Your Cardiologist In Tempe AZ And Causes Of Heart Diseases

Heart disease, or cardiovascular disease, kills nearly 400,000 Americans every year. It is estimated that about 720,000 Americans a year have a heart attack. That number excludes the other forms of heart disease that are diagnosed. Each cardiologist in Tempe AZ sees hundreds of patients a year with various forms of cardiac disease. Here are some of the causes of the different diseases that can affect your heart.

“Hardening” of the Arteries

Arteries carry oxygenated blood and nutrients throughout your body. Your arteries are flexible, and quite strong. However, there are certain conditions that can cause these arteries to become “hard”.

While the medical term for hardening of the arteries is arteriosclerosis, the former term is really far more descriptive of the effect. When arteries have too much pressure on them, they lose their flexibility, becoming stiffer. The walls of the arteries also become thicker, in order to withstand the added pressure.

The major causes of arteriosclerosis are the usual culprits of unhealthy lifestyle: poor diet, poor exercise habits, excessive weight, and smoking. Hardening of the arteries can be treated with medication, but it cannot be cured once it has developed. You will have to seek the help of a cardiologist to get the right medications to treat what has now become a chronic condition.

Arrhythmia

Arrhythmia is an irregular heartbeat. You may feel a fluttering of your heart, or a pounding sensation. Heart arrhythmia should be treated by your cardiologist in Mesa AZ as soon as you think you may have a problem. It can be caused by several different cardiac diseases.

Congenital heart defects account for a large number of arrhythmias. In some cases, they are considered non-threatening. However, if you were diagnosed with an arrhythmia when you were a child, have your cardiologist keep an eye on it.

Coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes can all cause arrhythmia. These conditions can be life-threatening, and should be under the supervision of your cardiologist.

Smoking can contribute significantly to heart disease, which can cause arrhythmia.

Excessive use of caffeine or alcohol, and drug abuse can all contribute to cases of arrhythmia. In the former cases, you can often stop incidents of arrhythmia simply by cutting back on alcohol and caffeine consumption. Drug abuse takes a toll in other ways, and you should seek medical help immediately.

Stress is also a major contributor to arrhythmia. Not only can excessive stress interfere with the electrical functioning of your heart muscle, it can contribute to other cardiovascular diseases that can negatively affect your heart health.

OTC, or over the counter medications, can cause arrhythmia. There are also prescriptions and herbal remedies that contribute to this problem. If you have trouble with arrhythmia, and cannot attribute it to any of the lifestyle or health issues mentioned, have your cardiologist Mesa AZ check your medications and supplements for interactions that might be causing your symptoms. Arrhythmia should not be ignored.