It is widely accepted that leading a healthy life and regularly visiting a cardiologist will minimize your risks of cardiovascular diseases. Yet, despite all words of warning and caution and the serious efforts of the cardiologists associations, cardiovascular diseases remain number 1 cause of death in the US and around the world. We have to take our heath’s well being seriously and do regular visits to our cardiologist, regardless of our age. Let us go through the top 10 reasons you must visit a cardiologist.
- Recommendation from your doctor – If your doctor recommends visiting a cardiologist, you must not delay and visit a cardiologist as soon as possible.
- Chest pain around the heart – There is a big list of diseases that may cause chest pain. Do not try to determine the cause yourself, simply visit a cardiologist.
- Family history – If a member of the family has had some heart complications, you have to be cautious – you may have predisposition to certain heart ailments. A visit to the cardiologist is highly recommended.
- High cholesterol – The higher levels of cholesterol (above 6.0 mmol/l), higher the risk of cardiovascular diseases. When suffering from increased cholesterol levels consult a cardiologist.
- High blood pressure – If you suffer from high blood pressure, or the values of the systole and diastole pressure are higher than normal (120/80), visit a cardiologist to determine the risk to the heart.
- If you are, or have been a smoker – Smoking is a big risk factor for the heart. By smoking we lower oxygen intake in the blood and increase blood pressure, heart rhythm, the risk of blood clots and damage the cells of the walls of arteries.
- Diabetes – Diabetes can also lead to heart and blood vessel diseases. If you are a diabetic you must regularly visit a cardiologist.
- Difficult pregnancy, preeclampsia – Preeclampsia is the most concealed risk for heart disease. Women’s risk for heart diseases is twice higher during pregnancy and in the postmenopausal period.
- Starting a new exercise program – When above 40 and starting a new exercise program you must consult your cardiologist about the program and the exercises.
- Inflammation of the gums – Gums inflammation occurs when the whole body is inflamed. Persons exhibiting swollen and sore gums often have some heart disease.
Symptoms of heart diseases
The most common symptoms of heart diseases that require urgent cardiologist examination are:
- High blood pressure and tightness in the chest;
- A feeling of pain or discomfort in the chest, carrying over to the neck, shoulders, hands or the jaw;
- A growing pain in the chest;
- A pain in the chest that does not pass, even after resting;
- A pain in the chest followed by these symptoms: Sweating, sticky skin or paleness; Loss of breath; Sickness and vomiting; Vertigo or fainting; Unreasonable exhaustion and fatigue; Fast and irregular pulse; pain in the jaw, neck, upper back or chest; Hoarseness because of pressure in the vocal cords; Heart palpitations; Anxiety; Low blood pressure which appears together with pain.
If you find yourself afflicted by any of these symptoms you should schedule an examination with a cardiologist. The heart is our most important muscle, and it needs our care!
