What is heart disease?

Heart disease is a general term for a group of conditions that affect the heart. Arrhythmia, heart failure, heart attack and coronary heart disease are all considered types of heart disease. Together, these conditions are the leading cause of death in men and women in the U.S.

At Goshen Heart & Vascular Center, we’re leading the fight against heart disease. That’s why we offer complete care for heart disease, including preventive heart health services, heart screenings and leading-edge treatments.

If you have risk factors for heart and vascular problems, ask your primary care provider about receiving a heart screening with us. Or, if you want to talk to someone at the Heart & Vascular Center, call (574) 533-7476 to make an appointment.

Symptoms of heart disease

Several conditions make up heart disease, so the symptoms of heart disease vary. Many heart conditions share the same symptoms, such as shortness of breath and chest pain.

Other signs of heart disease include:

• Wet cough
• Backache
• Indigestion
• Lightheadedness
• Nausea
• Fatigue
• Swelling in the feet and ankles

When to seek emergency care

When certain symptoms appear along with chest pain, it’s important to seek immediate medical care. Always call 911 if you experience the following symptoms along with chest discomfort:

• Pain or discomfort in your arms, shoulders, neck or jaw
• Dizziness
• Nausea and vomiting
• Cold sweats

We offer award-winning treatment for heart attacks. Visit the Goshen Hospital emergency room for expert emergency care.

Treating heart problems at Goshen Heart & Vascular Center

No one treatment plan is the same for heart disease. Your condition, symptoms and preferences all play a part in the type of treatment you'll receive. In fact, when you receive care at our heart and vascular center, your care team will meet on a weekly basis to develop personalized care that fits your heart needs.

Our cardiologists and other specialists want to help lower your risk and get your heart health on the right track. We can help create a personalized treatment plan to create healthy lifestyle habits, such as not smoking, losing weight and exercising.

If treatment is necessary, Goshen Heart & Vascular Center is equipped with the latest tools and technologies. Our new electrophysiology (EP) lab is designed to treat the specific heart health needs of our community. In addition, we are recognized nationally for our excellence in heart attack treatment.

Understanding the signs of heart disease can help you know when it’s time to seek treatment and prevent complications.

Symptoms of heart problems in men

Common types of heart disease in men are arrhythmia, cardiac arrest, atherosclerosis, heart attack, heart failure, stroke and valve disease. They produce symptoms such as:

• Chest pain, the most common sign of a heart attack in men
• Anxiety
• Back, shoulder, arm, neck or jaw pain
• Cold sweats
• Erectile dysfunction
• Fatigue
• Indigestion
• Lightheadedness or dizziness
• Nausea
• Palpitations
• Shortness of breath with exertion
• Swelling in the feet and ankles
• Wet cough (coughing up sputum from your airways)

You may not have symptoms until serious complications occur. This is why regular screenings are so important. By diagnosing a problem early on, you can protect your heart health.

One in three women is affected by a heart problem. In fact, the No. 1 cause of death in women is heart disease and No. 3 is stroke. We care for all types of heart disease in women including angina, congestive heart failure, broken heart syndrome, atherosclerosis, heart attack and stroke.

Symptoms of heart problems in women

Heart disease signs and symptoms are different for women and men. Two conditions with striking differences are angina and heart attack. In women, angina pain tends to be more sharp and widespread than in men.

Signs of a heart attack in women may start a month or longer before the heart attack occurs. Heart attack symptoms in women include:

• Back or jaw pain
• Cold sweats
• Dizziness or feeling like you might pass out
• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Heavy or weak feeling in the arms
• Nausea
• Shortness of breath

Women can have these symptoms without chest pain, the most recognizable sign of a heart attack.

The journey toward heart disease prevention

Heart health is important to your overall well-being. There are plenty of steps you can take to maintain your heart health and avoid heart disease, a heart attack and other cardiovascular conditions.

If you want to learn how to keep your heart healthy, the experts at Goshen Heart & Vascular Center can help. We can assess your risk and create a plan that works for your personal needs and lifestyle. With a unique approach to teamwork and consultation, our team is dedicated to heart disease prevention.

Heart disease risk factors

Your risk of heart disease increases with age. Other risk factors include:

• Smoking
• Being overweight or obese
• Chronic stress
• Family history of heart disease
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Inactivity

Preventing heart disease causes

Plaque buildup is the most common cause of heart disease. Eating foods high in cholesterol, being overweight and leading a sedentary lifestyle are key contributors to plaque building up in your arteries. As part of our complete heart care, we offer programs to lower high cholesterol and high blood pressure, both causes of heart disease.