Heart Disease
Cardiovascular disease (disease of the heart and blood vessels) is one of the most common causes of death for Australian men and women. Suprisingly, Australian women are four times more likely to die from cardiovascular disease than they are of breast cancer.
Cardiovascular disease is a broad term used to describe a range of conditions affecting the heart, such as:
Coronary heart disease:
...the build-up of fatty deposits within the arteries of the heart reducing blood flow to the heart muscle.
Heart attacks:
...caused by a complete blockage of one of the arteries that supplies blood to the heart, causing the area of the heart muscle not receiving blood, to die.
Congestive heart failure:
...where the heart fails to supply the body with enough blood to ensure the adequate functioning of all the body's organs. Congestive heart failure is often a result of coronary heart disease although there are many other causes.
Congenital heart disease:
...the defective development of the heart chambers, heart valves or major blood vessles that pump blood in and out of the heart. The majority of congenital heart diseases are diagnosed shortly after birth, monitored and surgically repaired if indicated.
Your risk of developing cardiovascular disease is related to a number of factors both genetic and environmental. Smokers, diabetics, those with high cholesterol and high blood pressure, and those overweight and unfit, are all at an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
How We Care
We believe that achieving and maintaining a healthy lifesetyle is the best way to prevent cardiovascular disease. We provide our patients with advice and support to make the necessary lifestyle changes, such as achieving a healthy weight and maintaining good eating habits. Our doctors also provide advice and support to those seeking to quit smoking, which greatly reduces the risk of developing heart disease.
Our experienced doctors will support those with chronic diseases, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels, to manage and reduce their risk profile.
Early detection of cardiovascular disease is achieved through regular risk assessments with a doctor and knowing to report new symptoms. Even young people can be unlucky and develop heart problems that are not due to unhealthy lifestyle. These days there are many well equiped cardiac diagnostic centres that our doctors can refer to when they suspect something out of the ordinary. At Globe Medical we can arrange a variety of tests to diagnose cardiovascular disease. These may include, blood tests, chest x-rays, electrocardiogram (ECG) and 24 hour blood pressure and heart rhythm monitoring
Our doctors will refer patients to cardiac specialists where necessary, and will work closely with cardiologists and other allied health professionals to coordinate and provide care to those with cardiovascular disease.