Heart disease is any condition that affects the function of your heart.  

Your heart’s main job is to push blood through the body. Arteries continually bring blood to your heart. Your heart gets an electrical signal that makes it beat. The heart muscles squeeze, and the valves open and close to let blood flow.  

When any of those things isn’t working as it should, that’s heart disease. 

You can have heart disease for a long time without noticing. That’s why doctors sometimes call it a “silent” disease. When you do have symptoms, they can range from a fluttering feeling in your chest to shortness of breath and crushing pain. 

There are several different types of heart disease. Untreated, all types of heart disease can lead to heart failure, heart attack or stroke. These are all life-threatening conditions. 

The types of heart disease we most often treat are: 

• ​​Coronary artery disease (CAD): This is the most common type of heart disease. It happens when the main artery that carries blood to your heart becomes blocked.
• ​​​Valve disease: Your heart has 4 valves. If they leak, become too narrow or don’t open and close correctly, it affects your heart’s ability to pump blood.
• ​​Arrhythmia: An arrhythmia is a problem related to how your heart beats. If it beats too fast, too slow or too irregularly, it can lead to heart failure.
• Cardiomyopathy: This is a problem with your heart muscle. Health issues can cause cardiomyopathy, or you may be born with it.
• Congenital heart disease: This is a type of heart disease you’re born with. When children have heart disease, it’s nearly always congenital. (Carilion Children’s treats ​​pediatric heart disease.) 

Some people are more likely to develop heart disease than others. The factors linked most closely to heart disease are: 

• Family history: We know that heart disease can be genetic. Having a parent with heart disease increases your risk.
• Age: Your heart disease risk increases as you get older, especially after 65. 
• Other conditions: High blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes are closely linked to heart disease.
• Smoking: Smoking has a clear link to heart disease and heart attacks.
• Lifestyle and habits: Physical inactivity, unhealthy eating habits, stress and excessive alcohol use are all linked to heart disease. 

While not all heart disease leads to heart attack, it’s important to know the signs of a heart attack. Signs of heart attack differ in men and women, so learn what to look for at Know the Signs.

We treat heart disease based on the type you have, your risk factors and your symptoms. 

If you have a strong family history of heart disease and imaging that shows a blocked artery, you’ll need different treatment than someone with a mild, asymptomatic arrhythmia.  

If you have risk factors for heart disease and no symptoms, we’ll probably be able to start your treatment with lifestyle changes. But if you’re having a heart attack, you’ll need immediate, lifesaving care.

Cardiology treatments

A cardiologist is like a primary care doctor for your heart.  

Your cardiologist may: 

• Order blood tests and heart imaging tests
• Talk to you about lifestyle changes you can make
• Prescribe medicines to reduce blood pressure or cholesterol, or to treat blood clotting problems
• Suggest you undergo a minimally invasive procedure
• Recommend open heart surgery
• Refer you to cardiac rehab 

Depending on your type of heart disease, they may refer you to other heart specialists. For example, electrophysiologists are cardiologists who specialize in heart rhythm problems. Or if you have issues related to your blood vessels, you might see a vascular surgeon. 

Minimally invasive procedures

We do many minimally invasive heart procedures in our heart catheterization lab. You may also have your procedure done in a hybrid operating room, procedure room or an electrophysiology lab.  

With catheter procedures, we use the artery in your leg to access your heart instead of making an incision in your chest. With this less invasive technique, we can replace valves, treat arrhythmias and open blocked arteries. 

You may need to spend the night in the hospital after your procedure. There is still recovery time, but it’s much less than surgery.

Surgery

For some people with some types of heart disease, surgery is the best treatment. For example, a person with severe CAD may need ​coronary artery bypass surgery. 

Conditions that affect the structure of your heart, including the valves and walls of your heart, sometimes require surgery.

Your doctor will talk with you about the risks and benefits of surgery compared to other treatments. With surgery, our goal is to prevent heart failure, stroke and heart attack. 

Cardiac rehab

After surgery or a heart procedure, cardiac rehab can help you recover. This supervised exercise therapy aims to strengthen your heart and lungs. Researchers have shown that cardiac rehab after surgery or a heart attack can improve outcomes. 

Our Carilion Cardiac Rehabilitation program helps you recover faster, feel better and get healthier. Our trained specialists use exercise and wellness conditioning to help you regain strength and endurance. 

• Aerobic exercise to elevate your heart rate and improve blood flow
• Strength training to improve your muscle strength and stamina
• Education about your heart condition