Corazón y Vascular

An arrhythmia, also called a dysrhythmia, is an abnormal heartbeat. An arrhythmia occurs when the electrical system that regulates a steady heartbeat becomes impaired, causing the heart to beat too fast, too slow or irregularly.

Commonly called hardening of the arteries, arteriosclerosis is a heart condition that includes a variety of conditions that cause artery walls to thicken and lose elasticity.

Atrial fibrillation (also called AFib) is a type of heart arrhythmia that can lead to blood clots, stroke, heart failure and other heart-related complications. It is a serious heart condition that needs immediate diagnosis and treatment by a heart doctor.

To learn more about treatment for atrial fibrillation, download our treatment guide. 

Congestive heart failure (CHF) results when blood flow out of the heart slows, causing blood returning to the heart through the veins to back up and create congestion in the body's tissues. Baylor Scott & White – Hillcrest offers a Congestive Heart Failure Clinic, bringing together the expertise of heart physicians required to successfully manage this heart condition.

A heart attack, or myocardial infarction, occurs when the heart muscle experiences a severe or prolonged lack of oxygen caused by blocked blood flow. Cardiologists on the medical staff use a wide variety of approaches to treat a heart attack, including medication, minimally invasive and traditional surgery approaches, and lifestyle changes.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy occurs when heart muscle cells enlarge and cause the walls of the ventricles (usually the left ventricle) to thicken. The ventricle size often remains normal, but the thickening may block blood flow out of the ventricle. Cardiologists on the medical staff use lifestyle changes, medications and surgery to address this heart condition.

Vascular surgeons on the medical staff of Baylor Scott & White – Hillcrest successfully diagnose and treat hundreds of heart patients annually for a variety of PAD—atherosclerosis of the peripheral arteries. They use the latest digital imaging technology, minimally invasive surgical techniques and pharmacological approaches to treat PAD.

The American Stroke Association defines transient ischemic attack (TIAs) as temporary blockage of blood flow to the brain. A TIA should not be ignored, as it may be the precursor to a major stroke. Baylor Scott & White – Hillcrest's Emergency Center houses the stroke center, which has been awarded the Joint Commission's Stroke Gold Plus Award in recognition of having all necessary elements to provide top-tier care for stroke patients, including evaluation and treatment of TIAs