Heart Diseases and Treatment Options

With proper care, heart disease can often be managed or even reversed. At Beaufort Memorial, we offer preventive care, diagnosis and treatment of several heart conditions. Our board-certified cardiologists treat residents throughout the region with locations in Beaufort, Hampton, Okatie and Port Royal.

Learn your risk for heart disease with a coronary calcium scoring test.

What Is Heart Disease?

The term “cardiovascular disease” is often used when referring to heart health. However, “heart disease” is different. Cardiovascular diseases can affect the heart or any of the body’s blood vessels, while heart diseases are a group of conditions that specifically affect the heart.

Anyone can get heart disease, but certain risk factors increase your chance of developing it. Some of these risk factors include high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, smoking, diabetes and obesity.

Adults with heart disease have symptoms that range from mild to severe. For some adults, a heart problem may go unnoticed, but many patients experience irregular heart rate, chest pain and shortness of breath.

A List of Common Heart Diseases We Treat

Our board-certified cardiologists can help you with:

• Arrhythmia
• Atrial Fibrillation
• Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)
• Heart Attack
• Heart Failure
• Peripheral Artery Disease
• Vein Disorders
• Stroke

Treating Heart Disease

Your risk for heart disease is often identified during routine screenings for blood pressure, cholesterol and other indicators of heart health. If your provider feels that you are at risk for heart disease, he or she may recommend lifestyle changes, such as eating a healthier diet, exercising more, giving up cigarettes and managing stress.

However, if these recommendations aren’t enough to manage your heart problems, your provider may refer you to a cardiologist. A cardiologist can work with you to develop a treatment plan that helps improve your overall heart health and quality of life. He or she may recommend:

• Medications: Many forms of heart disease, as well as high blood pressure and cholesterol, can be treated with medications, such as blood thinners and beta-blockers. Other medications help lower your risk for heart attack and stroke.
• Medical devices: Your provider may recommend a surgically implanted device to help the heart continue to do its job. Pacemakers, implantable defibrillators and ventricular assist devices are among the options for patients with heart disease.
• Surgery: Some patients may benefit from surgery to resolve a severe heart problem. Surgical procedures for heart disease include angioplasty, coronary artery bypass, valve replacement and heart transplant.