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Medical Malpractice

Jury Awards Woman $755,000 in Emergency Room Medical Malpractice CasePosted on 5/16/2012
New Board Recommendations Important to Safety of Atlanta PatientsPosted on 5/9/2012
Are Georgia and U.S. Doctors Committing Medical Malpractice Online?Posted on 5/2/2012
Georgia and U.S. Nursing Homes’ Emergency Preparedness QuestionedPosted on 5/1/2012
Military Man Sues U.S. Government for Medical Malpractice DamagesPosted on 4/23/2012
“Doctors and Consumers Fight Unnecessary Testing”Posted on 4/18/2012
Could a New Diagnostic Tool Help Predict Heart Attacks and Save Lives?Posted on 4/9/2012
Important New Study Published on Most Common Childhood Leukemia, ALLPosted on 4/1/2012
Are Low Income Patients More Likely to Sue for Medical Malpractice?Posted on 3/19/2012
Are State Medical Boards Protecting the Public from Medical Malpractice?Posted on 3/9/2012

Understanding the Many Faces of Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) can rear its ugly head in many ways. Similar to how there are a number of different kinds of cancer, CVD is merely a category for several heart-related conditions. An estimated 81.1 million adults in the United States are suffering from one or more forms of CVD currently, and the disease claims more lives than any other cause of death in our nation - well over 800,000 per year.

Different forms of CVD present different problems, however. Some forms can take hold over time and may pose no immediate threat for years. Eventually, these can lead to the development of other more serious, even deadly, forms of CVD. Recognizing symptoms when they appear is paramount.

Hypertension

Also known as high-blood pressure, this is the most common form of CVD, affecting nearly 74.5 million people in America. This represents one in three adults. Though the causes of hypertension are largely unknown, it is easily detected and usually controllable. Symptoms of high-blood pressure include headache, swelling of the extremities, and heart palpitations (fluttering sensation in the chest). This condition can be treated with medication and through a large number of therapies.

Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)

The second most common form of CVD, this condition is currently affecting 17.6 million people in the U.S. It is defined as a blockage of the blood vessels that serve the heart muscle. This can be caused by atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and/or blood clots. The most common form of CHD is angina pectoris, but the most widely known form of CHD is myocardial infarction - otherwise known as a heart attack. Over 10 million Americans are affected by heart attacks every year. In most cases, this condition is treatable with medication, but if the disease has progressed enough, open heart surgery may be necessary.

Heart Failure

Approximately 5.8 million people in the U.S. are affected by heart failure, which is the inability of cardiac output to meet the metabolic demands of the body. Though there are many possible causes for this form of CVD, common ones include myocardial infarction, congenital valve or muscle disease, and severe hypertension. Symptoms include, among others, shortness of breath, heart palpitations and chest pain.

Cardiac Arrhythmia

This condition is basically an irregular heartbeat, and affects approximately 2.2 million Americans every year. Symptoms can be subtle or profound and disabling, such as palpitations, chest pain, and fainting spells. To diagnose this form of CVD, an electrocardiogram (EKG) is used to determine the type of arrhythmia that is present. In some cases, automatic defibrillators implanted in the body are used to help stop arrhythmias from occurring.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with Cardiovascular Disease in Georgia and feel it was discovered late or originally missed by your doctor or medical professional, please request one of the Dover Law Firm's free information resources available to you, including our book, Why Did This Critical Medical Error Happen to Me?, and our report, The Heart Report: Common Diseases and Medical Errors. You can also contact an experienced Atlanta medical malpractice attorney at the Dover Law Firm at 770-518-1133 to discuss your legal options if you've received bad medical care.

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