Atherosclerosis is a buildup of plaque in your blood vessels and is the top cause of heart disease. The plaque partially or completely blocks blood flow to your heart, which can damage your heart or cause a heart attack.

About 1% of people are born with a congenital heart defect, an abnormality caused by gene mutations (changes). Learn more about our care for adult congenital heart defects.

Certain infections, including pneumonia and urinary tract infections (UTIs), can cause a heart attack in some people. The heart attack tends to occur within three months of the infection.

Some medications can cause heart failure (when your heart can’t pump enough blood through your body). Other medications can cause an arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm).

As you age, your heart goes through changes that can cause scarring and structural heart disease. A heart disease prevention plan can help you keep your heart healthy throughout your life.

People with diabetes are twice as likely to develop heart disease than someone who doesn’t have diabetes. You’re also more likely to develop the condition at a younger age. 

Eating a diet high in saturated or trans fat can lead to coronary heart disease. Consuming too many processed, refined carbohydrates and salt may also increase your risk.

Regularly drinking large amounts of alcohol raises your risk of arrhythmias, heart attack, heart failure, stroke and death.

Over time, untreated hypertension makes your heart work harder to pump, leading to heart disease. Hypertension causes one-fourth of all heart failure cases.

People who get less than 30 minutes of exercise three times per week have a greater risk of getting heart disease.

Studies show that people with obesity are more likely to develop heart disease. Obesity also causes other heart disease risk factors, including type 2 diabetes and hypertension.

If you have severe sleep apnea, you have a greater risk of coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure. Learn more about our care for sleep disorders.

Smoking leads to one-fourth of heart disease deaths each year. Exposure to secondhand smoke also causes more than 33,000 heart disease deaths.

Interventional cardiologists insert a catheter (long, thin tube) into one of your artery or veins. We guide the catheter to your heart, where we can evaluate how your heart is working by looking at the heart arteries and measuring the pressures inside of your heart chambers. We use catheterization to perform many heart procedures that used to require major surgery.

A cardiac CT scan, MRI or echocardiogram takes detailed pictures of your heart’s structure. These tests can reveal congenital heart defects or structural heart disease.

This test records your heart’s electrical signals and can detect an arrhythmia.

This test measures your breathing, blood pressure and heart rate during exercise to identify arrhythmias, CAD and other types of heart disease.

Our cardiologists are knowledgeable of the latest evidence-based therapies for heart disease, including groundbreaking clinical trials. From medications to advanced procedures, we recommend treatments that boost your heart health and help you avoid complications.

Changing your diet can seem challenging, but our team makes it easier. Our registered dietitians specialize in heart disease management and work with you to create an eating plan that matches your preferences.

Exercising regularly, quitting smoking and managing stress are powerful ways to help your heart. They’re also difficult to do alone. That’s why our team creates a plan that helps you take steps each day toward a healthier heart. We support you through your challenges and victories.

Managing heart disease often requires multiple specialists working together. Our team coordinates your care with other specialists, such as sleep medicine physicians and cardiac surgeons. We have every specialist you need to achieve optimal heart health now and for years to come.