Cardiology consultation
Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in Portugal and sudden death in the population is mostly due to cardiovascular causes.
Cardiology contributes to the prevention (by controlling risk factors), screening, diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
When to seek a cardiology consultation
The main cardiovascular risk factors are:
- Hypertension
- Diabetes mellitus
- Hypercholesterolemia
- Obesity
- Smoking
- OSAS (obstructive sleep apnea syndrome)
- Family history of cardiovascular disease.
Of these, only family history is not modifiable.
Arterial hypertension is still very underdiagnosed and uncontrolled, diabetes mellitus, which largely contributes to the prevalence of arterial hypertension, is on the rise, hypercholesterolemia continues to have a high prevalence of LDL-cholesterol levels above what is adequate to control cardiovascular risk, obesity is on the rise and smoking is well recognized as a risk factor.
OSAS (obstructive sleep apnea syndrome) is associated with high blood pressure and increased cardiovascular risk.
Family history should justify early screening.
Complaints of tiredness and fatigue in a person, usually over the age of 50, may be due to heart failure, particularly if they are accompanied by swollen legs and feet or an irregular heartbeat.
Complaints of precordial (chest) pain, particularly triggered by exertion, may be indicative of ischemic heart disease (coronary heart disease).
Palpitations (irregular heartbeats), a feeling of tachycardia (racing heart) or bradycardia (slow heart), dizziness, episodes of loss of consciousness (fainting), should prompt a clinical assessment at a cardiology clinic, which, with complementary diagnostic tests, can identify the severity of the problem and treat it effectively.
OSAS (obstructive sleep apnea syndrome) is associated with high blood pressure and increased cardiovascular risk.
Family history should justify early screening.
Complaints of tiredness and fatigue in a person, usually over the age of 50, may be due to heart failure, particularly if they are accompanied by swollen legs and feet or an irregular heartbeat.
Complaints of precordial (chest) pain, particularly triggered by exertion, may be indicative of ischemic heart disease (coronary heart disease).
Palpitations (irregular heartbeats), a feeling of tachycardia (racing heart) or bradycardia (slow heart), dizziness, episodes of loss of consciousness (fainting), should prompt a clinical assessment at a cardiology clinic, which, with complementary diagnostic tests, can identify the severity of the problem and treat it effectively.
Most common symptoms
– Tiredness and/or shortness of breath
– Swollen legs and feet
– Chest pain
– Irregular beats
– Beats too fast or too slow
– Dizziness or fainting
– Snoring, waking up during the night, feeling of unrefreshing sleep
Progress in cardiovascular medicine has radically changed the prognosis of people who are diagnosed and treated early.