Heart disease can be scary for any family. Perhaps most concerning, it can lead to a heart attack or a stroke. However, this disease doesn’t always manifest dramatically like one of those crises. It tends to develop over time and doesn’t always have clear symptoms or warning signs, making it the leading cause of death for Americans of all genders and races.
Preventative care and early diagnostic detection can, literally, be lifesavers. This is why understanding the risks and lifestyle factors that do exist is so crucial to preventing this mass killer.
Whether you’re dealing with the disease already or being proactive, this guide will tell you everything you need to know about heart disease, how it’s diagnosed, how it’s treated, and most importantly, how to stop it before it develops.
What Is Heart Disease?
Heart disease is the leading cause of death among men and women of all races in the United States, according to the CDC. One person dies nearly every 30 seconds from the disease, and nearly a million people die from it each year. Early detection is something to take very seriously.
Despite what it may sound like, heart disease isn’t just one disease. Rather, it’s a group of related conditions that affect the heart, blood vessels, and cardiovascular system. A number of serious conditions constitute heart disease, including:
- Coronary artery disease: This is a narrowing or a blockage in the arteries that take blood to the heart.
- Heart failure: This is when the heart doesn’t pump blood as well as it should.
- Arrhythmias: These are irregular heartbeats and can include conditions like atrial fibrillation.
- Cardiomyopathy: This is a disease of the heart muscle itself, which can lead to heart failure.
- Valvular heart disease: These are malfunctions in the heart’s valves.
Why Early Detection Matters
Because heart disease is such a deadly group of conditions, early detection is key to keeping you safe and around for years for your family. If detected early, heart disease has a far better rate of being cured or managed than when it is caught in a later stage.
Every day the disease can be treated is a day the disease can be fought.
Heart disease is also fairly preventable. If you can understand your risk, you can better understand how to minimize it, and what tests may be most beneficial to receive.
Common Types of Heart Disease in Adults
Understanding the different types of heart disease is crucial to managing the diseases properly, as well as diagnosing and preventing them.
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)
Coronary artery disease is the most common type of heart disease. This type of heart disease occurs when plaque builds up in your arteries, especially those leading to the heart. Because your arteries are able to carry less blood, less gets to the heart and other essential body parts.
When an artery becomes completely blocked, that’s known as a heart attack. Before things get to this stage, partially blocked arteries can lead to chest pain and shortness of breath.
Heart Failure
Heart failure means the heart has become too weak or too stiff to effectively pump blood through the body. This can happen naturally through aging but can also be accelerated by a number of lifestyle choices, including eating habits and smoking.
Symptoms can include fatigue, fluid buildup in the limbs, and trouble breathing.
Arrhythmias
Arrhythmias are abnormal heart rhythms. Atrial fibrillation is the most common form and causes the heart to beat too fast or with an irregular beat. Left untreated, it raises the risk of stroke. These conditions can develop over time and are also occasionally congenital or can come from an accident or injury.
Valvular Heart Disease
These are diseases of the heart valves. These valves control the flow of blood through your heart. If they don’t open or close properly, they can put strain on the heart or make it pump less efficiently.
People can be born with valve defects, but others can develop over time. The natural aging process can impact the valves, but infections can weaken them as well.
Cardiomyopathy
These are diseases of the heart muscle itself. With this disease, the heart muscle can become tough and more difficult to pump, or the heart can become misshapen. This kind of heart disease is often inherited, but it can also be caused by high blood pressure, diabetes, infections, or lifestyle factors, like smoking and drug use.
Who’s at Risk for Heart Disease?
While some heart disease factors are genetic and outside of your control, there are others you can try to avoid.
Risk factors include:
- Age (people over 40 are more at risk)
- Family history
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Living a sedentary lifestyle
- Poor diet
- Stress
- Chronic lack of sleep
Managing the risk factors you can control through lifestyle changes is the best way to reduce your risk for heart disease. Eating healthy, quitting smoking, and getting regular diagnostic scans can improve outcomes for your heart and life drastically.
Symptoms To Watch Out For
Heart disease doesn’t always cause chest pain. Here are a number of symptoms to look out for. If you have any of these symptoms and they don’t go away, see your doctor as soon as possible.
- Chest pain or discomfort
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Palpitations
- Swelling in legs or feet
- Discomfort in jaw or upper back
Symptoms can also differ slightly in women. Women are more likely to have shortness of breath, nausea, and sweating.
How Heart Disease Is Diagnosed
Early diagnosis saves lives. These are the most common tools doctors use to detect heart problems.
Medical History and Physical Exam
Your doctor will ask about any symptoms you may have, questions about your lifestyle including things like smoking and diet, and if you have any family history of heart disease or contributing factors.
Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG)
An EKG measures your heart’s electrical activity to detect irregular rhythms or past heart attacks. This test can take place in most medical settings and involves placing a series of sticky disks on your chest. The test is pain-free.
Echocardiogram
This is an ultrasound of the heart to check structure and function. With this test, doctors can watch your heart pump, inspect its valves, and observe its overall movement.
Stress Testing
Stress testing evaluates how the heart performs under exertion. For this test, you’ll usually walk or run on a treadmill while your heart is being monitored by various devices. This kind of test helps doctors understand how your heart performs under strain.
Blood Tests
Blood tests can check for markers of heart disease and heart disease factors, like cholesterol, troponin, or BNP, all values present in the blood.
Advanced Imaging
Advanced imaging includes tests like CT angiography or a cardiac MRI. CT angiography is a CT scan of your heart and blood vessels. Contrast is used to evaluate blood flow in a CT angiography. A cardiac MRI is a scan of the same structures using magnetic resonance imaging.
Both are non-invasive views of the heart and structure of the blood, and are some of the best tests in a doctor’s arsenal for detecting heart disease.
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Treatment Options for Heart Disease
Managing heart disease is a lifelong journey, but effective treatment can greatly improve quality of life.
Lifestyle Changes
The best treatment is prevention. Lifestyle changes can go a very long way in keeping heart disease at bay. These are things that everyone can do, even before you ever see a doctor.
These changes include:
- Eating a heart-healthy diet: Try the Mediterranean diet and cut down on saturated fats, like butter and oils.
- Regular exercise: Getting just 150 minutes per week of moderate exercise can improve both your health and heart drastically, according to the American Heart Association.
- Quitting smoking and limiting alcohol: These are two of the biggest factors in heart health.
- Manage stress: Stress is a heart killer. You may not see the results of stress immediately, but your heart is keeping score. Try relaxing activities, like yoga, counseling, and getting adequate sleep.
Medications
There are a number of medications that are also used to treat various forms of heart disease.
These can include:
- Blood pressure medications, like ACE inhibitors or beta-blockers
- Cholesterol-lowering drugs, like statins
- Blood thinners or anticoagulants
- Antiarrhythmics, which help manage the rhythm of your heart
- Diuretics, which help your body eliminate salts and other waste
Cardiac Procedures and Surgery
Surgery may be called for in certain instances if the disease has progressed.
Surgical options can include:
- Angioplasty and stents
- Pacemakers or defibrillators
- Valve repair or replacement
- Bypass surgery
Even before starting an exercise routine, you should speak with your doctor. For options aside from lifestyle changes, your cardiologist or doctor will personalize your treatment plan based on the type and severity of disease. Your physician can help you understand the factors of heart health for your unique situation.
When To See a Heart Specialist
Don’t wait until symptoms get worse. Early evaluation can prevent complications. You should talk to your family doctor or go to see a heart specialist if you have:
- New or worsening symptoms
- Known risk factors but no recent testing
- Abnormal results from a physical or routine check-up
- Referral from a primary care doctor
If you’re in Las Vegas, Preventative Diagnostic Center offers fast and accurate cardiac evaluations.
Prevention and Long-Term Heart Health
Even if you’ve never been diagnosed with heart disease, you can take steps today to protect your heart for the future. Remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. With a few simple lifestyle changes you can reduce your risk for heart diseases drastically.
If you have been diagnosed, there is no reason to lose hope. By following your doctor’s orders, you can manage and even beat these diseases. You should:
- Follow your treatment plan closely
- Keep regular follow-ups with your cardiologist
- Get screenings and labs as recommended
- Build healthy habits over time
By following the above, you can reduce your risk of death by an enormous amount, so you can be around to care for your family for years to come.
Why Choose Preventative Diagnostic Center in Las Vegas?
If you’re concerned about your heart or heart disease, Preventative Diagnostic Center in Las Vegas is an excellent asset to rely on. We offer expert care, advanced technology, and patient-first cardiology services all in one place for the whole family.
We have multiple onsite diagnostic tests such as cardiac testing, as well as more specialized options like CT scans. We offer personalized consultations and follow-ups, and are centrally located for the convenience of Las Vegas residents. Appointment booking is also a breeze, and our friendly staff can help you with any questions you may have.
Be there for your family. Come see us at Preventative Diagnostic Center, and allow our compassionate, experienced team to focus on prevention and precision diagnosis of all heart-related issues, including heart disease.
You’ll wonder why you didn’t come in sooner.
Don’t Wait — Visit Us at Preventative Diagnostic Center Today
Heart disease is serious, but it’s also manageable with the right care. Understanding your risks and taking action early can make all the difference. Perhaps the two best preventative measures to ensure your heart stays healthy longer are lifestyle changes and diagnostic scans.
Visit us now for the best and most thorough diagnostic scans in the Las Vegas area. It’s easy to make an appointment, and we offer transparent pricing. Your family will thank you for taking the time to focus on your health. We’re looking forward to serving you.
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Sources:
American Heart Association Recommendations for Physical Activity in Adults and Kids. (2025).
Heart Disease Facts. (2024).
Heart Disease in Women: Understand Symptoms and Risk Factors. (2025).
