The heart is one of the critical parts of your body. Unlike other body parts, death knocks when your heart stops beating, so it is essential to take crucial care of your heart. Heart attack and other heart problems are among the leading causes of death in the United States. It often results when the patient does not practice better preventative care to manage a heart condition.

If you don’t have heart disease, it can be challenging to know when to see a heart specialist. But worry not because here are some of the signs it’s time to see a cardiologist near Middletown, NY.

You have high blood pressure.

Blood pressure is the strength of the blood as it pumps through the artery walls. When you have high blood pressure, your heart is forced to work harder than usual in circulating blood to different body parts, increasing your susceptibility to heart attack or stroke.

You have frequent chest pains.

Many heart health problems start in the form of chest pains, even though many other causes of chest pain may not be linked to heart health. Chest pain can signify that your heart is not getting enough blood as it should, and a cardiologist can determine why. It is also a hallmark sign of heart attack, a life-threatening emergency. So you should promptly visit a cardiologist when you experience unusual chest pains.

You experience shortness of breath or palpitations

Shortness of breath and palpitations can be caused by a wide range of problems such as anxiety, coronary artery disease, or abnormal heart rhythm. It may also lead to dizziness, and you can easily collapse. Cardiologists can determine the cause of the symptoms and develop a treatment plan before they worsen.

You have high cholesterol.

High cholesterol is linked to heart health problems because it can restrict the ability of your arteries to pump blood efficiently. If you have high cholesterol and some heart problems such as shortness of breath, the more reason to see a cardiologist. Your cardiologist can advise you to lower your cholesterol to minimize your risks of a heart attack or heart disease.

You have a family history of heart problems.

Some heart diseases, such as hypertension, can be genetic. People whose parents have the condition are likely or are at a higher risk of suffering it, especially if both parents are affected. Therefore you should exercise more caution if you have a family history of heart disease. A cardiologist can help you determine your risks, whether testing is necessary and how to minimize your risks.

You suffer a peripheral arterial disease.

The function of your arteries is to deliver oxygen-rich blood from your heart to the rest of the body parts. You are more prone to coronary artery disease if you have suffered an infection in other arteries, such as large blood vessels to the brain. Seeing a cardiologist in such a case is recommended as they can advise you on how to minimize the risk.

The bottom line

You should promptly see a cardiologist if you have any signs of heart health problems.