Cardiovascular disease - Balance Hormone Center

What is cardiovascular disease?

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a class of diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels. It is a leading cause of death globally, responsible for over 17 million deaths per year. The most common types of cardiovascular disease are:

• Coronary artery disease (CAD): Also known as ischemic heart disease, CAD occurs when the coronary arteries become narrowed or clogged due to a buildup of plaque. This can lead to a heart attack.
• Stroke: A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted due to a blood clot or bursting of a blood vessel in the brain. This results in loss of brain function.
• Hypertension: Also known as high blood pressure, hypertension is when blood pressure remains elevated over time. It can lead to heart disease, stroke, and other complications.
• Rheumatic heart disease: This is damage to the heart valves caused by rheumatic fever, an inflammatory disease that can develop from untreated strep throat infection.
• Congenital heart defects: These are problems with the structure of the heart that are present at birth. Examples include holes in the heart and abnormal valves.

Some key risk factors for cardiovascular disease include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, obesity, physical inactivity, diabetes, and family history. However, many CVD cases can be prevented through lifestyle changes like quitting smoking, exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet, and managing conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure.

At Balance Hormone Center, we help patients optimize their hormones for better heart and cardiovascular health. Hormone imbalances can negatively impact cholesterol levels, blood pressure, blood clotting, and inflammation - all risk factors for CVD. Our expert physicians develop personalized hormone replacement therapy plans to restore hormonal balance. This can lower CVD risk by improving underlying metabolic issues.

Our integrative treatment plans also include diet and lifestyle counseling to reduce CVD risk holistically. We help patients implement positive changes like:

• Adopting a heart-healthy diet low in saturated fats
• Increasing physical activity with cardio and strength training
• Reducing stress through meditation, yoga, or counseling
• Optimizing sleep quality and quantity
• Quitting smoking and limiting alcohol

With individualized care from our compassionate providers, advanced hormone testing, and proactive solutions, Balance Hormone Center helps patients reduce their risk and live freer of cardiovascular disease.