Having a family history of heart problems can significantly increase your risk for heart issues, such as heart attacks or atrial fibrillation. With exercise and a healthy diet, you can reduce your risk, but you still may want to consult a cardiologist if you’ve had close family members who’ve died from heart attacks or have had other heart problems. A cardiac specialist in Sarasota can run tests to check your heart for blockages and advise you about how to take care of yourself if problems are found.
Cardiac Arrhythmias
While genetics play a significant role in whether someone develops a medical condition, people without a family history of them can still develop cardiac problems, such as heart arrhythmias, depending on their lifestyle. Some people who are under a large amount of stress, who drink, take drugs or are diabetic may develop an arrhythmia. A cardiac arrhythmia is when the heart beats too rapidly or too slowly and, while some arrhythmias may be minor, others can lead to serious problems and be fatal.
Visiting a Cardiologist
While a rapid or slow heartbeat doesn’t always indicate a heart problem, you should consider visiting a cardiac specialist if you’ve noticed your heart beating too quickly or too slowly on several occasions. Some of the other symptoms you may experience when you have a cardiac arrhythmia include:
- Chest pain
- Feeling short of breath
- Sweating
- Feeling faint or fainting
- Dizziness or feeling lightheaded
There are many treatments that can help correct arrhythmias, including taking medications to normalize your heart rhythms. In more serious cases, you may need to have a procedure called an ablation to correct the problem or a device may need to be implanted in your chest to help your heart maintain a normal heart rhythm. If you suspect an arrhythmia problem, you need to consult a cardiac specialist.
