Heart Disease

Heart disease is the number one killer in the United States. In Apple Valley, California, Hisham Abukamleh, MD, helps you properly manage heart disease and its risk factors to keep your heart as healthy as possible. Schedule a heart disease evaluation with Dr. Abukamleh by phone or request one online today.

What is heart disease?

Heart disease is a common chronic disease that affects the way your heart functions. It describes various heart conditions, including coronary artery disease (CAD), congenital heart defects, irregular heartbeats, heart muscle diseases, and valve diseases. 

Without treatment, heart disease can cause life-threatening complications. See Dr. Abukamleh at the first sign of a problem.

Which symptoms can heart disease cause?

Heart disease can cause:

• Chest pain
• Neck, jaw, throat, belly, or back pain
• Shortness of breath
• Chest tightness or pressure
• Numbness, pain, coldness, or weakness in your arms or legs
• Fainting
• Dizziness
• Irregular heartbeats
• Chest fluttering
• Blue or gray skin or lips
• Swelling in your belly, legs, hands, feet, or ankles
• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Persistent or dry cough

The earlier you see Dr. Abukamleh for care, the better the outcome. If you’ve already been diagnosed with heart disease, he can help you manage your condition to reduce complications. 

What are the risk factors for heart disease?

Examples of heart disease risk factors include:

• Family history of heart issues
• Aging 
• Being male
• Smoking
• Carrying excess body weight
• Lack of exercise
• Poor dietary habits
• Stress
• Poor dental health

Not properly managing high blood pressure (hypertension), high cholesterol, diabetes, or other chronic conditions can also boost the chance of developing heart disease, a heart attack, heart failure, a stroke, or an aneurysm (bulge in your artery wall).

Ways to reduce the chance of heart disease include getting plenty of sleep, not smoking, exercising regularly, and maintaining a healthy body weight. Minimize stress and eat plenty of plant-based foods.

How is heart disease diagnosed?

Dr. Abukamleh diagnoses heart disease after asking about your symptoms, medical history, lifestyle, and medications. He weighs you, checks your vital signs, and completes a physical exam. 

You might need blood testing, an electrocardiogram (EKG), Holter monitoring, a stress test, an echocardiogram, or another imaging procedure to diagnose a heart condition and treat it effectively. 

How is heart disease treated?

Treating heart disease involves adopting healthy lifestyle habits, losing weight if you’re overweight or obese, taking medications, or undergoing surgery. Dr. Abukamleh refers you to a heart specialist if you need a procedure to treat a blockage or other heart or blood vessel issue.

Follow up with Dr. Abukamleh routinely to ensure you’re properly managing heart disease or other chronic conditions. 

Schedule a heart disease consultation with Hisham Abukamleh, MD, by calling the office or booking an appointment online today.