In this Article

• Introduction to heart disease
• What are the risk factors for heart disease?
• What are the symptoms of heart disease?
• How is heart disease diagnosed?
• Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)
• Stress testing
• Echocardiography
• Perfusion studies
• Computerized tomography
• Heart catheterization or coronary angiography
• What is the treatment for heart disease?
• Prevention of heart disease
• Modifying risk factors for heart disease
• Medications
• Angioplasty and stents
• Surgery
• Heart Disease At A Glance
• Pictures of Heart Disease (Coronary Artery Disease) - Slideshow
• Heart Disease Glossary
• Heart Disease Index

Surgery

For those patients with multiple coronary artery blockages, coronary artery bypass grafting may be a consideration.

Heart Disease At A Glance

• Coronary artery disease is the most common cause of death in the United States. Over a million people each year will have a heart attack and 25% will die before they get to the hospital or in the Emergency Department.
  
  
• Prevention is the key to treatment.
  
  
• Diagnosis is often made by careful history taken by a healthcare provider. Some patients may have atypical symptoms, including almost none at all.
  
  
• The testing strategy to confirm the diagnosis and plan appropriate treatment needs to be individualized for each patient.
  
  
• Treatment depends upon the severity of disease and is often directed by the symptoms experienced by the patient.

Suggested Reading by Our Doctors

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• CT Scan (Computerized Axial Tomography) - CT Scan (Computerized Axial Tomography, CAT scan) is a procedure that assists in diagnosing tumors, fractures, bony structures, and infections in the organs and tissues of the body.
• Low Blood Pressure - Learn about low blood pressure (hypotension). Low blood pressure is blood pressure below normal and symptoms may include: lightheadedness, dizziness, fainting upon standing (orthostatic hypotension). There are many causes of low blood pressure, and treatment is dependant upon the cause.

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