Preventing Heart Disease

Heart disease is insidious, and it is more common in Americans now that it has ever been. Though some people suffer from a genetic pre-condition for heart disease, it is also completely preventable. One is never too old or too young to take care of their heart!

Should you suspect that you may be in early stages of some sort of heart disease, call us at Trinity Medical Group to schedule an appointment. We care for our patients and have been successfully helping our patients prevent health disease for several years.

Symptoms

Heart disease isn’t just one particular disease and it often culminates with a number of symptoms that are collectively referred to as “heart disease.” Many of the symptoms of what are commonly referred to as “heart disease” are also symptoms of a heart attack (especially in men), heart arrhythmia, and coronary artery disease.

These symptoms may include but are not limited to:

•    Shortness of breath
•    Feeling of tightness or restriction within the chest
•    Nearly constant fatigue
•    Severe headache accompanied by chest or arm pain or a feeling of numbness in the arms
•    Rapid or irregular heartbeat can be a sign of heart arrhythmia—see a doctor immediately in this case
•    A feeling of being overly full or of having severe indigestion

Some of these symptoms may also be a sign of the beginnings of congestive heart failure. Should you experience any of the above symptoms—no matter what your age or gender—seek medical attention immediately. Even if the symptoms turn out to “just” be indigestion or a pulled muscle, early detection can help prevent a myriad of other problems further on.

Prevention

One of the best ways to prevent heart disease is to never start smoking cigarettes or other tobacco products. Smoking causes more than lung cancer—it is also an harmful addicting habit that medical science has proven is more difficult to quit than heroin. If the patient is not a smoker, don’t let them start, and if the patient does smoke, help them stop.

If you are overweight or obese, the doctor will tell you they will need to lose weight, and may start you on a weight management program. Weight loss helps decrease swelling all over the body, increases blood flow, assists with circulation, and helps the body rid itself of toxins through sweat and elimination.

Another good way to prevent heart disease is to eat more fruits, vegetables and lighter meats, avoid fried and processed foods, and drink plenty of water.

If you have high cholesterol, you should especially be mindful of your diet and strive to eat more fruits and vegetables, while avoiding fried and processed foods.  In some cases, the doctor may suggest that you try fish oil supplements to help reduce cholesterol and improve blood flow and circulation.