Leading heart care, close to home in Kalamazoo

For both women and men, the most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women may be more likely to experience shortness of breath, nausea or vomiting, and back or jaw pain.

If you are experiencing chest pain, especially in combination with jaw or arm pain, lightheadedness, nausea, vomiting or difficulty breathing, you might be having a heart attack. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room right away.

Watch for these symptoms of heart attack in both men and women:

• Chest discomfort, pressure or pain
• Difficulty breathing independent of activity
• Lightheadedness or loss of consciousness
• New weakness or fatigue
• Rapid or irregular heartbeat
• Sudden pain in arm (particularly left arm), jaw, neck or back

High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is blood pressure that is higher than normal. It happens when the force of blood pushing against the walls of your arteries is too high. High blood pressure is a chronic condition that can increase your risk for heart disease and stroke. Talk to your doctor about risk factors and how to manage your blood pressure.

Clogged arteries, also known as coronary artery disease (CAD), happens when plaque, including fats and cholesterol, builds up on your artery walls. Plaque buildup, called atherosclerosis, can slow or completely block blood flow to your heart. Symptoms of clogged arteries may include:

• A cold sweat
• Chest pain or discomfort (angina)
• Lightheadedness
• Nausea
• Pain or discomfort in the arms or shoulder
• Shortness of breath
• Weakness

Talk to your doctor about how to reduce your risk for coronary artery disease. If you are an adult with high blood pressure and cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, use tobacco or have a family history of heart disease, your doctor may recommend getting a CT heart scan of your heart.

A cardiologist specializes in the diagnosis of heart disease and care of the heart muscle, coronary arteries and veins that carry blood. A heart surgeon, also called a cardiac surgeon or cardiothoracic surgeon, performs surgery on the heart, lungs, esophagus and other parts of  the chest. Heart failure specialists manage congestive heart failure symptoms with medication and minimally invasive procedures.

Surgeons and cardiologists at Ascension Borgess are part of a national care team of doctors, sharing best practices and advanced treatment options for more complex heart care.

Different types of heart specialists and surgeons include:

• Cardiothoracic (heart and vascular) surgeon
• Congenital heart specialist, for children and adults
• Electrophysiologist for AFib and other heart rhythm disorders
• General cardiologist
• Heart failure specialist
• Interventional cardiologist, who focuses on cardiac catheterization and minimally invasive procedures
• Cardiac radiologist, who performs diagnostic heart imaging
• Cardiac rehabilitation specialist
• Cardio-oncologist, who treats heart-related conditions during and after cancer treatment
• Women’s heart specialist

FIND A SPECIALIST - KALAMAZOO

If you are looking for a cardiologist or a second opinion on a diagnosis or your care plan, we can help. You’ll find that managing long-term and chronic heart care needs is easier with our Ascension Borgess heart care team. Your primary care doctor can connect you with a cardiologist close to home.

Or call 269-381-3963.