Heart Disease: Risks, Symptoms & Treatments at South Miami Heart Center

Understanding Heart Disease

At South Miami Heart Center, we believe that what you don’t know can hurt you. For this reason, we take every opportunity to educate our community about heart disease. This Web page provides an introduction to heart disease symptoms and more. The information you learn could save your life.

About Heart Disease

Heart disease, also referred to as coronary artery disease, is the number one killer of men and women worldwide. When you understand the purpose of your coronary arteries, you’ll understand why so many people are affected by heart disease.

Like other tissues in your body, your heart cannot function without oxygen-rich blood. Blood is delivered to your heart through the right and left coronary arteries.

The left artery supplies blood to the left ventricle and left atrium. The right artery supplies blood to the right ventricle, right atrium, the sinoatrial node (regulates heart rhythm) and the atrioventricular node (regulates electrical current).

The Consequences of Heart Disease

Heart disease encompasses many conditions that can damage your heart. The most common condition is atherosclerosis, a buildup of fatty deposits (plaque) in the artery lining. Plaque causes arteries to become narrow or blocked. When this happens, blood flow to your heart is restricted, which can lead to heart attack and, in some cases, death. If you struggle with heart disease, you should know that South Miami Hospital and South Miami Heart Center treat heart attack patients in less than 90 minutes after their arrival, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.Our accredited Chest Pain Center provides precise, timely diagnosis and treatment for heart attack patients.

Are You at Risk?

Controlling your risk factors is your best defense against heart disease. Here are some common risk factors and symptoms:

• High LDL, or “bad,” cholesterol, high triglyceride levels and reduced HDL, or “good,” cholesterol
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Physical inactivity
• Smoking
• Obesity
• Diet high in saturated fat

Symptoms

Heart disease symptoms depend on the severity of the disease. Some people have no symptoms, some experience episodes of mild chest pain or angina, and some have more severe chest pain.

Symptoms may include:

• Heaviness, tightness, pressure and/or pain in the chest behind the breastbone
• Pain radiating in the arms, shoulders, jaw, neck and/or back
• Shortness of breath
• Weakness and fatigue

Treatments for Heart Disease

South Miami Heart Center offers a comprehensive spectrum of treatments, including lifestyle modification, medication management, minimally invasive procedures, surgery and rehabilitation. The majority of our experienced specialists are Board-certified and many have trained at some of America’s finest institutions. As cardiac medical experts, they keep up with current and emerging trends, technologies and treatments through ongoing education and research. Our Heart Center team’s solid clinical background is complemented by a personalized approach to care. As a patient, you are always a priority.

Treatments available at South Miami Heart Center include:

• Coronary angioplasty
• Coronary artery stent
• Catheter ablation
• Cardioversion
• Atherectomy
• Pacemakers
• Implantable cardioverter defribillator (ICD)
• Percutaneous patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure
• Percutaneous atrial septal defect (ASD) closure
• Percutaneous left atrial appendage closure
• Percutaneous mitral valve repair
• Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG)
• Heart valve repair or replacement
• Robotic heart surgery

Physician Referral

Get an to a South Miami Heart Center physician or call the South Miami Heart Center Physician Referral line at 786-662-2222.