Mehiläinen Health Care Agreement
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Heart and cardiovascular diseases
Cardiovascular diseases are hereditary and lifestyle-related diseases. If you have symptoms, such as chest pain during exertion or at rest, book an appointment with a cardiologist. Cardiologist can help diagnosing and treating potential heart disease.
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Treatment of heart and cardiovascular diseases begins with identifying the cause of symptoms
Heart and cardiovascular diseases are common national diseases among Finns. The treatment of heart diseases is individualized and always planned according to needs. The treatment of heart and cardiovascular diseases is primarily based on lifestyle changes and managing risk factors. The majority of those with heart and cardiovascular diseases also require permanent medication. Cardiologists, who are specialists in heart and cardiovascular diseases, treat these conditions.
When to see a doctor for heart diseases?
When symptoms of heart and cardiovascular diseases appear, it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible. A physical doctor's visit is often required for examinations; a phone appointment alone is not sufficient.
Seek medical attention if:
- You have recurring chest pain or a pressing sensation in the chest.
- Shortness of breath worsens or occurs at rest.
- Your heart rhythm feels irregular.
- You experience severe fatigue or significantly reduced performance.
- There is swelling in the ankles or legs.
- You have risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol.
In acute or urgent situations, such as sudden severe chest pain or intense shortness of breath, call the emergency number 112 immediately.
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Frequently asked questions about heart and cardiovascular diseases
Heart and cardiovascular diseases are conditions that impair the normal functioning of the circulatory system. The most common of these are coronary artery disease, heart failure, cerebrovascular disorders, high blood pressure, and lipid metabolism disorders.
Heart and cardiovascular diseases often have lifestyle-related risk factors.
Risk factors for heart and cardiovascular diseases include:
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Stress
- Overweight
- Smoking
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Physical inactivity
- Unhealthy diet, especially high salt and saturated fat intake
- Diabetes and
- Certain genetic factors.
Men have a higher risk of developing heart and cardiovascular diseases than women, as women's lifestyles are generally better than men's, and female hormones provide protection against disease.
The most significant risk factor and protective factor is heredity. If there are many family members with heart and cardiovascular diseases, and they have developed the disease relatively young, it is advisable to address other risk factors even more. Healthy lifestyle choices are always beneficial.
The heart is examined with the following heart tests:
- Aortic imaging
- Genetic tests (conducted in a laboratory)
- Metabolic syndrome laboratory test
- Heart ultrasound examination (conducted at a cardiologist's appointment)
- Heart magnetic resonance imaging (conducted in the imaging unit)
- Hertta risk test (conducted in a laboratory)
- Blood Pressure-Heart laboratory package (conducted in a laboratory)
- Exercise ECG or heart film (conducted in a laboratory)
- Long-term ECG monitoring (conducted in a laboratory)
- Coronary artery computed tomography, CT scan (conducted in the imaging unit).
If there are many relatives with heart or arterial diseases, consider having your heart structure examined with an ultrasound and, for example, investigating potential early coronary artery disease with coronary artery computed tomography. The treatment of diseases is individualized and based on both symptoms and the risk of heart events.
Heart and cardiovascular diseases are a major public health challenge as they cause a lot of disability, hospital stays, and premature deaths. Treatment costs, medication expenses, and lost work years result in significant economic losses for society.
