Your heart and vascular system is the headquarters in your body that supplies all other organs with oxygen, nourishment, and energy. The organ is important for staying alive and proper functioning of the body.
Heart failure for even a few minutes can result in death for most people therefore you should take any sign of disorder very seriously.
Dallas Heart & Vascular Consultants offer complete cardiovascular monitoring and minimally invasive services. Our heart and vascular checkups ensure patients become aware of heart and vascular complications as early as possible.
We take minimally invasive and preventive actions to minimize the risk of heart and vascular abnormalities.
Heart and Vascular Screening Tests
You should get your heart and vascular health checked routinely . If you are over 40 years of age and suffer from heart and vascular disorders (and are overweight) you should get examined more frequently.
A heart and vascular exam will help your physician detect any problems in your heart and vascular system. Complications are best controlled and contained when they are detected early.
A typical heart screening consists of the following tests and monitoring:
Blood Pressure Checks
Checking blood pressure is a primary part of heart health screening. It is important because high blood pressure usually has no symptoms thus usually can’t be detected without a BP check.
Some patients experience anxiety, sweating, and may even feel very hot even when it is cool. High blood pressure consistently can greatly increase your risk of heart and vascular disease.
Low blood pressure can be similarly dangerous for patients. It causes a feeling of dizziness and weakness.
If your blood pressure falls below 110/70 mm Hg, be sure to check it on a routine basis. It’s best to start at a relatively early age.
The normal range of blood pressure is between 120/80 and 140/90. If your blood pressure is higher, your doctor will want it checked daily if possible. .
Both high and low blood pressure can be controlled through lifestyle changes, medication or both.
Body Weight Checks
Obesity is a primary cause of heart disease and vascular complications. If you have excessive fat in your body, some will begin to deposit in your blood vessels throughout your body and heart.
Accumulated fat slows down the free movement of blood in your cardiovascular system. This causes two problems.
The blood circulation is lowered in your body which damages other organs. Also, your heart needs to pump harder to keep the body supplied with sufficient blood.
During an exam, your physician will take your waist circumference and use your weight, height, age and other factors to determine your body mass index (BMI). These measurements help the doctor keep informed about your body health.
The normal range of BMI is 18.5 to 25. 25 to 30 BMI means you are overweight.
A BMI over 30 indicates obesity. The female BMI is usually 2 points lower than male BMI.
Blood Test in Fasting
During heart and vascular health screenings your doctor will perform a Lipoprotein Profile lab test. This test is taken after fasting for 10-12 hours.
The test measures for total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol. This determines if your cholesterol is escalated and if your total cholesterol to HDL ratio is elevated.
A normal ratio should be approximately 3.5 or lower.
If your healthcare professional determines that you have a high cholesterol, they may prescribe medication and will recommend lifestyle changes. This includes healthier diet, more exercise and cutting back on such things as alcohol and smoking.
Blood Glucose
Sugar plays an important role in blood regulation. A high concentration of sugar in the blood gives you a surge of energy.
This is because simple sugars like glucose are used by cells throughout the body to create energy. That helps you move, lift weights, and complete many other tasks.
High sugar in the blood consistently can cause a person to develop insulin resistance. This could lead to type-1 and type-2 diabetes.
If you develop diabetes and don’t take necessary precautions, it may lead to serious medical complications. That includes heart disease, stokes and serious vascular concerns.
Blood sugar tests are not always taken during your exams. If you are overweight and your doctor suspects a problem, they will recommend a blood sugar lab.to ensure you are within the normal range.
During the test, your doctor may also have your blood tested for Glycated Hemoglobin A1c levels.
Physical Activity and Diet
Everyone wants to live with a healthy body. Diet and exercise are the most effective tools to achieve this goal.
When you are young, your metabolism is fast and you can get by with little exercise and junk food now and then.
But as you grow older, your metabolism slows down. Your heart is no longer as strong as it once was.
You should take active steps to control your diet and get plenty of physical activity to keep your heart healthy and strong.
Peripheral Arterial Disease
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) occurs when atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, causes a buildup of plaque in the blood vessels that carry oxygen and nutrients to all the tissues of the body. As these plaques worsen, they reduce essential blood flow to the limbs and can even cause complete blockages of the arteries.
PAD is relatively common, affecting more than 10 million people in the U.S. It is more common in people who are 65 or older, but can occur at nearly any age.
Smoking, high blood pressure; high cholesterol or triglycerides; diabetes; kidney failure; and obesity increase your risk for PAD.
Early on, PAD may only cause difficulty walking, but in its most severe forms, it can cause painful foot ulcers, infections, and even gangrene, which could require amputation.
People with PAD are three times more likely to die of heart attacks or strokes than those without PAD.
In order to do a thorough and complete examination for peripheral arterial disease we offer:
First Class Peripheral Interventional Suite
We provide the full spectrum of cardiovascular care from prevention to intervention. Having the lab in our office allows us to provide high quality invasive care at an affordable price with more comfortable surroundings.
The new lab is equipped with cutting-edge technology, including the Diamondback 360⁰® and laser atherectomy. We provide venous disease management using latest radio frequency technology technique.
PROCEDURES INCLUDE:
- Peripheral arteriogram
- Peripheral angioplasty and stenting
- Venous ablation
Question To Ask
Physical examinations can provide significant data at no extra cost, although it’s advantages and limitations must be known.
That is why it is useful to ask: Do all the signs of the physical examination have precision in the diagnosis or do they not have utility?
We think the answer is yes!
Contact Us For Heart And Vascular Care