Article by:
Amelia Grant
Your heart is a powerful muscle that beats more than 100,000 times every day. Heart disease is extremely widespread, accounting for one out of every three deaths in the United States and being the top cause of mortality for both men and women. In most situations, heart disease goes unnoticed until it causes a significant health problem, like a heart attack or stroke.
While heart disease is a long-term illness, speaking with a cardiologist guarantees that you have someone on your side who can assist you in early diagnosis and prevention of consequences. As a result, it is critical to maintain this key organ regularly. This post will go over the most important symptoms and indicators that point to the need for a cardiologist consultation.
A cardiologist specializes in diagnosing and treating heart and blood vessel issues such as heart attacks, palpitations, irregular heartbeats, high blood pressure, and valve anomalies.
Primary or secondary prevention is their job. Nonetheless, many of the patients visited by cardiologists are disease-free, and their role is just to reassure them that they are healthy and that no additional testing is required.
However, if you have any worrying symptoms and want to check your heart, try searching "heart screening near me" and making an appointment with a certified cardiologist.
The top five signs and reasons for seeing a cardiologist are:
1. Presence of Alarming Symptoms
The easiest strategy to recognize the warning signs of cardiovascular illness is to schedule an appointment with a cardiologist and take heart screening. If you are experiencing symptoms of a worsening cardiac problem, which can sometimes be signals of a heart attack, you should consult a cardiologist instantly. Among the troubling symptoms are:
Chest pain or heaviness
Shortness of breath
Dizziness, fatigue
Note: One of the most typical signs of a heart attack is chest discomfort. Although most patients' complaints of chest pain are unrelated to a heart problem because there are other causes of chest pain, chest pressure that develops or worsens with exercise is particularly concerning because it may indicate that the heart isn't receiving enough blood.
2. Having Risk Factors
Certain risk factors enhance the likelihood of acquiring cardiovascular disease. If you have any of the following conditions, you should see a cardiologist and discuss your medical history.
History of Smoking
High Cholesterol
Obesity and waist circumference
Diabetic
History of Preeclampsia
High Blood Pressure
Chronic kidney disease.
Your primary care physician can prescribe drugs to help you manage these issues, but a cardiologist can go a step further. If any of the aforementioned factors apply to you, you should consult a cardiologist.
3. Family History
Certain types of cardiac disease may be genetically predisposed. If you have a family history of cardiovascular disease, you are more likely to develop it. Consult a cardiologist if strokes or heart attacks run in your family, especially if they occur when you are young (under the age of 55 for males and 65 for women).
4. Willing to Start a New Exercise Program
Exercise helps to strengthen the heart muscles, which allows blood to circulate more efficiently throughout the body and helps to lower blood pressure.
However, certain heart diseases can make exercise risky. It is recommended that you visit a cardiologist before engaging in moderate to high-intensity exercise, especially if you have been inactive for a long period or if you have heart disease, kidney disease, or diabetes. The doctor will examine you for any underlying heart issues you may be unaware of and will advise you on heart-healthy workouts.
5. When You Have Leg Pain
Leg pain that worsens with activity may indicate peripheral arterial disease (PAD). PAD is highly associated with stroke and heart attack. If you have known disease in the leg arteries or blood vessels of the brain (carotid arteries), you are more likely to have coronary artery disease. A cardiologist can advise you on whether more testing or treatment is required.
Conclusion
It is crucial to prioritize heart health since heart disease can lead to life-threatening illnesses or death. As a result, detecting early indicators of heart disease will allow you to take preventative action before more difficulties arise.
