Take control of your cardiovascular health this Heart Month

Written by Dr. Amna Ahmed, MD, cardiologist at IU Health West

According to Centers for Disease Control, heart disease is the leading cause of death of men and women in the United States, with one person dying every 34 seconds.

February is American Heart Month, a time to raise awareness of cardiovascular disease and take control of your heart health. It’s vital to know what heart disease is, why understanding your risk is important and when to see a physician.

What is heart disease?

Heart disease is a broad term we use for several heart conditions, including coronary artery disease, heart rhythm issues and heart failure.

Coronary artery disease is the most common and impacts the main blood vessels that supply blood to the heart, the coronary arteries. This disease is caused by a buildup of plaque in artery walls, which then causes arteries to narrow and reduces blood flow to the heart.

Heart rhythm issues, also known as arrhythmias, appear as an irregular heartbeat that occurs when the electrical signals that coordinate heartbeats do not function properly. This can range from be tachycardia, when the heart is beating too fast; bradycardia, when the heart beats too slow; and atrial fibrillation (AFib), a rapid and uncoordinated heartbeat.

Heart failure is a chronic condition where the heart cannot pump enough blood to
meet the body's needs.

Know your risk

Your lifestyle, medical conditions, age and family history can all impact the risk of heart disease. These key risk factors include high blood pressure, high cholesterol and smoking. In women, menopause and psychosocial stress can also impact heart health.

While understanding your risk of heart disease can be intimidating, it’s crucial—learning about your heart health can help with prevention, early detection and management and improve future outcomes.

When to see a physician

While you can take steps at home to improve heart health—such as eating healthier, getting enough physical activity and avoiding tobacco and alcohol—sometimes that’s not enough.

As a cardiologist, I’m often asked, “when is it appropriate to see a cardiologist?” Many aren’t sure if their symptoms are heart related, or they want to avoid spending time in the Emergency department or doctor’s office with a “false alarm.”

However, any of the following symptoms shouldn’t be ignored:

• Chest pain, tightness or discomfort
• Shortness of breath, especially if its during normal or resting activities
• Irregular heartbeats, such palpitations or a racing pulse
• When there is a family history of heart disease
• Uncontrolled high blood pressure or cholesterol

It all starts with a simple scan

One way to easily learn about your heart health is with a heart scan, particularly a cardiac CT scan, which provides a detailed 3D scan of your heart and the surrounding areas. This allows us to easily see your heart’s anatomy and how it functions.

These scans are painless and non-invasive and help cardiologists identify the various types of heart disease. They also assess heart valves, detect calcium and plaque and can help assess symptoms like chest pain and shortness of breath.

Heart scans are a valuable tool in early detection. If you’re experiencing any heart symptoms or have heart disease in your family history, it’s best to follow the old adage of “better safe than sorry,” and come see a cardiologist. Know your risk factors and seek help from a specialist early to reduce your cardiac risk.

To learn more about heart health, visit iuhealth.org/heart.