A vascular disease may not necessarily be cardio vascular problem. It may relate to arteries in other parts of the body including legs. Peripheral vascular or peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is narrowing of one or more arteries (blood vessels) and it usually impacts the arteries that take blood to your legs. As per FL doctors, narrowing of arteries is caused by atheroma. This is a plaque that develops within the inside lining of arteries. A patch of atheroma may be very small in the initial stages and does not cause any problems. But if the underlying conditions that caused its formation are not checked, over the years the patch can become thicker and make the arteries narrower. This reduces the flow of blood through the impacted artery and ultimately painful symptoms in the leg. The veins may appear to be swollen and hardened.

Most typical symptom of PAD is pain that develops in one or both calves when you walk or exercise and is relieved when you rest for a few minutes. This pain also varies between cases and you may feel aching, cramping or tiredness in your legs. FL doctors and cardiology physicians call it intermittent claudication and this is due to narrowing of one or more arteries in the leg.

Obesity and lack of physical activity are some of the risk factors that cause peripheral artery diseases. However, this disease may also occur in an individual who is otherwise healthy but frequently takes alcoholic drinks. If the habit of drinking is also accompanied by smoking, possibilities of developing peripheral artery diseases are stronger.

According to FL doctors excessive alcohol consumption is directly associated with peripheral artery diseases. Alcohol is known to increase hyper tension and blood pressure – these further worsen the problems for a victim of peripheral artery disease. Although some studies have indicated that moderate consumption of wine and few other drinks is good for preventing vascular disease, there is still a lack of medical consensus about the same.

Men who drink more than 21 units of alcohol per week and women who drink more than 14 units in a week are strongly prone to peripheral artery diseases. One unit is about half a pint of normal strength beer, or two thirds of a small glass of wine.

At Florida Heart Group we have a team of proficient FL doctors and physicians. We not only provide efficient services for diagnosis and treatment of all types of vascular disease but also keep our patients and visitors informed of ways to prevent such problems. Contact us today for tips on reducing alcohol intake.

A heart attack, or a myocardial infarction as it is called in medical terminology, occurs when blood flow to a part of the heart stops for a lengthy enough time as to cause part of the heart muscle to become damaged or die. The symptoms of a major heart attack may vary for individuals so it is important to know the critical ones.

Discomfort in the chest – When we talk about symptoms of heart attack, discomfort in the chest is always considered a crucial sign. It typically lasts longer than a few minutes and does not get better with rest or with other treatments, such as antacids. The chest pain or discomfort may also start and stop instead of staying consistent all the time. Angina treatment is essential at such times.

Discomfort in the upper body – Besides pain and discomfort in the chest, a victim of myocardial infarction may also experience discomfort that radiates to parts of upper body. Pain may thus spread to one or both arms and however, if it is felt in only one arm, it is typically the left one. It may also be felt in the back, neck, jaw and/or abdomen. Such symptoms of heart attack cannot be ignored and the victim needs to be taken to a good Florida heart hospital.

Shortness of Breath – This may also happen after a sprint or workout. However when shortness of breath is felt with one or more of the heart attack warning signs as mentioned above, it important to seek medical help. In Orlando doctors at good heart hospitals are prepared with equipment and medications to deal with emergency cases of heart attack.

Nausea and cold sweat – Chest pain is one of the known symptoms of heart attack but the signs of a major and fatal heart attack may not necessarily be pain in chest. Studies pertaining to women and heart attack have revealed that in females, pain in upper body, nausea and cold sweat are strong signs of a possible heart attack.

Once the victim gets proper medical attention at a Florida heart hospital, the doctors take all possible steps to minimize the damage to heart muscle. Angina treatment is also provided in case of chest pain. For effective treatment, the doctors may also need to do coronary angiography and check the damaged part of heart.

Florida Heart Group has a team of proficient and experienced Orlando doctors for diagnosis and treatment of heart diseases and peripheral artery diseases. We have all facilities to provide in-time treatment for heart attacks.

When visiting a Florida heart hospital, you may come across posters and banners that describe harmful effects of smoking. Most people associate smoking with breathing problems, lung cancer and throat cancer. However, smoking is also a big cause of heart diseases in men and women. According to various Orlando doctors in reputed Florida heart hospitals, approximately 20% of all deaths from heart diseases in the U.S. are directly related to cigarette smoking.

A person's risk of heart disease and heart attack increases significantly with the number of cigarettes that he or she smokes. Several studies have proved that smokers continue to increase their risk of heart attack the longer they smoke. People who smoke a pack of cigarettes a day have more than twice the risk of heart attack than non-smokers. Women who smoke and also use birth control pills increase their risk of heart attack, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease. Symptoms of heart attack or heart attack warning signs may be frequently seen in such women.

The nicotine in cigarettes causes heart disease by:

• Decreasing oxygen to the heart
• Increasing blood pressure and heart rate
• Increasing blood clotting
• Damaging to cells that line coronary arteries and other blood vessels

When you make the effort to quit smoking, you instantly begin to reduce your chances of developing diseases including heart disease, heart attack, high blood pressure, lung cancer, throat cancer, emphysema, ulcers, gum disease, and other conditions.

Once you quit this habit, you:

• Prolong your life
• Feel healthier – You will have fewer sore throats and will improve your stamina against common infections.
• Improve your sense of taste and smell
• Look better – Quitting helps you prevent face wrinkles, prevents stained teeth, and improves your skin quality
• Save money!

At Florida Heart Group (FHG), our cardiologists proactively help patients to quit smoking. FHG is a renowned heart hospital in Central Florida with centers in Orlando, Oviedo, and Altamonte Springs. We have advanced facilities for the diagnosis and treatment of heart and other vascular diseases. Meet one of our cardiologists if you suspect heart problems or need effective angina treatment

Only a few more weeks until we ban together and stand up against the number one killer of women in the U.S.—heart disease. Will you be wearing red to show your support?

This year, February 3rd, we are asking all women (and men) across the country to take a stand and WEAR RED. If you can't wear red for some reason, a small red pin or red tie would equally show your support for this cause.

National Go Red Day was started in 2004 by the American Heart Association in order to raise awareness and dispel the myths of this deadly disease—a disease that touches nearly every family  across the country in some way.

The movement unites all women regardless of age or race to ban together and take a stand against the disease, which can be prevented with proper education and awareness.

Sadly, heart disease is the cause of death for 1 in 3 women every year. Our mothers and daughters need to understand how important heart health is to their overall well being.

FACT: On average, Hispanic women are likely to develop heart disease 10 years earlier than other women. Despite the heightened risk, most are still unaware of the threat to themselves and their families.

It's time to take a stand and make a change!

Start a Go Red for Women event at your workplace! For information on how you can do so, click HERE for a variety of posters and materials you'll need to get started.

And please SHARE THIS POST on your Facebook wall or Twitter page in order to help raise awareness of heart disease and its life-threatening risks.

Angina or the chest pain is a known precursor of heart attack and calls for quick medical attention. In Florida, angina treatment can obviously be addressed at a good heart hospital with adequate facilities and experienced doctors. However while consulting Orlando doctors, a victim of angina or heart attack should also ask them about the care to be taken to prevent such problems in future. Besides angina treatment, it is important to understand the complications associated with angina.

If a person is afflicted by coronary artery disease (CAD), the coronary arteries get narrowed due to deposits of plaque. This restricts the flow of blood through them. During physical activity or exertion, the cells in the heart (myocardium) may need more oxygen (and therefore more blood) than the blocked coronary arteries can supply. As the cells are forced to work without adequate oxygen, the nervous system complains by sending pain signals to the brain.

Whenever body tissue does not get the oxygen it needs, the condition is referred to as ischemia. Angina is caused by 'myocardial ischemia' – the condition in which the heart muscle fails to get the oxygen it needs for proper functioning. This is not really the same as 'myocardial infarction' or heart attack. Infarction implies permanent cell death caused by long-lasting and severe ischemia. In angina, the cells are not usually so starved of oxygen that they die. This is why angina treatment at the right time can help to prevent a heart attack – the more serious problem.

Angina pain is caused by the problems with heart muscle but the pain is usually felt under the sternum (known as breastbone), midway between the breasts or pectoral muscles. The pain is typically not localized to just the sternum and it spreads, commonly down the left arm and also to the back, sides, upper abdomen, right arm, neck, jaw, or even the teeth. Angina pain may also occur in these places without occurring in the chest. Angina treatment is therefore important if a person who was diagnosed with CAD feels pain in such areas. Even a person who may never have had any heart problems experiences such pain frequently during exercise should see a good doctor in Orlando to avoid further complications.

At Florida Heart Group, we have the most advanced facilities and a team of best Orlando doctors for diagnosis of CAD and angina treatment. Feel free to contact us at any of our centers in Central Florida for any information concerning vascular diseases and for treatment of such problems.