Your Trusted Cardiovascular Care Facility

Dizziness - Dizziness and light-headedness can be symptoms of various kinds of heart disease.

DVT (Deep Venous Thrombosis) - A DVT is a blood clot, usually in the leg but sometimes in the arm. These can be dangerous and frequently need treatment with blood thinners.

Endocarditis - Endocarditis is an infection of the heart valves or other structures. It typically requires hospitalization and treatment with intravenous antibiotics. If the infection is not treated right away, it can become very dangerous and require surgery.

Heart Murmur - A heart murmur can be an indication of valve disease or other heart problems. If you have a heart murmur, you should see a cardiologist for further evaluation.

Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) - Hypertension can be caused by poor diet, lack of exercise, excessive alcohol intake, stress, sleep apnea, and various medical diseases. It can also be a primary problem, without another cause. High blood pressure can lead to strokes and heart failure and should be treated with lifestyle adjustments and medications. Frequently, patients do not realize they have high blood pressure since it does not cause symptoms unless it is extremely high.

High Cholesterol - High cholesterol is a risk factor for heart attacks and strokes. High cholesterol can be addressed with lifestyle changes and medication.

High Triglycerides - Triglycerides are a component of fat and are associated with cholesterol. When elevated, they can increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and pancreatitis. High triglycerides can be addressed with lifestyle changes and medication.

Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia - This is when the heart has a normal rhythm but beats faster than usual. Typically tachycardia means more than 100 beats per minute.

Leg Swelling (Edema) - This can be caused by heart failure, peripheral vascular disease, and blood clots in the legs. It can also be a sign of normal aging, as older veins are not as good at returning blood back up into the body. If it happens suddenly or is painful, you should see a physician right away.

Mitral Valve Disease - The mitral valve can be too tight (Mitral stenosis) or too weak (mitral regurgitation). These problems may eventually need surgery.

Metabolic Syndrome - A collection of conditions that increase the risk of heart disease. The five components of Metabolic Syndrome are 1) central or abdominal obesity, 2) high blood pressure, 3) high blood sugar, 4) high cholesterol, and 5) high triglycerides. If a patient has three of these five components, they can be considered to have Metabolic Syndrome. This is also called Syndrome X. These patients need to address this issue with aggressive lifestyle changes and possibly with medication.

Palpitations - Palpitations are the feeling of the heart racing while at rest, or the feeling of extra or skipped heartbeats. Palpitations can indicate many possible conditions, some benign and some more dangerous.

Pericarditis - An inflammation of the pericardium, which is the sac that surrounds the heart. This is frequently caused by a viral infection. It can cause chest pain and an abnormal EKG.

Pericardial Effusion - A collection of fluid inside the pericardial sac, outside the heart. This can cause shortness of breath, and if it happens suddenly it must be treated as an emergency. The fluid may have to be drained in the hospital.

Sleep Apnea - Sleep apnea occurs when your throat closes during sleep. This can cause snoring and poor sleep. It is also a common cause of high blood pressure. This is diagnosed with a sleep study and treated with a CPAP machine.

TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack) - A “mini-stroke”, this is when a patient has stroke symptoms that completely resolve within 24 hours. These must be worked up quickly and carefully, as they indicate that the patient is vulnerable to more severe strokes.

Valvular Heart Disease- Disease of one of the four valves of the heart, the aortic valve, the mitral valve, the tricuspid valve, and the pulmonic valve. Severe enough valve disease usually requires surgery.

Valvular Heart Disease - Disease of one of the four valves of the heart, the aortic valve, the mitral valve, the tricuspid valve, and the pulmonic valve. Severe enough valve disease usually requires surgery.