Heart Disease Prevention & Management

Coronary artery disease (CAD) occurs when the arteries that supply blood to your heart become narrowed or blocked. This limits oxygen and nutrient flow to the heart, making it harder for your heart to function properly. 

CAD is most commonly caused by the buildup of plaque (a mix of fat, cholesterol, and other substances) inside the coronary artery walls. Symptoms of CAD may include:

• Chest pain or pressure (angina)
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue
• Heart palpitations

High cholesterol, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, and a family history of heart disease are some factors that can increase the risk of CAD. If left untreated, CAD can lead to heart attacks or heart failure.

CAD can be managed effectively to reduce symptoms and prevent heart attacks. Managing CAD typically involves a combination of lifestyle changes and medications to lower cholesterol and manage blood pressure. 

Arrhythmias are irregular heart rhythms. It is a medical condition in which your heart may beat too fast, too slow, or with an irregular pattern. These disruptions can affect how efficiently your heart pumps blood. In some cases, arrhythmias can be serious or can even become life-threatening.

Common symptoms of arrhythmias include:

• A fluttering or racing heartbeat (palpitations)
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Shortness of breath
• Fainting

Some arrhythmias can be harmless. However, in some cases, they can significantly increase the risk of complications like stroke or sudden cardiac arrest. Treatment depends on the type of arrhythmia and how it affects your health.

For some patients, reducing stress, avoiding triggers like caffeine, and medications to regulate rhythm may be enough. In other cases, a pacemaker may be used to correct slow heart rhythms.

Congestive heart failure or heart failure is a chronic condition in which your heart is not able to pump blood as efficiently as it should. 

Heart failure does not mean the heart has stopped, it means it is working less efficiently and not able to fulfill the body's needs. Symptoms of heart failure include:

• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue and weakness
• Swelling in the legs, ankles, or feet
• Rapid or irregular heartbeat
• Persistent coughing or wheezing
• Chest Pain

This condition is usually the result of long-term damage caused by other heart issues, such as coronary artery disease or high blood pressure. 

Heart failure is a progressive condition, but with the right plan, many people live active and fulfilling lives. Treatment focuses on reducing strain on the heart, improving its function, and preventing worsening of symptoms.

Your heart has four valves that direct blood flow through its chambers and ensure that blood flows in the right direction. Heart valve disease occurs when one or more of these valves become stiff (stenosis), leaky (regurgitation), or fail to close properly.

Valve disease can lead to symptoms, such as:

• Chest pain or pressure
• Fatigue
• Heart murmurs
• Shortness of breath
• Swelling in the abdomen, ankles, or legs
• Irregular heartbeat

Valve problems can be congenital (from birth) or develop over time due to infection, aging, or damage from conditions like rheumatic fever or heart attacks. 

In milder cases, heart valve disease may be monitored with routine imaging and managed through medications to control symptoms and prevent complications. More advanced cases may require procedures like valve repair or replacement. 

These are lifestyle-related factors or medical conditions that you can take steps to control. Addressing these risk factors can significantly reduce your risk of heart disease.

• High Blood Pressure (Hypertension): Hypertension occurs when the force of blood against your artery walls remains consistently high. This ongoing strain makes the heart work harder to circulate blood and can damage the blood vessels. Over time, high blood pressure increases the risk of serious complications, including heart disease, heart failure, stroke, and kidney damage.
• High Cholesterol: Cholesterol is a fatty substance essential for building cells and producing hormones. However, when cholesterol levels become too high, it can lead to plaque buildup in the arteries. Over time, it narrows the arteries and restricts blood flow to the heart, brain, and other parts of the body. High Cholesterol significantly raises your risk of coronary artery disease, heart attack, and stroke.
• Smoking: Smoking damages the inner lining of your arteries, encourages plaque formation, reduces oxygen in the blood, and increases blood clot risk. All of these factors contribute to a higher likelihood of heart attacks and strokes.
• Diabetes: People with diabetes are at significantly higher risk for heart disease than those without it. Chronic high blood sugar damages blood vessels. Diabetes also accelerates plaque buildup in the arteries and is commonly linked with other risk factors like high blood pressure, obesity, and high cholesterol.
• Obesity: Excess body weight, especially around the abdomen, can contribute to several heart disease risk factors, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, insulin resistance, and systemic inflammation. These interconnected issues increase the strain on the cardiovascular system.
• Physical Inactivity: A sedentary lifestyle slows your metabolism, contributes to weight gain, and negatively impacts blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and insulin sensitivity. Regular physical activity can help improve your heart health.
• Poor Diet: A diet high in saturated fats, trans fats, sodium, and added sugars raises the risk of heart disease. A heart-healthy diet includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats.
• Excessive Alcohol Use: Drinking too much alcohol raises blood pressure and contributes to high triglyceride levels. Triglycerides are another type of fat in the blood that increases the risk of heart disease when elevated. It can also lead to weight gain and liver damage, all of which further impact your heart health.

While the following factors cannot be changed, knowing about them can help you prioritize your prevention and management plan.

• Age: The risk of heart disease increases as you get older.
• Gender: Men are at a higher risk of heart disease than women. However, the risk of heart disease also increases for women after menopause.
• Family History: A family history of heart disease can significantly raise your own risk.

We place a strong emphasis on early detection and preventive care, addressing heart health concerns when they are most treatable. We help identify personal risk factors, lifestyle habits, and underlying medical conditions early and develop personalized strategies to help reduce your risk of heart disease before it becomes more serious.

During your preventive heart health visit, we take the time to evaluate your overall cardiovascular risk by:

• Reviewing your medical and family history
• Assessing lifestyle factors, such as diet, physical activity, smoking, and alcohol use
• Performing routine cardiovascular evaluations
• Ordering diagnostic tests like blood work or EKGs, if necessary
• Monitoring blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and other markers of cardiovascular health

For patients with a higher identified risk, we provide routine heart health evaluations and check-ups. This proactive approach allows us to identify early warning signs and take action before complications arise.

Based on this thorough assessment, we create a custom prevention plan tailored to your needs. This may include lifestyle modifications, nutritional guidance, and appropriate medication when necessary.

If you have already been diagnosed with heart disease, ongoing management is crucial, not only to slow disease progression but also to maintain quality of life and avoid serious complications. 

At IMPCS, we offer continued support and evidence-based care to help you manage your heart condition. This includes:

• Lifestyle counseling: This involves modifying your daily habits, like increasing physical activity, quitting smoking, managing stress, and improving sleep to support heart health.
• Nutritional guidance: We provide personalized counseling to help you follow a heart-healthy diet. This includes reducing salt, unhealthy fats, and sugar while incorporating nutrient-rich foods that support cardiovascular wellness.
• Medication management: We will prescribe and adjust medications depending on the type of cardiovascular disease and severity of your symptoms. 
• Regular monitoring: Routine visits to track progress, assess the effectiveness of your current treatment, and detect any changes in your condition. 
• Care plan adjustments: As your needs change, we will reassess and modify your care plan to ensure the best possible outcomes. We routinely re-evaluate your heart health and treatment goals, making adjustments as needed to optimize your results. 

When advanced care, such as interventional cardiology or surgical evaluation, is needed, Dr. Pierre will refer you to a trusted specialist and stay actively involved in your care. If hospitalization is required, we handle care coordination, ensuring a smooth transition between inpatient and outpatient care and keeping your recovery on track.