Heart Disease

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for adults in the United States. To lower your risk factors for heart disease, Stanton Family Clinic in Stanton, Kentucky, offers preventive screenings in-office. The experienced medical team can also determine if heart disease is the cause of symptoms like irregular heartbeat, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. To schedule a heart disease evaluation, call the office or book an appointment online today.

What is heart disease?

Heart disease is an umbrella term for several conditions that affect your long-term heart health and function.

A common condition that can lead to heart disease is coronary artery disease (CAD). It develops when cholesterol builds up and hardens along the walls of your blood vessels. CAD causes narrowing in the blood vessels that affects the flow of blood to your heart.

Other heart disease-related conditions include:

• Arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat)
• Heart valve disease
• Congenital heart defects
• Heart muscle disease or damage

Stanton Family Clinic offers services to diagnose heart disease in its earliest stage. The team provides customized care plans to ease symptoms of heart disease and prevent more serious complications, including heart failure, heart attack, and stroke.

When should I seek medical help for heart disease?

You should schedule a diagnostic evaluation at Stanton Family Clinic if you have symptoms of heart disease such as:

• Rapid or irregular heartbeat
• Chest tightness or pain
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness or fainting

The providers perform a physical exam to assess your overall health and may request an electrocardiogram (EKG) or other heart tests to evaluate your heart’s function.

You may also need routine preventive screenings for heart disease as you get older or if you have risk factors for heart disease like a family history of heart disease, smoking history, high blood pressure, or diabetes.

How is heart disease treated?

Your treatment plan for heart disease depends on the type you have and its severity. The Stanton Family Clinic team can discuss your options for treatment during your consultation.

Initially, they may recommend lifestyle and diet changes to improve your heart health and slow the progression of the disease. You may also benefit from the available addiction medicine services to quit smoking for good.

If these changes aren’t enough to control your heart disease, you may need to take medications. Medications may also be necessary if you have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or other underlying health issues that increase your risk for heart disease. 

The team continues to monitor your use of medications and can make adjustments when necessary.

For those with advanced heart disease, the team may refer you to a specialist to discuss your options for heart surgery.

To schedule a heart disease consultation, call Stanton Family Clinic or book an appointment online today.