Cardiology
Cardiology is that branch of medicine which deals with the diagnosis and treatment of heart diseases. Cardiologists investigate patients with suspected heart disease by taking a very careful, extensive history of the patient's condition, and performing a complete physical examination.
Your heart is a muscle that acts as a pump. After receiving oxygen from the arteries wrapped around its surface, the heart will pump blood throughout your body. If this oxygen flow becomes limited or blocked, you could then have a heart attack or a stroke.
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is caused by the build-up of fatty substances, such as cholesterol, fat or cells that collect along the lining of the coronary arteries. Most of the build-up, in either the heart or the blood vessels, develops over the course of time. This build-up is called plaque. Because your arteries supply oxygen-rich blood to your heart, any blockages that are left untreated can result in the risk of you experiencing a heart attack, stroke or even death.
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Diagnosing Heart Disease If you have risk factors that would cause you to develop heart disease or you have already experienced symptoms, your doctor may recommend that you have an exercise stress test, an electrocardiogram (EKG), a chest X-ray and blood tests. The results of these tests may indicate if you need further testing.
Preventing Heart Disease
- Stop Smoking
- Lower your blood pressure
- Eat a healthy diet
- Exercise; be physically active
- Have regular medical check-ups
Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a substance that is found in your body and in animal sources. It is found in the bloodstream and body cells of humans. It does serve a purpose, but too much cholesterol in your system is not healthy. It can also be a risk factor for heart disease.
Lowering Your Cholesterol Level
Your liver is responsible for producing the cholesterol made in your body. Cholesterol is also found in foods that come from animal sources. This could include meats, poultry, seafood and dairy products. You can lower your cholesterol by eating more fish, fruits, vegetables and grains. You can also lower your cholesterol by reducing the level of fats in your dairy products (using skim or 1% milk), and by choosing leaner cuts of meat.
You can also adopt an exercise program, which has been shown to help increase the HDL (good cholesterol) and lose excess weight.
