Why is care of my heart so important for my health?
The heart is one of the most important organs of the body. The heart communicates with nearly every other part of the body using the body’s information superhighway – the bloodstream. The heart is a muscle that allows you to run, lift, climb, press and jump.
The heart also helps get nutrients and oxygen to parts of your body that need it.

Why is a cardiologist an important member of my health team?
A cardiologist is a specialist in heart and blood vessel disorders. Whenever you are sick,
there is a potential that your heart has been affected. Also, if you need a procedure for
some other ailment not involving the heart, a strong heart will help you to be able to
receive the treatment you need. A cardiologist can be very instrumental in helping to
evaluate your heart in times of need.

What is a heart attack?
A heart attack is an event that causes damage to your heart. Sometimes, it can be life-threatening, even fatal. Occasionally, someone may have a heart attack and not even
know it. The cause of most heart attacks is sudden clot in a blood vessel feeding the
heart. This blood vessel may be filled with fat and debris called “plaque” that slows
blood flow in the artery or eventually breaks open into the bloodstream leading to the
sudden clot that stops blood flow to a part of your heart muscle.

What clues would alert me that I might be having a heart attack?
The major clues are chest discomfort, often a heavy feeling in the center of the chest, shortness of breath, nausea, sweating, dizziness and a feeling of impending doom. A
number of people, however, do not have these typical symptoms and instead may feel
jaw discomfort, arm pain, severe weakness or worsening fatigue doing activities that previously were very easy to perform. If you experience any of these symptoms, get
help quickly. Call 911 if these symptoms are sudden, recurrent, severe, worrisome or persistent. Contact your doctor if you have brief symptoms, even if you feel better.
Preventing a heart attack before it happens is far better than treating the consequences of
heart damage.

What is heart failure?
Heart failure is the inability of your heart to provide for the needs your body demands.
This means the heart is either weakened or damaged reducing its ability to get oxygen
and nutrients efficiently to the rest of your body.

How would I feel if I had heart failure?
Most often, if you had heart failure you would feel short of breath, weak and swollen. Sometimes you might feel chest discomfort but most often you would feel unable to perform activities such as climbing stairs without developing shortness of breath or feeling fatigued.

What is an ECG?
An ECG is a test to identify the rhythm of the heart. It can also help your doctor discover other heart problems such as enlargement or thickening of the heart, prior heart attack and abnormal electrical conduction in the heart.

What is an echocardiogram?
An echocardiogram is an ultrasound device that provides an external way to see the heart chambers, heart valves and the motion of the heart using sound waves.

My doctor feels I need a stress test? What is that?
A stress test is a measure of your heart function. It can be performed while you are walking on a treadmill. If you cannot walk on a treadmill, a stress test using medication and pictures
of your heart can be performed. An ECG is used to monitor your heart and typically a
tracer is used to demonstrate how blood is flowing into your heart.

With which insurance companies does CMA participate?
Personal choice, Keystone East, 65, and complete, Elder Health, Keystone Mercy Health, Americhoice, Oxford, Cigna, Medicare, Aetna, Health and Senior Partners and United Healthcare.

For more information, or answers to other questions you may have,

*Contact us at: (215) 471-1817