Cardiology is typically a medical branch that deals with diseases affecting your blood vessels and heart. The Brooksville, FL cardiologist at Advanced Heat & Vascular Associates uses advanced technology to diagnose and treat heart diseases, giving you a second chance at a healthy life. The advanced diagnostic equipment at the facility facilitates the early detection of heart disease.
Most prevalent cardiovascular diseases
Cardiovascular diseases interfere with your blood vessels and heart functioning, increasing your risk of life-threatening complications. Half of the US adult population lives with at least one type of cardiovascular disease. Some people experience heart disease symptoms while others are asymptomatic, making it difficult to detect the latter. You should be aware of cardiovascular diseases, including venous insufficiency, coronary artery disease, abdominal aortic aneurysm, heart arrhythmias, and peripheral artery disease. An early diagnosis increases the success chances of treatment.
Symptoms indicating a heart disease
Your symptoms rely on the type of heart disease you have. Atherosclerosis may cause symptoms like shortness of breath, coldness, weakness, pain or numbness in your extremities, chest pain, and neck pain. You may not know that you have coronary artery disease until a heart attack, heart failure, stroke, or angina occurs.
Your doctor may only stumble upon the disease during routine medical exams or testing for another condition. Heart arrhythmias may cause lightheadedness, slow heartbeat, fainting, or racing heartbeat. If you experience difficulty breathing, fainting, or severe chest pain, get a close friend to drive you to the nearest emergency room. If you also have concerns about your heart health, discuss them with your doctor, who can offer a way forward.
Diagnostic techniques for heart disease
During your appointment at Advanced Heart & Vascular Associates, your provider discusses your symptoms and completes a thorough cardiac evaluation. Some of the tests Dr. Chadda may perform, include:
- Echocardiogram
An echocardiogram involves ultrasound imaging that produces detailed pictures of your heart. Dr. Chadda uses either the transesophageal echocardiogram or the transthoracic echocardiogram to diagnose accurately.
- Stress testing
Your provider may suggest a stress test to monitor your heart’s vital signs during activity. If your body can’t tolerate strenuous physical activity, your doctor may administer medication to increase your heartbeat.
- Nuclear imaging
This advanced technique utilizes controlled amounts of radiotracers to provide more details about your heart’s functioning. The radioactive materials pick up specific tissues’ energy and create detailed images.
- Electrocardiogram
An electrocardiogram records electrical signals from the heart, which Dr. Chadda uses for diagnosis. During the procedure, he attaches electrodes to your body to collect the signals.
Treatments for cardiovascular disease
Your care plan relies on the type of cardiovascular disease and the severity of your symptoms. Your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes like aerobic activity and eating a healthy diet. The advanced Heart & Vascular team may prescribe specific medications to control the disease. If drugs fail to work, they may recommend surgeries such as cardioversion, open-heart surgery, and minimally invasive heart surgery.
If you suspect heart disease, don’t wait for a heart attack; instead, call Dr. Chadda or create an appointment online for a cardiac exam.