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Cardiovascular

From rehabilitation to open heart surgery, you can count on us to treat your heart with compassion and the latest treatments available. Because nearly half of all people in the United States have some form of heart disease, we're here to help people take preventative steps to lower their risk, or even offer a second-chance at heart health with transplants.

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How does Tufts Medicine treat heart conditions?

According to the American Heart Association, 121.5 million adults in the United States (48% of the population) have some form of cardiovascular disease, which includes conditions like coronary artery disease, heart failure, and hypertension (high blood pressure).

Even though heart disease is common, it's usually treatable and even preventable. That's where our Tufts Medicine team comes in. Our team combines the latest techniques — like treating atherosclerosis with drug-coated stents and groundbreaking procedures for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) — with a belief that everyone deserves care tailored to their needs.

And you don't have to travel far to receive advanced cardiovascular care. Each of our hospitals has an on-site cath lab (short for catheterization laboratory) to diagnose and treat heart conditions. Wherever you are in life’s journey, you can trust our team to over-deliver on your cardiovascular care.

Nurse Practitioner, Natalie Bonvie-Hill, listening to patient's heart with a stethoscope during a cardiovascular appointment at Tufts Medical Center.

Cardiovascular services near you

Lowell General Hospital

Whether you begin cardiac care in the emergency room or your primary care doctor recommends a heart monitor test, your care will be provided by top cardiac specialists, nurses and caregivers at Lowell General. Our cardiovascular team has compassion, years of experience, breakthrough treatments and personalized care plans to help you stay healthy.

MelroseWakefield Hospital

Our hearts are in the communities we serve — bringing you the most advanced care and the latest diagnostic and treatment capabilities. We provide vital cardiology services under one roof, including in-house cardiac catheterization, cardiology, arrhythmia and interventional radiology.

Tufts Medical Center

Our experienced cardiologists and vascular surgeons work closely with nurses, nurse practitioners and physician assistants to provide a wide range of cardiac and vascular specialties and nationally renowned programs.

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Conditions

Our experienced heart team provides advanced treatment for the full range of heart conditions, including:

Adult congenital heart disease
Angina
Aortic aneurysm
Aortic stenosis
Arrhythmia
Atherosclerosis
Athlete’s heart
Atrial fibrillation
Cardiac amyloidosis
Cardiac sarcoidosis
Cardiac toxicity
Cardiomyopathy
Carotid artery disease
Carotid artery occlusive disease
Congenital heart defects
Congestive heart failure
Coronary artery disease
Electrolyte imbalance
Heart attack
Heart disease
Heart failure
Hypertension
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)
Left ventricular heart failure
Low blood pressure
Mitral valve regurgitation
Myocarditis
Obstructive sleep apnea
Pericarditis
Peripheral artery disease
Raynaud's disease
Renal artery stenosis
Rheumatic heart disease
Right ventricular heart failure
Stroke
Thyroid disease
Valvular heart disease
Vasculitis
Vein care
Ventricular fibrillation
Ventricular tachycardia

Family history + heart disease

Having a family history of a heart disease doesn’t mean you’re destined to live with the same conditions as your loved ones. It's important to meet with your doctor on a regular basis so they can monitor your heart health and share ways to reduce your risk for a heart condition.

People are at an increased risk for heart disease when:

  • A direct male relative (father or brother) was diagnosed with heart disease or had a heart attack by age 55
  • A direct female relative (mother or sister) was diagnosed with heart disease or had a heart attack by age 65

Specialized care for heart conditions

Adults with congenital heart disease

Congenital heart disease (CHD) happens when the heart develops abnormally before you're born. It can mean the heart’s chambers, valves, blood vessels or electrical pathways have an irregular structure. CHD is a genetic disease, meaning it’s passed down in families. In fact, the presence of CHD in parents is the highest risk factor. That’s why it’s so important to be in tune with your family’s health history.

Aortic disease + aneurysm

Aortic diseases are a group of conditions that affect your aorta. It's also one of the most common forms of cardiovascular disease. Because the aorta is your body’s largest artery, it’s vulnerable to conditions like aortic aneurysms, which can impact the size, shape and function of the aorta.

The 2 most common types of aortic aneurysms are:

  • Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA), which develop in the abdomen
  • Thoracic aortic aneurysms, which develop in the chest
Arrhythmia

Electrical signals in the heart tell your heart when to pump blood or contract, which is what creates your heartbeat. Sometimes, those signals get crossed, making your heart beat irregularly.

This is called arrhythmia, and the condition occurs when the heart isn’t beating properly — either too fast, too slow or irregularly. While it's not always a serious or chronic condition, it can have a major effect on your heart and overall health.

Cardiac sarcoidosis

Sometimes, the body overproduces white blood cells. When this happens, these extra white blood cells form into clumps (called granulomas) and inflame the organs and tissues they usually protect, like the heart. This is called sarcoidosis, and when it affects the heart, it's called cardiac sarcoidosis.

Cardiac sarcoidosis is a rare immune system disease where granulomas cause inflammation and can weaken the body’s electrical system that controls your heartbeat.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a genetic condition where the heart muscle becomes too thick. This can make it challenging for the heart to pump blood to the rest of the body. When the thickened muscle partially or completely blocks blood flow from the heart, it’s known as obstructive HCM. If the thickened muscle doesn’t obstruct blood flow, the condition is called nonobstructive HCM.

Valvular + structural heart conditions

Valvular and structural heart diseases develop when at least 1 of the 4 heart valves don’t circulate blood as well as they should, leading to conditions like stenosis, prolapse and regurgitation. Valvular heart disease can be something you're born with (congenital) or developed over time (acquired).

Vascular disease

Vascular diseases like peripheral artery disease (PAD) and carotid artery disease can take a toll on how blood vessels circulate blood, nutrients and oxygen throughout the body. When something as complex and delicate as your vascular system isn't working as it should, it can have a major effect on your health and quality of life.

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Testing

Everyone’s journey to a healthier heart starts with a thorough evaluation. Diagnostic testing helps us make important decisions, like detecting and confirming a diagnosis and tracking the effectiveness of treatment.

We use the latest cardiovascular imaging techniques and technology to better understand your heart and blood vessels, including:

  • Ambulatory heart monitoring: Minimally invasive devices, like a Holter monitor, can track your heart function over the course of a day or two.
  • Cardiac CT scans: X-rays and computers combine to create 3D pictures of the heart.
  • Electrocardiogram (EKG): This test measures your heart’s electrical activity and tracks abnormal rhythms.
  • Echocardiogram: An ultrasound, but for the heart.
  • Stress echocardiogram: We’ll watch how your heart changes while you exercise.
  • Nuclear cardiology: Small amounts of radioactive material can give us a big-picture view of how the heart is functioning.

Electrophysiology

We can better understand how to treat and cure arrhythmia, thanks to the power of electricity. An electrophysiology test looks into your heart’s activity and electrical system, and is one of the key tests we use to diagnose arrhythmia. Our electrophysiologists use their understanding of the heart's electricity to treat arrhythmias using the latest techniques, like radiofrequency ablation and cryoablation.

Cardiac catheterization lab

A cardiac catheterization lab, also known as a cath lab, is a facility with specialized equipment designed specifically for evaluating serious heart and blood vessel conditions. Your doctor may send you to our cath lab for tests like:

  • Coronary angiography, which uses an X-ray to examine blood vessels.
  • Diagnostic cardiac catheterization, where a thin tube called a catheter is inserted into the heart to check how well it’s pumping.
  • Electrophysiology studies, which measure how well your heart’s electrical system is working.
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Treatments

Once we’ve diagnosed your cardiovascular condition, we’ll design a treatment plan around your unique healthcare needs. We may recommend treatments ranging from heart-healthy lifestyle changes to medication to cardiac surgery.

Minimally-invasive + non-surgical treatments

Whenever possible, we’ll recommend non-surgical treatment paths to get your heart back on beat. Depending on your condition, that may include one or more of the following:

Cardiac rehabilitation

With cardiac rehabilitation, our team of experts provide skills and guidance to help get your heart health back on track. That means performing stretches and exercises you'd experience with physical therapy. We also lend a helping hand on making lifestyle changes — stopping tobacco use, eating a healthy diet and managing stress — your new normal.

Interventional cardiology

Interventional cardiology is a medical specialty that treats heart and blood vessel conditions using catheters. Compared to open heart surgery, interventional cardiology requires smaller surgical incisions and less recovery time.

These treatment approaches can restore proper blood flow, repair holes in the heart, implant lifesaving medical devices and reduce a person’s risk of stroke or heart attack.

Implantable medical devices

Implantable medical devices can help restore key heart functions like beating regularly and pumping blood when the heart can’t perform them on their own.

A person who has faced a heart attack, cardiogenic shock or advanced heart failure may require mechanical circulatory support to pump blood throughout their body when the weakened heart can’t. A ventricular assist device (VAD) is a type of long-term or short-term treatment to help your vital organs get the right amount of blood.

Preventive cardiology

Between routine heart screenings and maintaining healthy habits over time, practicing preventive cardiology methods will help keep your heart healthy and strong. The real secret to wellness is maintaining healthy habits over time. How you eat and move today can protect you from heart disease in the future.

Cardiac surgery + heart transplant

Our colleagues in cardiac surgery are among the brightest minds in medicine. You can put your trust in their hands to perform a variety of minimally invasive and more surgical procedures, including:

A heart transplant is a type of cardiac surgery that involves replacing a failed heart with a healthy one. You may be eligible for a heart transplant if:

  1. You have a heart condition that severely limits your heart's ability to pump blood.
  2. Your body can handle the stress of a major surgery and post-transplant treatments.
  3. You can trust in the treatment plan your transplant team created for you.

Cardio-oncology

Cardio-oncology is the medical specialty focused on treating cancer without placing too much stress on the heart. Side effects of cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiation therapy, can also increase your risk of heart disease. When drugs or other substances harm your heart, it's known as cardiac toxicity.

We offer the treatments, resources and support needed for a heart-healthy life — whether you’ve received a recent cancer diagnosis, are currently receiving cancer care or have moved into a remission phase of life.

Vascular medicine and surgery

Vascular diseases like peripheral artery disease and carotid artery disease can take a toll on how blood vessels circulate blood, nutrients and oxygen throughout the body. Whether you need emergency or preventive care, our vascular specialists and vascular surgeons use the latest techniques to restore healthy blood flow.

Women’s heart care

Heart diseases in women can differ in symptoms and risk factors from men – like how heart attack symptoms and risks are different in women than men. That’s why the gender you were assigned at birth plays a role in detecting disease. Because no two hearts are the same, you can trust that your treatment path will be guided by compassion and the latest in cardiovascular medicine.

Dr. Navin Kapur describes the innovative methods Tufts Medical Center used to save Terry Sullivan's life.
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FAQs

What are common heart attack symptoms?

Common heart attack symptoms include:

  • Significant chest pain
  • Significant difficulty breathing
  • Rapid or irregular heartbeat 

It's very important to know that heart attack symptoms present differently in women and assigned females at birth (AFABs). Some of the most common heart attack symptoms for women include:

  • A sudden cold sweat
  • Back, neck and jaw pain
  • Chest pain, pressure and discomfort
  • Lightheadedness or dizziness
  • Nausea
  • Shortness of breath
  • Stomach pain

If you're unsure of your symptoms, please call your doctor's office or a triage nurse from your health plan. If you're experiencing severe symptoms, call 911 immediately.

How can I lower my risk of a heart attack?

Certain risk factors like age and family can increase your risk of a heart attack. But there are many heart-healthy choices you can make to lower your risk, including:

  • Don't use tobacco in any form
  • Eat a heart-healthy diet 
  • Increase your physical activity to at least 2.5 hours of aerobic activity per week
  • Limit alcohol consumption to up to 1 drink per day for women and assigned females at birth (AFABs), and up to 2 drinks per day for men and assigned males at birth (AMABs)
  • Maintain a healthy blood pressure of ideally less than 130/80, but at least less than 140/90
  • Maintain a healthy body weight, with an ideal BMI less than 25 but at least less than 30 depending on what you've identified with your doctor
  • Manage your cholesterol levels, with an ideal HgA1c of less than 7% but may vary depending on goals you've identified with your doctor
  • Manage your stress and avoid stressful situations whenever possible
  • Monitor blood sugar if you have diabetes 
Cynthia Enright, NP using a stethoscope to check a patient's heart during an EP (Electrophysiology) lab appointment at Tufts Medical Center.
Our locations

From regular office visits to inpatient stays, find the healthcare you need and deserve close to home.

Cardiologist Eric Ewald, MD talks to patient in Lowell General Hospital's Heart and Vascular inpatient unit (D4Med).
Our doctors + care team

Meet the doctors and care team devoted to supporting you every step of the way along your path to better health.

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