At South Denver Cardiology, we’re dedicated to helping our patients with preventative cardiac care. Our state of the art South Denver Heart Center (SDHC) provides our patients with diagnostic testing and services, wellness classes, seminars, staying fit tips and healthy heart tips.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. For more information on how you can prevent heart disease, please click one of the following links:
Cardiovascular disease is an illness to the veins, arteries, capillaries or heart. Learn more about symptoms of heart disease in women.
The exact cause of atrial fibrillation is unknown. As scientists, we are still determining what causes this chaotic rhythm. We do know there is an association with hypertension, sleep apnea, thyroid abnormalities, and excess alcohol and caffeine intake. However, about 50% of patients that have AFib don’t have one of the factors with a strong association.
As scientists, we have not identified a specific gene responsible for AFib, so we cannot say if you will get it when another family member has it. That being said, Electrophysiologist Dr. Sri Sundaram, MD, says he has taken care of multiple families that have three generations with atrial fibrillation.
AFib is a progressive disease. Unless there is an underlying cause that can be corrected, it always gets worse over time. It initially starts as paroxysmal atrial fibrillation when it comes and goes. Over time, the episodes start increasing in length and severity. Patients start having more and more events to the point that they are now in it all the time. That’s when it progresses and is called persistent atrial fibrillation. Inside the heart, that usually means that it has spread beyond the pulmonary veins. The success of the treatment is lower, the longer a patient has AFib, and the more it progresses.
The most common heart attack symptom in women is some type of pain, pressure or discomfort in the chest. But it’s not always severe or even the most prominent symptom, particularly in women. And, sometimes, women may have a heart attack without chest pains. Women are more likely than men to have heart attack symptoms unrelated to chest pain, such as:
The most common heart attack symptom in women is some type of pain, pressure or discomfort in the chest. But it’s not always severe or even the most prominent symptom, particularly in women. And, sometimes, women may have a heart attack without chest pains. Women are more likely than men to have heart attack symptoms unrelated to chest pain, such as: