The heart and blood vessels work together like an engine that keeps the body moving. This system delivers oxygen and nutrients to every cell, keeping us alive and active. But when it doesn’t work well, it can lead to serious health problems. Cardiovascular diseases are unfortunately very common these days. According to the CDC, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States.
In this guide, we’ll explore what these conditions mean and how you can manage them. At Kairos, we believe simple healthy lifestyle choices can protect your heart.
What Are Cardiovascular Diseases?
Cardiovascular diseases are health problems that affect the heart and the blood vessels that carry blood throughout the body. When these vessels become blocked, weak, or damaged, the heart has to work harder, and this can lead to serious issues over time.
These problems may include narrowing of blood vessels, high blood pressure, irregular heart rhythms, heart failure, and poor circulation.
Common Cardiovascular Diseases
Hypertensive Cardiovascular Disease
This is heart disease caused by long-term high blood pressure. Over time, it can cause thickening of the heart muscle, heart failure, or other complications like kidney damage and stroke.
Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease
This condition develops when fatty deposits (plaques) build up inside the arteries. It can block blood flow to the heart, brain, or other organs, increasing the risk of heart attack, stroke, or peripheral artery disease.
Arrhythmia (Irregular Heartbeat)
This condition causes the heart to beat too fast, too slow, or unevenly. Some arrhythmias are harmless, but others can be dangerous and require treatment.
Heart Failure
This doesn’t mean the heart has stopped working, but that it can’t pump blood as well as it should. It often leads to fatigue, swelling, and difficulty breathing.
Stroke
A stroke occurs when blood flow to part of the brain is blocked or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. It can cause sudden weakness, difficulty speaking, or loss of coordination.
Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)
This happens when blood vessels in the legs or arms become narrowed, leading to poor circulation. It may cause pain when walking and slow healing of wounds.
Common Symptoms
Cardiovascular and circulatory diseases do not show clear signs in the beginning. You should look for the following signs:
- You have a heavy or squeezing feeling in the chest
- You are struggling to catch your breath during normal activities or even at rest.
- Irregular heartbeat or palpitations
- Feeling unusually tired, weakness, or Dizziness
- Swelling in the legs, ankles, or feet
If you notice any of these, especially chest pain or sudden shortness of breath, it’s important to seek medical care immediately. Early attention can save lives.
What are the Causes of Cardiovascular Diseases?
Heart disease usually doesn’t have just one cause. It is often a mix of many factors that build up over time.
Following are the common causes of Cardiovascular Diseases:
- Unhealthy diets that are high in fats, salt, and sugar
- Not being active enough
- Smoking or heavy drinking
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Diabetes
- Extra weight on the body
- Ongoing stress
- Family history of heart problems
- Getting older
At Kairos, we guide our patients toward practical changes that protect their heart health for the long run.
How to Manage Cardiovascular & Circulatory Diseases
Lifestyle Changes
Every day habits play a big role in keeping your heart and blood vessels healthy. You should eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. This can strengthen your heart.
It is highly recommended to move your body, even with a 30-minute brisk walk most days. Managing stress with simple practices like yoga, meditation, or short breaks during the day supports heart health.
You must avoid smoking and alcohol. At Kairos, we help you build habits that are practical and easy to follow.
Medical treatment options
Lifestyle changes are important, but sometimes they need to be combined with medical care. Your doctor may recommend medications to control blood pressure, cholesterol, or reduce the risk of blood clots. In severe cases, procedures like stents, angioplasty, or surgery may be needed to restore proper blood flow.
To better understand your heart health, we may suggest tests such as:
- Blood pressure monitoring
- Cholesterol and blood sugar checks
- Electrocardiograms (EKG/ECG)
- Echocardiograms
- Stress tests
These tests help us detect potential problems early and guide the best treatment plan for you. At Kairos, our healthcare providers work closely with each patient to recommend the right tests and treatment options.
Regular monitoring
Keeping track of your health is important. You should keep checking your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar regularly in order to catch problems early.
How to Prevent Cardiovascular Diseases?
Some heart problems can’t be completely prevented, especially if they run in your family or are present from birth.. But you can take steps to lower your risk of heart disease:
You can prevent heart diseases by:.
- Following a balanced, low-sodium diet.
- Exercising at least 150 minutes per week.
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Avoiding smoking and alcohol
- Managing your stress and getting enough sleep each night
- Keeping up with regular check-ups and screenings
Even if some risks come from family history or aging, these habits help your heart work better.. At Kairos, we are here to provide guidance and practical support to help your heart stay healthy.
When to Visit Your Healthcare Provider?
You don’t have to wait until things feel serious to check in with your doctor.
Seeing your primary healthcare provider regularly is important because they know your medical history and can catch potential heart issues before they become serious.
You should pay attention to warning signs like chest pain or pressure, shortness of breath, dizziness, unusual fatigue, swelling in your legs or feet, or sudden numbness or weakness. These can signal that your heart or circulation needs immediate attention.
Conclusion
Heart diseases are common, but they don’t have to control your life. By understanding the risks and getting the right care, you can manage these conditions and lower your chances of developing them.
At Kairos, Lola, one of our board-certified practitioners, takes the time to get to know your heart health, pinpoint any risks, and build a plan that works with your daily life.
We see patients in Houston, Sugar Land, Richmond, and nearby areas (77046 & 77478). We accept most major insurance plans, including Blue Cross, Aetna, Ambetter, Cigna, and more.
New patients are always welcome, and if you can’t come to the clinic in person, we offer telemedicine visits for patients across the entire state of Texas.
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