Everything You Need to Know About Heart Disease In Woodbridge & Stafford, VA
Heart disease generally refers to any type of condition that affects the heart. If you have heart disease, there’s a lot you can do to increase your chances for a long and vital life. NOVA Cardiovascular Care in Woodbridge and Stafford, VA, provides state-of-the-art treatments for cardiac and vascular diseases. Here's everything you've ever wanted to know about heart disease.
What is Heart Disease?
Anyone, including children, can develop heart disease. Heart disease refers to several types conditions that affect the heart. These types include: heart muscle disease, congenital heart disease, coronary artery disease, heart attack, heart failure and others. You can take steps to prevent heart disease by practicing healthy lifestyle habits.
Are You at Risk?
Risk factors are habits or health conditions that increase the chances of developing a disease. While having even one risk factor is dangerous, having multiple risk factors is very serious. Risk factors for developing heart disease include:
- Family history
- Smoking
- Overweight/Obesity
- Poor diet
- Physical inactivity
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
What Are The Symptoms?
The symptoms vary depending on the type of heart condition. For many individuals, chest pain or a heart attack is the first sign. The signs and symptoms of a heart attack can include:
- Chest discomfort or pain
- Shortness of breath
- Weakness
- Pain in the neck, jaw or back
- A cold sweat
- Nausea
How Is It Diagnosed?
At NOVA Cardiovascular Care, we provide you with the highly advanced diagnostics needed to diagnose heart disease. Our Woodbridge and Stafford cardiologist can diagnose heart disease based on your physical exam, family and medical histories, and the results from procedures and tests. He can perform several tests to diagnose heart disease, including cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), electrocardiograms (ECG or EKG) and chest X-rays.
How Is It Treated?
Our cardiologist provides a full spectrum of advanced, sophisticated treatments for heart disease. Treatment of heart disease may include lifestyle changes, medical procedures, surgery, cardiac rehabilitation and medications. The goal of treating heart disease is to maximize the patient's quality and quantity of life.