Heart & Vascular Care
Our patients’ well-being is at the heart of University Medical Center
New Orleans. Our Heart and Vascular Care is designed to meet your healthcare
needs through innovative cardiovascular medicine.
Our specialized team provides comprehensive cardiology services and treatment options.
Heart disease
Having a healthy heart helps you live a long, healthy life. Unfortunately, heart disease is all too common and affects men and women equally. Our physicians, some of the best cardiologists in New Orleans, are here to help you learn if you’re at risk for heart disease and make the healthy changes necessary to keep you heart in top working order. Because heart disease often doesn’t show symptoms, it’s important to know risk factors so you can address them before it’s too late.
The primary risk factors are:
- High blood pressure
- High LDL (or “bad”) cholesterol
- Smoking
Our cardiology team can help you identify these factors and take steps to reduce them.
Heart attacks
According to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a heart attack happens about
every 40 seconds. Getting immediate help, like the emergency treatment we provide at University
Medical Center, is essential to save as much of the heart muscle as possible.
In some cases, it can save your life.
If you notice warning signs and symptoms of a heart attack, call 911.
These include:
- Pain or discomfort in the chest
- Shortness of breath
- Other unusual symptoms, like cold sweats and nausea
Heart failure
Heart failure is a chronic condition that you can learn to live with. However,
you need to pay attention to your health and seek timely medical attention
if you have symptoms that are out of the ordinary.
Even if you have not been diagnosed with heart failure, it is important
to watch for signs and symptoms that you should seek medical help. These
include chronic cough, confusion, fatigue, and fluid build-up.
High blood pressure
If you have high blood pressure, your heart works overtime to pump blood
to the rest of your body. The added stress on your heart and blood vessels
puts you at increased risk for heart failure, heart attack and stroke.
Because high blood pressure may not cause warning signs or symptoms, having
regular checkups with your doctor is important. During these appointments,
your doctor can determine whether you have high blood pressure and offer
tips to manage the condition or reduce your risk.
To make an appointment or find a cardiologist, call 504.702.5200.
