I Have Heart Disease in My Family: How Can I Monitor the Condition of My Heart?

Heart disease was responsible for 1 in 5 deaths in the United States in 2022. That number is astonishing and shows just how dangerous heart disease is for your health.

Unfortunately, you’re more at risk for heart disease if it runs in your family. You can't change genetics, but you can live a healthy lifestyle and keep tabs on your heart to avoid dangerous consequences.

Sometimes, eating healthy and exercising isn't enough to keep your heart healthy. At the Vein, Heart, and Vascular Institute, our cardiologists, Dr. Hesham Fakhri and Dr. Octavio Cosme, provide diagnostic testing and treatments for hypertension and other forms of heart disease.

Both doctors are board-certified and use the latest technology, tips, and lifestyle modifications to keep your heart and body healthy.

The facts on heart disease

Heart disease isn't simply one condition affecting the heart; it's a term for multiple problems that affect various aspects of the heart muscle. People with heart disease may have problems with the valves, electrical system, or muscles.

Coronary artery disease is the most prevalent type of heart disease and happens when the arteries become blocked. The blocked arteries don't allow enough blood flow to the heart, which could result in a heart attack.

But there are other forms of heart disease. They include:

• High blood pressure
• Cardiac arrhythmia
• Cardiomyopathy
• High cholesterol
• Heart failure
• Heart valve disease

Each type of heart disease has different causes, including genetics. The significant risks related to heart disease are stroke, heart attack, and cardiac arrest. Knowing your risk and living a healthy lifestyle are crucial to preventing serious complications.

Monitoring your heart at home

If you have a family history of heart disease, you're already a step ahead by knowing you're at risk, but that's not enough. You must stay vigilant to monitor your heart health, especially as you age.

One of the easiest ways to monitor your heart health at home is to check your heart rate and blood pressure regularly. Checking your pulse on your wrist allows you to know your resting heart rate and whether your pulse feels regular.

High blood pressure is a form of heart disease that you can manage through medications, diet, and exercise. Checking your blood pressure regularly helps you stay within a healthy range and keep your heart happy.

It's also essential to quit smoking, eat a healthy diet, and exercise regularly. Although these changes don't monitor your heart, they increase the chances that you’ll avoid developing heart disease and its complications.

Signs to look out for

Another way to monitor your heart health is to be in tune with your body. Knowing the early signs of heart disease gives you something to watch out for, especially if you have a family history of heart problems.

There are early signs of heart disease that you should be aware of. The prevalent warning signs of heart disease include:

• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Feeling faint or dizzy
• Extreme fatigue
• Leg swelling

These signs are a signal to seek treatment immediately. They could signal a real problem like a heart attack or stroke. Other symptoms you should watch for with heart disease include:

• Exercise intolerance
• Heart palpitations
• Sweating for no reason
• Frequent indigestion
• Trouble sleeping
• Unexplained fever
• Neck pain
• Nausea and vomiting

Anytime you don't feel like yourself and you have a history of heart disease, it's crucial to seek an evaluation from our team. We review your symptoms and provide a physical exam to see what's happening with your heart.

Other ways to monitor your heart health

Worrying about your heart health is understandable, especially with a family history. After a thorough evaluation of your symptoms and heart history, we offer several diagnostic options to take a look at your heart, which include:

• Vascular ultrasound
• Electrocardiogram
• Echocardiogram
• Stress testing
• Holter monitoring
• Invasive cardiology

We use multiple methods to determine the cause of your symptoms, often starting with the most straightforward and least invasive. Blood work is another way we monitor your health, looking for high cholesterol and other factors that increase your risk of heart disease.

Call us at the Vein, Heart, and Vascular Institute today to schedule a consultation with our team for heart disease. You may also request a consultation right here on our website. We're in Tampa, Wesley Chapel, and Sun City Center, Florida.