Physicians who specialize in the heart and blood arteries are known as cardiologists. They can help you manage your symptoms and diagnose possible conditions. They can also perform heart procedures like angioplasty, stenting, and coronary thrombectomy.
Be sure to consider advice from your primary care physician to see a cardiologist! Here are five signs for scheduling an appointment: 1. You Have Chest Pain.
You Have Heart Pain
Most likely, you are aware of the well-known symptoms of heart disease, which include excruciating chest discomfort and dyspnea. But heart disease doesn’t always present itself in such dramatic ways. Sometimes, the warning signs are subtle or even nonexistent.
For example, pain in the back, neck, jaw, stomach, or one or both arms may feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain in the chest. You might also experience a feeling of nausea, lightheadedness, or fainting. These are called vibrations, indicating that your heart works overtime to deliver enough oxygen to your body.
If you have these symptoms, schedule an appointment with your cardiologist in San Diego immediately. Before your visit, compile a personal health history and health records of family members, along with any recent test results or diagnostic information you can share. Write down your current medications and any symptoms you’ve been experiencing, too. Also, be prepared for a head-to-toe physical exam and several pain-free tests, including an electrocardiogram (EKG) or chest X-rays. Then, come prepared with a list of questions you want to ask the cardiologist.
You Have Irregular Heartbeats
If you ever experience a feeling of fluttering or pounding in your chest, make an appointment with a cardiologist immediately. Your cardiologist will listen to your heart and order tests to see what’s causing it.
Having irregular heartbeats is called arrhythmia and may be caused by various conditions. These can include pacing (when the heart beats faster than usual) or premature heartbeats, which are extra or early heartbeats before the heart’s ventricles have filled with blood and pumped it out. These arrhythmias are not cause for concern, but they should be monitored.
Irregular heartbeats are also common in people who use stimulants, such as caffeine or nicotine, and can be a sign of heart disease or other serious problems. If your irregular heartbeats are accompanied by dizziness, fainting, or other symptoms, talk to your cardiologist about taking medication to control them. Some types of arrhythmia can be life-threatening if left untreated. It’s essential to bring a list of your symptoms to your cardiologist to help diagnose the problem.
You Have High Blood Pressure
The second figure, diastolic pressure, is the force on your blood vessels during a heartbeat’s rest. It can also cause many other health problems and contribute to early death. Having high blood pressure puts you at greater risk for heart disease, stroke, heart attack, and kidney disease.
Blood pressure is recorded with two numbers: a top number and a bottom number. The first number represents the pressure on your blood vessels when the heart beats to pump blood into them, and is called systolic pressure. The second figure, diastolic pressure, is the force on your blood vessels during a heartbeat’s rest.
A cardiologist can help you lower your blood pressure through medication and lifestyle changes. Make sure to bring a list of all your current medications and any test results or diagnostic information that may be helpful. Having this information ready can speed up the process of meeting with a cardiologist. It will also allow the doctor to run any necessary tests right away. Some of these tests may require additional appointments at labs or testing facilities.
You Have High Cholesterol
If you have high cholesterol, it may be causing your arteries to narrow. This is a risky scenario since a substantial enough plaque fragment can obstruct an artery leading to the heart, resulting in a heart attack or stroke.
People of all ages, genders, and races are susceptible to the dangerous illness known as high cholesterol. It is caused by a combination of factors, including overeating fat, smoking, being overweight, and having a family history of heart disease.
Your doctor can diagnose high cholesterol with a blood test called a lipid panel. Your doctor will take a sample of your blood and ask you not to eat or drink anything for 12 hours before the test. The lipid panel measures your total cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol, and HDL (good) cholesterol.
Everyone should get their cholesterol tested at least once every five years. However, some people need more frequent testing. Your doctor will discuss your lifestyle and risk factors and decide how often you should check your cholesterol. They will also recommend a diet that can help lower your cholesterol.
You Have a Family History of Heart Disease
Your family health history is a significant factor in your heart disease risk. If you have close relatives with a heart condition, your doctor will consider that when planning your treatment.
The more people in your immediate and extended family who have had a heart problem, the greater your risk of having one yourself. The risk is also higher if they have the condition at a young age. A relative who had a heart attack or other cardiovascular disease at age 50, for example, doubles your risk of having it yourself by the same age.
Knowing your family history and scheduling an appointment with a cardiologist are critical first steps to taking control of your heart health. You can’t change some of your risk factors, like age or family history, but you can take action to improve other things, like following a heart-healthy diet and getting enough exercise. That way, you can give yourself the best chance of having a healthy ticker.
