Looking for a Big Island, Hawaii cardiologist? At Island Cardiovascular and Vein Institute we are here to help you with your cardiovascular health needs. From high blood pressure to arrythmias, we will assist you in diagnosing and getting you the care that you need. Below are some conditions that we diagnose at our clinic. Please contact us to make an appointment. We have two offices on the Big Island of Hawaii; one in Hilo and one in Kona.
Chest Pain
Discomfort in the chest including a dull ache, a crushing or burning feeling, a sharp stabbing pain, and pain that radiates to the neck or shoulder. If this happens routinely this is something that should not be ignored and to be followed up with your primary care physician or if severe enough emergency room. Certain test can be run to rule out other issues that is not related to cardiac.
Hypertension
Hypertension is defined as high blood pressure, which is above 140/90. Hypertension often has no symptoms. Over time, if untreated, it can cause health conditions such as heart disease and strokes.
Arrhythmias
A heart arrhythmia is an irregular heartbeat. Heart rhythm problems (heart arrhythmias) occur when the electrical signals that coordinate the heart’s beats don’t work properly. The faulty signaling causes the heart to beat too fast (tachycardia), too slow (bradycardia) or irregularly. Heart arrhythmias may feel like a fluttering or racing heart and may be harmless.
However, sometimes it’s normal for a person to have a fast or slow heart rate. For example, the heart rate may increase with exercise or slow down during sleep.
Heart arrhythmia treatment may include medications, catheter procedures, implanted devices or surgery to control or eliminate fast, slow or irregular heartbeats. A heart-healthy lifestyle can help prevent heart damage that can trigger certain heart arrhythmias.
Hyperlipidemia
Hyperlipidemia means your blood has too many lipids (fats) in it. Which may lead to blockage in your blood vessels, and can cause high cholesterol. This will put you at risk for a stroke or heart attack.
Coronary Artery Disease
Coronary artery disease, also called CAD, is a condition that affects your heart. It is the most common heart disease in the United States. CAD happens when coronary arteries struggle to supply the heart with enough blood, oxygen and nutrients. Cholesterol deposits, or plaques, are almost always to blame for this issue. Coronary artery disease can also be hereditary as well. Diet and cholesterol management can help reduce the production of plaque and slow the process down.
Valvular Heart Disease
Valvular heart disease is when any valve in the heart has damage or is diseased. The valves open and close to control or regulate the blood flowing into the heart and then away from the heart. Three of the heart valves are composed of three leaflets or flaps that work together to open and close to allow blood to flow across the opening. The mitral valve only has two leaflets.
Healthy heart valve leaflets are able to fully open and close the valve during the heartbeat, but diseased valves might not fully open and close. Any valve in the heart can become diseased, but the aortic valve is most commonly affected.
Diseased valves can become “leaky” where they don’t completely close; this is called regurgitation. If this happens, blood leaks back into the chamber that it came from and not enough blood can be pushed forward through the heart. of heart valve condition happens when the opening of the valve is narrowed and stiff and the valve is not able to open fully when blood is trying to pass through; this is called stenosis
Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle that makes it harder for the heart to pump blood to the rest of the body. Cardiomyopathy can lead to heart failure. The main types of cardiomyopathy include dilated, hypertrophic and restrictive cardiomyopathy. When cardiomyopathy occurs, the normal muscle in the heart can thicken, stiffen, thin out, or fill with substances the body produces that do not belong in the heart muscle. As a result, the heart muscle’s ability to pump blood is reduced, which can lead to irregular heartbeats, the backup of blood into the lungs or rest of the body, and heart failure.
Cardiomyopathy can be acquired and developed because of another diseases, condition, or inherited. The cause isn’t always known. There are test that can be done on a outpatient bases to determine which type of cardiomyopathy the patient may have.
Heart Failure
Heart Failure is when your heart cannot pump (systolic) or fill (diastolic) properly. Some symptoms may be shortness of breath, fatigue, swollen legs, and a fast heart beat.