Cardiovascular Conditions
Nationally recognized for cardiovascular care
Thanks to the skills and leadership of our clinicians, Novant Heath has been helping raise the bar for heart and vascular care for decades.
Take the First Step
If you believe you are at risk for heart disease, it’s time to take the first step in improving your cardiac health. Visit your primary care provider to discuss your heart health to see if you need a referral to one of our heart specialists. If you do not have a primary care provider, follow the steps below to get started:
Step 1:
Visit your Primary
Care Provider
Step 2:
Discuss your
concerns
Step 3:
Your provider gives
a referral
Step 4:
Choose the right
specialist for you
Heart and Vascular Conditions We Treat
Some people are born with heart defects. These may resolve over time but can also cause health issues in adulthood.
Injury, infection or a weakening of your aorta can lead to swelling in the aorta's wall, called an aneurysm. If it ruptures, it can be life-threatening.
An arrhythmia is an abnormal heartbeat – that's too fast, too slow or irregular. Arrhythmias can affect how blood flows to the rest of your body, resulting in organ damage or stroke.
Carotid artery disease is a narrowing of one or both arteries in your neck that provide oxygenated blood to your brain. The narrowing, due to cholesterol and plaque buildup, increases your risk of stroke and is also referred to as “carotid artery stenosis.”
The coronary arteries supply oxygenated blood to your heart. Narrowing of these arteries due to plaque buildup can lead to coronary artery disease and is a leading cause of heart attacks in the US.
A heart attack is a life-threatening medical emergency. If you or someone with you is having a heart attack, call 911 immediately. By learning how to recognize the warning signs of a heart attack, you may be able to help someone until emergency personnel arrive.
Cancer treatment can sometimes cause damage to the heart and blood vessels or worsen existing conditions. Our cardio-oncology team can protect your heart while you fight cancer.
This condition, also referred to as “congestive heart failure,” occurs when your heart can't pump blood well enough to keep your organs healthy.
Heart valves control blood flow from your atria (upper heart chambers) to your ventricles (lower heart chambers) and out to your aorta and the pulmonary artery. Diseases of these valves can adversely affect your heart, lungs and other organs.
This condition is characterized by the thickening or stiffening of the heart muscle. It's most common in the wall (septum) between the left and right ventricles (lower heart chambers), making it difficult for your heart to pump blood effectively.
Vascular disorders affecting your arteries, veins, capillaries and blood can interfere with the circulation of blood through your body.
Best-case scenario: early detection
The earlier you discover you have heart disease, or a heart disorder, the sooner you can take steps to eliminate, reduce or slow its effects.
Your primary care provider can get you started by using your medical and family history to create a plan for regular screenings that will help identify issues before they become more difficult to treat.
Heart and vascular diagnostic imaging tests
The specialists at Novant Health offer the latest diagnostic and screening tests, including:
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening
- Cardiac calcium scoring
- Echocardiograms
- Electrocardiology studies
- Electrophysiology studies
- Intravascular ultrasound
- Invasive cardiac testing
- Nuclear imaging
- Radiographic testing
"Remarkable You" health screening events
Novant Health holds health screening events regularly where you can learn more about keeping your heart healthy and discover your own personal "numbers" — the ones that can predict your risk for chronic heart disease.
Who can help manage your cardiovascular health?
Primary care
At Novant Health, your primary care provider plays the lead role in helping you prevent heart and vascular disease. If they determine you are at risk for either, they can recommend lifestyle changes and prescribe medications to prevent or delay the onset of a chronic condition.
Cardiologists: Your heart care specialists
If you have symptoms of heart disease, your primary care provider may refer you to one of our general cardiologists for further assessment and diagnosis. Your cardiologist can:
- Order more specific diagnostic and screening tests
- Provide a second opinion
- Refer you to a cardiac rehabilitation program
- Refer you to an interventional cardiologist for minimally invasive procedures
- Refer you to an electrophysiologist for evaluation and treatment of an irregular heartbeat
- Refer you to a cardiothoracic or vascular surgeon for minimally invasive or traditional (open-heart) procedures
- Provide follow-up care after surgery or emergency room treatment
MyNovant app
With the MyNovant app, it's never been easier to manage your health. You can schedule appointments, view test results, refill prescriptions and even have virtual visits right from your computer or smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.