| Heart diseases are also called cardiac diseases. | | | | contact their doctor for an exam and diagnosis. |
| Individuals of all ages can develop heart diseases. The | | | | Doctors are trained and have the skills to make the |
| most common form of heart disease in adults is | | | | diagnosis of heart disease. You will first be asked to fill |
| coronary artery disease, which is the major cause of | | | | out a medical history form that will list your general |
| heart attacks and the most common form of heart | | | | health, and your symptoms as well as any family |
| disease in children, is congenital heart disease. | | | | history. During the examination your vital signs will be |
| Heart disease can affect the heart muscle, the heart | | | | taken including your blood pressure, weight, height, |
| vessels, heart tissue or the heart valves. Heart disease | | | | pulse, respiratory rate and temperature. |
| can be caused by smoking, high blood pressure, high | | | | The doctor will give you a complete examination to |
| cholesterol, infection, and toxins or from a birth defect. | | | | rule out any other diseases. You may be sent to a |
| Some people are born with heart disease and most | | | | laboratory for blood tests and to the x-ray department |
| develop heart disease over time. | | | | for a chest x-ray. Your doctor will be evaluating your |
| There are certain factors that put certain people at | | | | risk for heart disease and any sign of present heart |
| risk for heart disease such as individuals who have a | | | | disease. You may also be sent for an |
| family history of heart disease, those who smoke, and | | | | electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), which will reveal any |
| those who have high blood pressure or high blood | | | | arrhythmias or irregular heart rhythms. |
| cholesterol. Individual who are obese or lead inactive | | | | You may then be sent for special tests such as an |
| lives are also at an increased risk for heart disease. | | | | exercise electrocardiogram, a fluoroscopy, |
| Age increases your risk for heart disease. Some of | | | | phonocardiography, echocardiography, or an |
| the risk factors such as family history and age cannot | | | | angiocardiography (cardiac catheterization). Your |
| be controlled. | | | | doctor will then put all the test results together and |
| Heart disease present at birth can usually not be | | | | determine if you have heart disease or are at risk for |
| controlled if it is heredity in nature. Factors such as | | | | heart disease. |
| smoking, blood pressure and blood cholesterol and | | | | Risk factors for heart disease are high blood pressure, |
| controlling diseases such as diabetes that when | | | | high blood cholesterol, the presence of diabetes, and |
| uncontrolled can lead to heart disease. You can | | | | smoking. These are the highest risk factors. Other |
| reduce your risk for heart disease by controlling your | | | | factors are age, family history, and being obese and |
| blood pressure and blood cholesterol, by not smoking, | | | | having an inactive lifestyle as well as stress. These last |
| and by getting enough exercise and eating healthy | | | | factors are considered minor risk factors. |
| foods. | | | | After your doctor review your test results and |
| If an individual suspects heart disease due to having | | | | determines your heart health and your risk factors for |
| symptoms such as chest pain or discomfort, nausea, | | | | heart disease the doctor will give you a diagnosis or tell |
| vomiting, shortness of breath, dizziness or a feeling | | | | you what you can do to decrease your risk for heart |
| that something bad is going to happen they should | | | | disease. |