A Valentine’s Day Gift for Your Heart
Preventing cardiovascular disease
If you’re like many people, you have love on your mind this February. While you’re thinking about matters of the heart, it’s also the perfect time to consider your cardiovascular health.
Your heart’s relationship with the vessels
The cardiovascular system is made up of your heart and vessels, which include your arteries, veins and capillaries. This system ensures oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood is feeding every tissue and cell in your body – from your head to your toes. If one part of this intricate system is not functioning properly, it could have deadly consequences. Fortunately, simple screening tests can help keep your cardiovascular system at the top of its game.
Keep your heart from breaking
Different types of heart disease include coronary artery disease, heart failure and heart arrhythmias. Each of these diseases affects the heart itself. Since heart disease is the leading cause of death in Americans, it’s important to know your risk – and what you can do to lower it.
According to Peter Temesy-Armos, MD, professor of medicine and director of clinical cardiology service at The University of Toledo Medical Center, primary risk factors for heart disease include: family history; obesity; high blood pressure; high cholesterol; diabetes and living a sedentary lifestyle. These risk factors also apply to vascular disease outside the heart.
Mend your broken vessels
“The most common types of vascular disease are narrowing or enlarging of the blood vessels,” says Munier Nazzal, MD, FRCS, FACS, professor and chief of vascular surgery, and medical director of the vascular lab at UT Medical Center.
Like pinching a hose, narrowing of the blood vessels causes the arteries to become blocked, “pinching” off blood flow. This “pinching” obstructs blood flow to the brain, which can ultimately cause a stroke. It can also obstruct blood flow to the arms and legs, resulting in pain, gangrene, and in the most severe cases, limb loss.
Vascular diseases that enlarge the blood vessels cause the artery’s walls to weaken and inflate like a balloon. If left untreated, the bulge could rupture, resulting in internal bleeding, and in severe cases, death.
If detected early, surgical treatments can often prevent devastating results for both conditions. “That’s why it’s so important for people to get regular physicals and the screenings that are recommended by their doctor,” says Dr. Nazzal. “By screening the appropriate candidates for these diseases, we can prevent life-threatening consequences.”
Talk things out
Working with your physician to identify and lower your risk level is your best defense against heart and vascular disease. “It’s also important to know how to identify symptoms,” says Dr. Temesy-Armos.
Talk to your doctor if you experience:
- Persistent chest discomfort
- Fatigue
- Sweating
- Dizziness or confusion
- General pain or pressure in the neck, shoulder or back areas
- Pulsing sensation in the abdomen
- Pain, discoloration or sores on the feet
- Leg pain or discomfort when walking
If your symptoms are sudden, you may be experiencing a heart attack and need to seek immediate medical attention. According to Dr. Temesy-Armos, even if you are not sure if your symptoms add up to a heart attack, it’s better to be safe than sorry. “When in doubt, call 9-1-1 or your physician,” he says.
The UT Medical Center offers patients centralized care at the Heart and Vascular Center. Here, patients have access to heart and vascular experts and specialized care for conditions including atrial fibrillation, coronary artery disease and vascular disease. “We put all of UT Medical Center’s cardiology and vascular specialists in one area. By integrating our services, we’re able to provide the best care for our patients,” says Dr. Nazzal.
Protect your heart health by scheduling a screening at the UT Medical Center’s new Heart and Vascular Center. Call us at (419) 383-6810.
