Houston Heart Disease Prevention Center
Heart disease afflicts millions of Americans, with heart attacks being one of the leading causes of death for both men and women in the United States. Fortunately, the effects of heart disease can be prevented and treated with the proper medical intervention.
As a leading Houston heart disease clinic, Houston Heart Center services a wide clientele of patients across varying races, sexes, classes and ages. Our award-winning team of medical professionals provide high quality cardiovascular care, including the diagnosis and prevention of coronary heart disease, artery disease, high blood pressure and congestive heart failure. Through early detection and continued vigilance, patients can significantly reduce their chances of a heart attack.
The medical community has identified a number of factors that increase a person’s risk for coronary heart disease. The risk is heightened exponentially based on how many of these risk factors the individual possesses, particularly if symptoms of cardiovascular disease are already present. As one is able to identify their risk factors for heart disease in Houston, that person will have a better chance of managing those factors.
Key Risk Factors for Heart Disease
There are several factors to consider when evaluating a patient’s risk for heart disease. We advise anyone who has a number of these factors or shows symptoms of cardiovascular problems to visit our heart disease center in Houston as soon as possible.
- High blood pressure occurs when coronary arteries strain to deliver blood to the heart, thereby forcing them to work harder and for the heart muscle to become thick and stiff. As a result, it increases one’s risk of stroke, heart attack and congestive heart failure.
- High blood cholesterol is the result of an excess amount of cholesterol in the blood, which increases the risk of heart disease. Risk factors for high cholesterol include age, sex, family history and diet.
- Diabetes significantly increases a person’s risk for developing cardiovascular disease due to the presence of high glucose levels that damage blood vessels and nerves that control your heart and blood vessels. The longer one has diabetes, the greater that person’s chances are of developing heart disease.
- Smoking tobacco is a strong risk factor for coronary heart disease and sudden cardiac death. In addition, exposure to secondhand smoke also elevates heart disease risk even for nonsmokers.
- Obesity and being overweight can result in a number of serious health conditions, including cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, and more. In such cases, we generally recommend a sustained weight loss program, as this will lead to significant reductions in some heart disease risk factors.
In short, heart disease prevention is a critical aspect of overall health. Patients who may at risk of developing heart disease should visit our Northwest Houston Heart Center, which is one of only three Houston-area centers equipped with a state-of-the-art Cardiac PET Scanner. Call or visit us today to schedule your appointment for one of the most precise non invasive tests available today for early detection of heart disease.