Conditions We Treat

Below is a partial list and description of cardiovascular conditions we treat at Cardiovascular Consultants of South GA. This list is not conclusive as we are regularly updating our website. You will also find more educational resources on our Cardiovascular Topics page

• Angina (Chest Pain)
  • Angina is chest pain or discomfort that occurs when your heart muscle does not get enough oxygen-rich blood. It is a common symptom of ischemic heart disease, which limits or cuts off blood flow to the heart. Angina chest pain can happen when your heart is working hard. It can go away when you stop to rest again, or it can also happen at rest. The pain can feel like pressure or squeezing in your chest and can spread to your shoulders, arms, neck, jaw, or back, just like a heart attack. Symptoms can be different for women and men. Angina can be a warning sign that you are at increased risk for a heart attack.
• Arrhythmia
  • An arrhythmia is a problem with the rate or rhythm of the heartbeat. During an arrhythmia, the heart can beat too fast, too slowly, or with an irregular rhythm. When a heart beats too fast, the condition is called tachycardia. When a heart beats too slowly, the condition is called bradycardia. Arrhythmia is caused by changes in heart tissue and activity or in the electrical signals that control your heartbeat. These changes can be caused by damage from disease, injury, or genetics. Often there are no symptoms, but some people feel an irregular heartbeat. You may feel faint or dizzy or have difficulty breathing.
• Atherosclerosis
  • Atherosclerosis is a disease in which plaque builds up inside your arteries. Plaque is made up of fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances found in the blood. Over time, plaque hardens and narrows your arteries. This limits the flow of oxygen-rich blood to your organs and other parts of your body. Atherosclerosis can lead to serious problems, including heart attack, stroke, or even death.
• Atrial Fibrillation
  • Atrial Fibrillation (also called AFib) is one of the most common types of arrhythmias, which are irregular heart rhythms. Normally, your heart contracts and relaxes to a regular beat. In atrial fibrillation, the upper chambers of the heart (the atria) beat irregularly (quiver) instead of beating effectively to move blood into the ventricles. This can make you feel tired or dizzy, or you may notice heart palpitations or chest pain. Blood also pools in your heart, which increases your risk of forming clots and can lead to strokes or other complications. Atrial fibrillation can also occur without any signs or symptoms. Untreated fibrillation can lead to serious and even life-threatening complications.
• Cardiomyopathy
  • Cardiomyopathy is a weakened, stiffened, or otherwise damaged heart muscle, which makes it difficult for the heart to efficiently pump blood. It can lead to arrhythmias and heart failure. Cardiomyopathy is sometimes referred to as heart muscle disease.
• Carotid Artery Disease
  • Carotid artery disease occurs with the vessels delivering blood to your head (carotid arteries) become clogged with plaque and narrowed. If blood flow becomes obstructed, it can cause a stroke. Cholesterol-lowering drugs and blood thinners are commonly used to improve blood flow. Surgery may be necessary if the arteries are significantly narrowed.
• Congestive Heart Failure
  • Heart failure (CHF) is a chronic condition in which the heart is too weak to pump blood effectively to meet the body's needs. Heart failure is a serious condition that requires medical care. There is also a type of hart failure (dystolic heart failure) with a normally functioning heart; regardless it is important to practice medication and diatery compliance.
• Coronary Artery Disease
  • Coronary Artery Disease CAD is the most common type of heart disease. It is the leading cause of death for men and women in the U.S. It occurs when the plaque buildup in the arteries delivering blood to the heart become narrowed, and blood flow is restricted. If blood flow is obstructed, it can cause a heart attack.
• Dizziness
  • Dizziness can include feeling off-balance, lightheaded or faint. It is a common symptom in patients with heart disease such as coronary artery disease, heart attack, atrial fibrillation, heart valve disease, and more.
• Endocarditis
  • Endocarditis is inflammation of the inner lining of the heart’s chambers and valves. Common causes include viral or bacterial infections and medical conditions that damage the heart and cause inflammation.
• Fainting (Syncope)
  • Syncope is a sudden, temporary loss of consciousness. Cardiovascular conditions such as bradycardia (when the heart beats too slowly), tachycardia (when the heart beats too quickly), or certain types of hypertension may trigger fainting.
• Heart Attack
  • A heart attack happens when the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the heart suddenly becomes blocked and the heart can’t get oxygen. A heart attack is a medical emergency as heart tissue begins to die ff blood flow isn’t restored quickly. Symptoms of a heart attack can include but are not limited to, chest pain or tightness, light-headedness, feeling faint and shortness of breath.
• Heart Murmur
  • Murmurs can sound like a whooshing or swishing noise between heartbeats. Murmurs may be harmless or may be a sign of a more serious heart condition, such as a congenital heart defect or heart valve disease.
• High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
  • High blood pressure (HBP or hypertension) is when the force of blood traveling through the arteries is too high. The upper number of a blood pressure measurement represents systolic pressure which occurs as blood pumps out of the heart and into the arteries that are part of the circulatory system. The lower number represents diastolic pressure which is created as the heart rests between heart beats.
• High Cholesterol
  • High levels of “bad” LDL cholesterol cause plaque (fatty deposits) to build up in your blood vessels. This may lead to heart attack, stroke, or other health problems. Unhealthy cholesterol levels are often caused by lifestyle habits, such as unhealthy eating patterns, in combination with the genes that you inherit from your parents. Routine blood tests can show whether your cholesterol levels are healthy. To help get your cholesterol levels into the healthy range, you may need heart-healthy lifestyle changes or medicines.
• Mitral Valve Prolapse
  • Mitral valve prolapse, also called MVP, is a condition in which the two valve flaps of the mitral valve don't close smoothly or evenly, but bulge (prolapse) upward into the left atrium. It can affect the heart's ability to efficiently pump blood, causing symptoms such as an irregular heartbeat and shortness of breath.
• Pericarditis
  • Pericarditis is inflammation of the pericardium, a sac-like tissue that surrounds the heart, holds it in place and helps it work. Causes can range from infection to heart attack. Symptoms include sharp chest pains that worsen with deep breathing or lying down.
• Peripheral Artery Disease
  • PAD is caused by atherosclerosis, or plaque buildup, that reduces the flow of blood in peripheral arteries—the blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart to other parts of the body. PAD most commonly affects arteries in the legs. The most common symptom of peripheral artery disease in the lower extremities is a painful muscle cramping in the hips, thighs or calves when walking, climbing stairs or exercising. The pain of PAD often goes away when you stop exercising, although this may take a few minutes. If PAD is left untreated, it can lead to wounds of the lower extremities that can result in amputation. The key is early treatment.
• Shortness of Breath
  • When you have shortness of breath, you can’t catch your breath or get enough air in your lungs. Shortness of breath can be caused by a variety of issues and can also be a warning sign of a health problem that needs treatment right away.
• Valvular Heart Disease

  • Heart valve disease occurs if one or more of your heart valves don't work well. The heart has four valves: the tricuspid, pulmonary, mitral, and aortic valves. These valves have tissue flaps that open and close with each heartbeat. The flaps make sure blood flows in the right direction through your heart's four chambers and to the rest of your body. Birth defects, age-related changes, infections, or other conditions can cause one or more of your heart valves to not open fully or to let blood leak back into the heart chambers. This can make your heart work harder and affect its ability to pump blood.