Taking Charge of Your Heart Health

Your heart is one of the most essential parts of your body. It pumps blood and delivers oxygen to all your organs. Whether you’re working to stay healthy or already managing a heart condition, it's never too early to take care of your heart.

AHN Cardiovascular Institute at Allegheny Valley Hospital (AVH) provides expert care to help you prevent heart disease, manage existing conditions, and feel your best.

What is heart disease?

Heart disease refers to any condition affecting the heart and its blood vessels. Common types of heart disease include:

• Arrhythmia – When your heart beats too fast, too slow, or irregularly
• Aortic stenosis – When the aortic valve (located between the heart’s main chamber and the body’s main artery) becomes narrow and prevents blood flow
• Coronary artery disease – The most common type of heart disease where the arteries that supply blood to your heart become narrowed or blocked
• Heart failure – When your heart can’t pump enough blood for your body

Some symptoms of heart disease develop gradually over time, while others may come on more suddenly. Signs you should get evaluated for heart disease include:

• Feeling tired or out of breath often during exercise or activities
• Swelling in your belly, legs, ankles, or feet
• Pain, numbness, or coldness in your legs or arms
• Frequently losing your appetite or feeling nauseous
• Sudden chest pain
• A sudden feeling of heart pounding or fluttering, or like your heart is skipping a beat or beating too fast 
• NOTE: If you are experiencing chest pain, shortness of breath, or fainting, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

“Heart disease doesn’t always come with clear warning signs,” said Wadih Nadour, MD, interventional cardiologist at AVH. “That’s why it’s so important to understand your risk, take symptoms seriously, and focus on prevention before problems start.”

What raises your risk?

There are a variety of factors that may increase your risk for developing heart disease, including:

• Diabetes
• A history of hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Chronic kidney disease
• Prior stroke
• High cholesterol
• Patients with a parent or sibling who has had a heart attack (male family member under age 55 or female under age 65 when the heart attack occurs)

If you’ve had a heart attack before, it’s especially important to take your medications as prescribed and visit your AHN cardiologist on a regular basis. Some risk factors — like family history — are out of your control, but there are still things you can do to monitor your heart health and prevent the risk of heart disease.

Know your numbers

Monitoring your cholesterol levels and blood pressure closely is important for preventing heart disease.

Your body needs some cholesterol to stay healthy, but too much can build up in your arteries and make it harder for blood to flow. For someone without heart disease, total cholesterol should be under 180, and LDL (known as “bad” cholesterol) should be under 130. If you have coronary artery disease, you should aim for an LDL under 70.

Blood pressure is also important to track. A normal reading is typically below 130/80 mmHg. You can easily check your blood pressure at home with a simple blood pressure monitor.

How often you should perform these tests depends on your overall health and risk factors. If you aren’t at risk for heart disease, you should test your cholesterol every 4–6 years, and your blood pressure at least once a year.*

Your cardiologist can help you determine how often to do tests at home.

Testing for heart disease

To confirm your risk for heart disease and establish a treatment plan, your doctor will do a cardiac screening that may involve the following:

• Blood tests to assess inflammation, bad cholesterol numbers, and signs of diabetes
• A cardiac CT scan to identify coronary artery disease and any blockages in the arteries
• A nuclear stress test to view blood flow to the heart during rest and exercise
• A 3D echocardiogram, which provides a three-dimensional view inside the heart

Healthy habits to help your heart

“Heart disease prevention isn’t about a magic number on a test or taking one pill,” said Dr. Nadour. “We look at the full picture of your health — and your daily habits make a big difference. A healthy lifestyle is one of the most powerful ways to protect your heart.”

Some lifestyle modifications that can help lower your risk of heart disease include:

• Following a heart-healthy diet
• Exercising regularly
• Quitting smoking
• Limiting alcohol use

Caring for your heart, one beat at a time

No matter where you are on your heart health journey, taking action today can make a big difference for tomorrow. Learn more about treatment options available to you through AHN Cardiovascular Institute at Allegheny Valley Hospital.