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Heart Disease

Heart disease refers to many conditions that damage your heart. Taken together, heart problems are the leading cause of death in the United States. Heart disease affects people of all ages and backgrounds. With today’s advanced treatments, millions of people with heart disease enjoy long and active lives.

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Types of Diseases

  • Atherosclerosis
  • Heart Attack
  • High Cholesterol
  • Heart Failure
  • Heart Valve Disease
  • High Blood Pressure
  • Peripheral Artery Disease

Heart Disease Facts and Stats

Your heart is a powerful muscle that pumps one and a half gallons of blood through your body every minute, circulating oxygen and nutrients to your cells. Here’s what you need to know.

  • About 735,000 Americans suffer a heart attack each year. Heart attacks strike most often on Christmas Day, followed by December 26 and New Year’s Day. 
  • Narrowing and hardening of the arteries, called atherosclerosis, develops slowly. It may even start in childhood.
  • About 85 percent of the cholesterol in your blood is made by your liver. Your liver makes more cholesterol when you eat foods high in saturated fat, such as fatty meat and cheese. Natural cholesterol found in foods such as eggs and shrimp contribute very little to high cholesterol levels in most people.
  • One in three adults have high blood pressure. About 7 out of 10 people who have their first heart attack also have high blood pressure. High blood pressure can run in families, but diet, stress and hardened arteries also contribute.
  • Only about half of people with high blood pressure control the condition.

Patient Information

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Interested in becoming a Sutter patient? Here’s what you need to know about health plans, choosing a doctor and how to get started today.

 
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Find a Heart Specialist

Help for Your Heart

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Benefits of Cardiac Rehabilitation

Cardiac rehabilitation can help you recover after heart surgery, heart attacks and other related conditions.

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Care for Coronary Artery Disease

Learn about customized treatment plans that include lifestyle changes, medication and surgeries. 

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Heart Disease Prevention

Find out how to reduce your risk for heart disease and improve your heart health.

Ask an Expert

Junaid H. Khan

Junaid H. Khan, M.D., FACC, FACS

Brown & Toland Physicians

I've been taking statins to lower my cholesterol for years. Most leave me extremely fatigued and even foggy in my thinking. Is this a known side effect of statins? Are some statins less likely to cause these side effects? What about Crestor?

Statin drugs (including Crestor) have been credited with the declining incidence of cardiovascular disease. However, they do have recognized side effects, particularly when taken over a long period of time, as ... continue reading  about  I've been taking statins to lower my cholesterol for years. Most leave me extremely fatigued and even foggy in my thinking. Is this a known side effect of statins? Are some statins less likely to cause these side effects? What about Crestor?

Ask the Expert Team

Ask the Expert Team

Sutter Health

A number of my relatives have heart disease so I've been told by my doctor to watch what I eat, exercise, etc. My question is: why does one's heredity put a person at extra risk for heart disease?

Heredity does put one at extra risk for many types of heart disease, most commonly coronary disease, and some other uncommon heart conditions such as cardiomyopathy. From your doctor's advice, the former most l... continue reading  about  A number of my relatives have heart disease so I've been told by my doctor to watch what I eat, exercise, etc. My question is: why does one's heredity put a person at extra risk for heart disease?

Junaid H. Khan

Junaid H. Khan, M.D., FACC, FACS

Brown & Toland Physicians

My husband has heart disease. I heard that someone with this condition needs to be careful in the cold weather. We'll be vacationing in Lake Tahoe soon, so I'd like to know how cold weather affects the heart. Should we cancel the trip?

Great question. Here are a few additional thoughts about your particular situation: You mentioned a trip to Lake Tahoe, so keep in mind that altitude by itself, even without the cold weather, is a special consi... continue reading  about  My husband has heart disease. I heard that someone with this condition needs to be careful in the cold weather. We'll be vacationing in Lake Tahoe soon, so I'd like to know how cold weather affects the heart. Should we cancel the trip?

Gary F. Milechman

Gary F. Milechman, M.D.

California Pacific Medical Center

If you have been diagnosed with a coronary blockage, what treatment options are available?

There are always things that the doctor and patient can do to improve symptoms when one has a coronary blockage, or a narrowed artery to the heart. I can't emphasize enough the importance of both the health car... continue reading  about  If you have been diagnosed with a coronary blockage, what treatment options are available?

Richard H. Hongo

Richard H. Hongo, M.D., FACC

Novato Community Hospital

My son, 20, is leaving for boot camp soon. He's developed a rapid heartbeat during his work outs and sudden spikes in blood pressure. He had an EKG and all was normal. They thought it was stress. What are the next steps?

There are a number of heart rhythm abnormalities that can cause a sudden rapid heartbeat during exercise. A normal evaluation in the emergency room typically will not reveal the rhythm problem because the evalu... continue reading  about  My son, 20, is leaving for boot camp soon. He's developed a rapid heartbeat during his work outs and sudden spikes in blood pressure. He had an EKG and all was normal. They thought it was stress. What are the next steps?

Ask the Expert Team

Ask the Expert Team

Sutter Health

Does salt raise blood pressure?

In excess, yes. The numbers:1 gram (1,000 mg) sodium = 2.5 gram of salt = 1 teaspoon of table saltHarmful = more than 5-6 grams, and probably less than 1.5 grams a dayAmerican Heart Association recommendation =... continue reading  about  Does salt raise blood pressure?

Gary F. Milechman

Gary F. Milechman, M.D.

California Pacific Medical Center

I have high cholesterol, low HDL, high LDL and high triglycerides. I cannot take statins. What is the best course of action for me?

You are wise to be concerned about your cholesterol numbers. This constellation of lipid results commonly occurs with diabetes or in people with a tendency toward diabetes (insulin resistance). It is associated... continue reading  about  I have high cholesterol, low HDL, high LDL and high triglycerides. I cannot take statins. What is the best course of action for me?

Junaid H. Khan

Junaid H. Khan, M.D., FACC, FACS

Brown & Toland Physicians

Can antioxidants help prevent a heart attack?

Research into the role of antioxidants in heart disease has been going on for a long period of time. To date there is no definitive evidence that antioxidant or vitamin supplements reduce the incidence of, or m... continue reading  about  Can antioxidants help prevent a heart attack?

Gary F. Milechman

Gary F. Milechman, M.D.

California Pacific Medical Center

I recently read a scary statistic that said two-thirds of women who die suddenly of heart disease report no previous symptoms (as compared with half of men.) So if there are no symptoms – how would we know if a heart attack is coming on?

I am not familiar with this particular statistic, but let me answer by explaining the differences between sudden cardiac death and a heart attack - and the warnings we get with each.Heart attacks occur when a c... continue reading  about  I recently read a scary statistic that said two-thirds of women who die suddenly of heart disease report no previous symptoms (as compared with half of men.) So if there are no symptoms – how would we know if a heart attack is coming on?

General Cardiology Research

Sutter Health General Cardiology Research
Sutter Health Research in General Cardiology investigates the disorders of the heart as well as some parts of the circulatory system. For further information please see the research topics of Heart Failure, Electrophysiology, Structural Heart, Ischemic Heart. 

Sutter Health General Cardiology Research Sutter Health General Cardiology Research

Health and Wellness

Early Heart Attack Signs

Early Heart Attack Signs

Know the warning signals for heart failure so you can get the help you need, fast.

Early Heart Attack Signs

Experts Who Partner With You

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Heart and Vascular Services

The Sutter Health network provides comprehensive programs and heart specialists who can help you manage symptoms, recover fully from a heart attack or surgery and prevent more serious heart problems in the future. Learn about today’s treatment options. 

Doctor Profiles

The following doctors are part of the Sutter Health network. Learn about the doctors on this site
Soham P. Jhaveri, D.O.

Soham P. Jhaveri, D.O.

  • Internal Medicine

Ali Mokhlesi, M.D.

Ali Mokhlesi, M.D.

  • Internal Medicine

Sung W. Choi, M.D.

Sung W. Choi, M.D.

  • Cardiovascular Disease

  • Interventional Cardiology

Anitha Gundupalli, M.D.

Anitha Gundupalli, M.D.

  • Internal Medicine

Dean J. Nickles, M.D.

Dean J. Nickles, M.D.

  • Internal Medicine

Bilal Shafi, M.D.

Bilal Shafi, M.D.

  • Cardiothoracic Surgery

  • Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery

Conrad M. Vial, M.D.

Conrad M. Vial, M.D.

  • Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery

  • Cardiothoracic Surgery

  • Heart Transplant

Nelson W. Raitt, M.D.

Nelson W. Raitt, M.D.

  • Internal Medicine

AlexandraMary Y. Kelada, D.O., MPH

AlexandraMary Y. Kelada, D.O., MPH

  • Internal Medicine

View All Related Doctors

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