Did you know that cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States? This can be attributed to lifestyle factors that increase the risk of atherosclerosis, or the narrowing of arteries.
“The community, technology, and rate of heart disease are growing as the population ages. For all of those reasons, the need for cardiology and comprehensive cardiovascular services has never been greater,” said Tom Walker, Practice Administrator at Central Texas Heart Center.
The heart is like any other muscle in the body and needs blood to provide oxygen, allowing the muscles to contract and pump. Not only does the heart pump blood to the rest of the body, but also it pumps blood to itself through the coronary arteries. It is
important to learn about your heart to help prevent heart disease. Factors that increase the risk of developing atherosclerotic heart disease include smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, family history, diet, obesity, and sedentary lifestyle (lack of exercise).
The classic symptoms of heart disease are heaviness in the center of the chest with radiation of the pain to the arm (usually the left) or jaw. There can also be shortness of breath or sweating. The symptoms tend to be brought on by activity and get better with
rest. Some patients may complain of indigestion and nausea, while others may have upper abdominal, shoulder, or back pain.
Unfortunately, not all pain from heart disease presents itself this way. The more one learns about heart disease, the more one realizes that symptoms can be different in various groups of people. Women, people who have diabetes, and the elderly may have different pain perceptions and may complain of overwhelming fatigue and weakness or a change in their ability to perform routine daily activities like walking, climbing steps, or doing household chores. Often, the symptoms of heart disease intensify over time, as the narrowing of the affected coronary artery progresses and blood flow to that part of the heart decreases. As time progresses, it may take less activity than usual to show symptoms and will take longer for those symptoms to resolve with rest. This change in activity is useful when doctors are making a diagnosis.
Over time, the symptoms of heart disease worsen, as the narrowing of the affected coronary artery progresses and blood flow to that part of the heart decreases. It may take less activity to provoke symptoms, and it may take longer for those symptoms
to resolve with rest. This change in exercise tolerance is helpful in making the diagnosis.
If you have chest pain, shortness of breath, and/or faint, call 911 immediately. Heart disease is much easier to treat when detected early, so speak with your doctor about any concerns you have about your heart health. There are steps you can take to reduce your heart disease risk. This is especially important if you have a family history of heart disease.
Central Texas Heart Center is the largest, most experienced, and most comprehensive provider of non-invasive, invasive, & interventional cardiology services in the Brazos Valley. Central Texas Heart Center started 28 years ago by Dr. Gordon Mitchell, the first interventional cardiologist in Bryan/College Station. Since opening, Central Texas Heart Center has improved the cardiac quality of life by providing cardiac care in Brazos Valley. With the generous support of the St. Joseph Regional Health Center, Central Texas Heart Center has become a leading health care provider in the community.
“Over the years, we have expanded from working with just the heart to the entire circulatory system,” Walker said.
“As an interventional cardiologist, we specialize in the care of the heart. We also deal with problems related to the vascular system, We can open vessels with stints, both coronaries and peripheral vessels like those of your legs and arms,” Dr. Fernando Colato said.
Dr. Fernando Colato, Central Texas Heart Center’s newest physician staff member, joins the team in its efforts to improve the cardiac quality of life. Dr. Colato was born and raised in El Salvador, but moved to Texas in 2005, for post graduate training. Many might think being a doctor runs in Colato’s blood, since Dr. Colato’s father and brother are both cardiologists, his mother practices internal medicine, and many of his relatives are doctors.
In August, Central Texas Heart Center, physician colleagues of BCS Heart, and National Cardiovascular Partners (nationally recognized leaders in establishing and operating state-of-the-art outpatient cardiac catheterization labs) joined to establish the free standing Heart & Vascular Center. The Heart & Vascular Center is an outpatient catheterization lab allowing better and more affordable cardiac care for residents of Bryan/College Station. Providing advanced technology performed in a safe and comfortable environment allows patients to return home the same day as procedures. The Heart & Vascular Center’s foremost mission is to provide high-quality, individualized cardiovascular care to every patient who walks through the door.
“We can fix problems within the cardiovascular system, such as blockages in your heart and extremities. In addition to fixing blocked arteries, we can help treat heart failure and electrical conduction issues by inserting internal cardiac defibrillators and pacemakers,” said Dustin Douglas, Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist and Clinical Director. “Our staff has over 100 years of combined experience in Cardiac Intensive Care, Interventional Radiology, and Cardiac Catheterizations to provide the best care possible.”
To learn more about Central Texas Heart Center visit their website at www.centraltexasheart.com or call 979.774.4008. They are located at 2700 E. 29th Street in Bryan.