Heart Disease

Heart Disease services offered in Indianapolis, IN

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, and yet it’s often a preventable disease. Bryant King, MD, has years of experience diagnosing and successfully managing heart disease, allowing you to live a long and healthy life despite your condition. If you’re concerned about your heart or just want advice on how to take care of your heart health, call the office of Dr. Bryant King in Indianapolis, Indiana, or book an appointment online today.

Heart Disease Q&A

What is heart disease?

Heart disease is an umbrella term for a number of medical conditions that affect the function of your heart. Heart disease includes conditions like:

Coronary artery disease (CAD)
Heart attack
Heart arrhythmias
Heart failure
Heart valve disease
Congenital heart disease
Cardiomyopathy
Pericardial disease
Aorta disease

Heart disease is the most common cause of death in the United States, but many heart problems are preventable and treatable.

Your heart beats around 100,000 times a day, every day of your life. It pumps blood around your body in a continuous cycle, delivering oxygen-rich blood to your organs and tissues via the arterial system, then reoxygenating the blood when it returns to the heart.

If anything interferes with the heart’s ability to pump blood around your body efficiently, it can have serious, potentially life-threatening consequences.

What are the symptoms of heart disease?

Symptoms can vary according to which form of heart disease you have. Among the symptoms you could experience are:

Chest pain
Tightness in the chest
Feeling of pressure in the chest
Being short of breath
Tachycardia (racing heart)
Bradycardia (slow heartbeat)
Dizziness or lightheadedness
Lack of energy and tiring easily
Swelling in the extremities

If you’ve been experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s a good idea to go for a checkup with Dr. Bryant King. If you experience chest pain, shortness of breath, or fainting, you should seek urgent medical attention.

What causes heart disease?

Some people are born with heart disease, but most people develop it later in life. One of the most common causes of heart disease is atherosclerosis, a buildup of plaque in the arteries that reduces blood flow. Atherosclerosis is often due to lifestyle factors, such as:

Being overweight
Smoking
Poor diet
Lack of exercise
Excessive intake of alcohol or caffeine
Drug abuse
Stress

Medical conditions like hypertension (high blood pressure), diabetes, infections, toxins, and connective tissue disorders can also lead to heart disease.

How is heart disease treated?

The treatment you receive for heart disease depends on the specific condition you have. If lifestyle factors are causing heart disease, Dr. King can help you make changes, like losing weight, quitting smoking, and improving your diet.

He may also prescribe medications if appropriate, and in some cases, you may need to have surgery for certain forms of heart disease.

Take care of your heart by calling the offices of Dr. Bryant King, or request an appointment online today.