Suffering From Shortness of Breath?

How your cardiologist in Sugar Land, TX, can help protect your heart

If you are exercising, it’s normal to experience shortness of breath, especially if you aren’t in good physical condition. There are other issues that can cause shortness of breath, including asthma, allergies, and a cold or the flu. If you are suffering shortness of breath frequently, it could be a sign of something else–heart disease.

Dr. Naim Al-Adli at Fort Bend Heart Center in Sugar Land, TX, provides comprehensive cardiology services, including treatment of heart disease.

When you have heart disease, frequent shortness of breath can be an early warning sign. Other signs and symptoms of heart disease include:

• Fainting
• Frequent chest pain
• Racing or fluttering heartbeat
• Slowed or irregular heartbeat
• Swelling in your legs or ankles
• Pain, numbness, or weakness in your extremities

There are many underlying conditions which can lead to a diagnosis of heart disease, including:

• Chronic high blood pressure
• Chronic elevated cholesterol levels
• Genetics or tuberculosis
• Infections and viruses affecting the heart

Heart disease is a term used to cover many individual heart conditions, including:

• A heart attack
• Coronary artery disease
• Congestive heart failure

Heart disease treatment begins with testing to determine your level of heart function, heart damage, and other concerns. Your cardiologist may recommend:

• Cardiac stress tests
• An electrocardiogram
• An echocardiogram
• Imaging studies

After reviewing the results of your tests, your cardiologist will develop a treatment plan, which may include:

• Medications to increase heart function
• Lifestyle modification including diet and exercise
• Quitting smoking and other harmful habits
• Stress reduction and relaxation techniques
• Surgical treatment if necessary

A healthy heart can help you live a long life. Your cardiologist can help protect your heart health. To learn more about the signs, symptoms, and treatment of heart disease, call Dr. Naim Al-Adli at Fort Bend Heart Center in Sugar Land, TX. You can reach him in the office by calling (281) 265-8500, so call now.