Bellaire - Meyerland - West University Edition | April 2022

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HEART DISEASE? ARM YOURSELF WITH THE LATEST KNOWLEDGE

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with a heart or vascular problem, or if you have a family history of heart disease, you are likely concerned. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States, claiming about 659,000 lives each year. When it comes to your health, including your heart health, knowledge is power. By arming yourself with the latest information about how to prevent, treat andmanage heart disease, youmay increase your chances of living a longer and healthier life. Cardiothoracic surgeon Dharmraj Chauhan, MD, affiliated with theMemorial HermannHeart &Vascular Institute at Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital, answers frequently asked questions about heart disease. What is heart disease? Heart disease describes several types of heart conditions, including coronary artery disease, which can lead to heart attack; congestive heart failure; abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias); congenital heart disease, a heart problem present at birth; and cardiomyopathy, the thickening or enlarging of the heart. What causes heart disease, and can it be prevented? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about half of Americans have at least one of three key risk factors for heart disease—high blood pressure, high cholesterol and smoking. While you can’t control some risk factors, such as your family history, you can reduce your risk by quitting smoking, being physically active, managing your weight, eating a healthy diet, managing diabetes and avoiding excessive use of alcohol. What are the symptoms of heart disease? Symptoms vary by type of disease. Heart attack symptoms

may include chest pain or discomfort, upper back or neck pain, indigestion or heartburn, nausea or vomiting, extreme fatigue, dizziness or shortness of breath. Heart failure symptomsmay include shortness of breath, fatigue or swelling of the feet ankles, legs, abdomen or neck veins. And individuals with arrhythmia may feel heart palpitations, sometimes described as f luttering feelings in the chest. But it’s important to note that heart disease can be a “silent’ killer,” presenting with no symptoms at all. How is heart disease diagnosed? A patient’s diagnosis usually starts with an evaluation by a cardiologist or admission to an emergency center. Based on an initial evaluation, additional testsmay be performed, such as imaging studies (chest X-ray, CT-scan or MRI), an electrocardiogram (EKG), an echocardiogram, a coronary angiogram, cardiac catheterization or an electrophysiologic study. What treatments are available at the Institute for heart disease? The affiliated heart and vascular specialists at the Institute provide a full spectrumof heart and vascular care—from prevention to treatment, recovery and rehabilitation. Treatments include noninvasive andminimally invasive procedures, as well as open heart surgeries. Memorial Hermann Southwest is an accredited Chest Pain Center and a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) hospital. In the hospital’s 24/7 cardiac catheterization labs, specialists are equipped to perform fast PCIs, with or without stents, for coronary blockages and heart attacks. For blockages that are not amenable for PCI or stents, surgeons at the Institute perform coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Heart valves can become narrowed (stenotic) or leaky,

leading to hear t fai lure problems. Affiliated cardiac surgeons at the Inst itute perform both open heart surger y and minima l ly invasive heart procedures for valve problems, including m i n i m a l l y i n v a s i v e transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) for patients with severe aortic valve disease.

Dharmraj Chauhan, MD Cardiothoracic Surgeon

Some cardiovascular problems occur outside of the heart. The affiliated vascular and endovascular surgeons at the Institute performvascular and less invasive endovascular procedures to correct blood vessels outside of the heart and brain that may be narrowed, blocked or dilated. These procedures include aortic aneurysm repair, balloon angioplasty, bypass surgery, carotid endarterectomy, carotid stenting and fistula creation and repair. The affiliated electrophysiologists at the Institute treat all types of heart arrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation (AFib). Depending on the diagnosis, a patient’s treatment plan might include medication and/or cardioversion, pacemaker/ICD implantation, heart ablation or implantation of a left atrial appendage closure device. What about after surgery? TheMemorial HermannHeart &Vascular Institute offers a uniquely designed post-procedure healing program designed to reduce a patient’s risk of re-hospitalization, lessen the need for cardiac medications and encourage a return to work following a heart-related illness. The program is tailored to each patient’s specific needs and includes exercise, nutrition counseling, stressmanagement and other services.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 713.222.2273 or visit memorialhermann.org/heart

Advancing health. Personalizing care.

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