Heart Disease

Preventing or managing heart disease dramatically improves your quality of life and longevity. At the office of  James R. Tryon, M.D. PC, internal medicine specialist Edmee Rodriguez, M.D. helps you take the steps necessary to prevent heart disease or oversees the management of an existing condition. Patients in Albuquerque, New Mexico, concerned about heart disease should call the office to book an appointment today.

What is heart disease?

Heart disease is a collection of diseases that affect your heart. They include:

• Coronary artery disease (affects your blood vessels)
• Congenital heart defects (heart problems you were born with)
• Arrhythmias that affect your heart’s rhythm
• Disease of the heart muscle or valves
• Heart infection

Not all heart disease can be prevented. Some are present at birth. But most forms of heart disease are managed with smart lifestyle choices and medical support.

Who is at risk of developing heart disease?

Your lifestyle significantly determines whether you develop heart disease. Of course, some risk factors, like age, being male, and having a  family history of the disease, are not in your control.

Risk factors you can control include: 

• Poor diet
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Smoking
• Obesity or overweight

• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• High cholesterol
• High stress
• Poor dental health
• Poorly managed diabetes

Dr. Rodriguez helps you understand these controllable risk factors so that you can take steps to reduce them. Simple changes like eating a healthy diet, quitting smoking, and losing weight go a long way toward preventing or controlling the symptoms of heart disease.

Why should I be concerned about heart disease?

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Having any form of heart disease affects how you feel, what activities you can do, and your long-term health.

Complications associated with heart disease include:

• Heart attack and stroke
• Peripheral artery disease (PAD)
• Heart failure
• Sudden cardiac arrest
• Aneurysm

Dr. Rodriguez is committed to helping you manage your heart disease and wants to help you change lifestyle habits that contribute to it getting worse.

How do you treat heart disease?

Dr. Rodriguez works with your cardiologist to help you manage existing heart disease. If you’re on specific medications to control heart disease, she oversees dosing and prescriptions so you avoid unwanted side effects.

Dr. Rodriguez recommends specific lifestyle changes, including dietary and physical activity recommendations. She can also support your efforts to lose weight and quit smoking.

Learn more about how to control and avoid heart disease. Call the office of James R. Tryon, M.D. PC, today to set up an appointment.