How your cardiologist in Houston, TX, can help with angina

Chest pain can be scary. It can come on suddenly and acutely without warning. It can also develop slowly, getting worse over time. Chest pain could be a symptom of a condition known as angina. It’s a sign you need to see your cardiologist. Dr. Swati Gupta at SKG Heart Center in  Sugar Land or Houston, TX, provides a wide range of medical treatments, including the treatment of angina.

Angina is often a symptom of an underlying heart condition, typically coronary artery disease, known as CAD. Angina is caused by inadequate blood flow to the heart.

There are several factors that can put you at greater risk of angina, including:

• Smoking
• Being over 45
• A family history of heart disease
• Being overweight or obese
• Having high cholesterol
• Having high blood pressure
• Being diabetic
• Having a sedentary lifestyle
• Having a poor diet

You can do a lot to help prevent angina by visiting your cardiologist regularly to monitor blood pressure and cholesterol. You should also:

• Stop smoking
• Eat a diet low in fats
• Exercise at least 30 minutes most days of the week

In addition to lifestyle and diet modifications, your cardiologist may also recommend:

• Medications to open blood vessels to restore adequate blood flow to the heart
• Medical procedures to open arteries and restore blood flow

Angina could be a sign of a potentially life-threatening event, so seek out emergency services if you experience:

• Chest pain or pressure that feels like a squeezing sensation
• Radiating pain running into your neck, jaw, shoulders, or arms
• Chest pain that doesn’t go away, even while at rest
• Increasing chest pain, along with paleness, sweating, and breathing problems
• An irregular or rapid pulse or heartbeat

To learn more about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of angina, talk with an expert. Call Dr. Swati Gupta at SKG Heart Center in  Sugar Land or Houston, TX. You can reach her in the office by calling (713) 623-6555, so call now.