss and address with your primary care provider during your annual checkup.

Another screening option for patients is the HeartSmart CT scan. This is an early detection tool for people who don’t yet have symptoms of heart disease but have some risk factors. There are specific criteria to qualify for a HeartSmart CT scan, so be sure to talk to your healthcare provider about eligibility.

Prevention details:

Cardiovascular testing: Do you know your options?

Check your lipid profile and track your cholesterol

Living Well: Screening

What lifestyle changes can you make to improve your heart health?

Developing healthy habits early on is easier to manage than trying to change them later. The sooner you can become more active and maintain a healthier diet, the better.

There’s no better form of exercise than physical activity that you find enjoyable and are more likely to stick with. You don’t have to go out and race, just move.

I am a strong believer in maintaining a sensible diet and eating less fat. Switching out red meat for chicken or fish is a great option. It’s okay to splurge and eat steak every now and then if you feel like it, even if it’s not every night. If you are a smoker, it’s never too late to quit.

Learn more about lifestyle changes:

no smoking

Movement is medicine: the importance of physical activity

Improving the lifestyle of heart failure patients

These four eating habits have the biggest impact

How does stress affect my mind?

We’ve gone back and forth about stress as a risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD). There is a diagnosis called Takotsubo cardiomyopathy or broken heart syndrome. When a person experiences severe emotional distress, they may experience heart attack-like symptoms, but when a cardiac catheterization is performed, there is no blockage.

Takotsubo incidents have increased in recent years, which is probably related to the fact that our lives are more stressful and fast-paced. Reducing stress can be difficult because different methods work for different people. However, it’s worth considering some techniques to make your daily life more manageable.

More on how to deal with stress:

5 ways to protect your mind from stress

Please remove some stress from your body.

natural ways to lower blood pressure

What are the symptoms of a heart attack?

Heart attacks are caused by a buildup of fatty cholesterol (plaque) in the arteries that cuts off the blood and oxygen supply. When these pathways are closed, the heart is unable to receive the nutrients it needs. If blood flow is not restored quickly, a heart attack can lead to permanent damage or cardiac arrest. Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart rhythm starts, quivers, and then stops. This can be fatal to a person if not resuscitated quickly.

Less than half of patients with decreased blood flow to the heart have classic angina symptoms, including:

• Pain, pressure, or strange sensations in your back, neck, jaw, upper abdomen, or one or both shoulders or arms
• shortness of breath
• nausea or vomiting
• Lightheadedness or sudden weakness
• fast or irregular heart rate

Symptoms in men and women are almost the same, but there are slight differences. As a rule of thumb, if you have symptoms from the waist up, you should get tested. It may not be heart disease or a heart event, but if it is, it can become a serious problem if you wait too long.

More about heart attacks:

Responding to a heart attack

What happens during a heart attack?

heart attack and sex

How do implantable cardiac defibrillators work?

Defibrillators are sophisticated pacemakers that monitor heartbeats and look for life-threatening abnormal rhythms, especially those coming from the lower ventricles, called ventricular tachycardia. A defibrillator acts like a guardian angel, delivering a shock to the heart when it recognizes a bad rhythm. This shock can be very jarring and jarring, but it can play an important role in saving lives.

If the patient is shocked, call the cardiologist to have the device checked to see if the shock was appropriate. These devices are so sophisticated that there is little chance of them receiving an inappropriate impact. Once this happens, the defibrillator has done what it was supposed to do. If the problem recurs and the device is functioning properly, adjust the patient’s medication.

Defibrillator details:

How to operate an AED in 60 seconds

smartphone and your heart

Lives saved with donor support

Taking a proactive approach to heart health through lifestyle changes, stress management, and appropriate medical interventions can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular complications. Our team of experts and staff at Parkview Heart Institute are dedicated to providing personalized cardiac care. To schedule a cardiology appointment, call 260-352-5381.