Cardiac CareGeneral & Preventive Cardiology and Advanced Cardiac Imaging

Conditions Treated

At his office in Newport Beach, California, Dr. Sarabi treats a wide range of cardiac conditions. On this page you can learn a little more about the most common conditions he treats. For detailed information on any of the conditions listed, or to learn more about Dr. Sarabi’s treatment options for other cardiac conditions, contact us online or call 949-706-1114. We will schedule a convenient appointment time with Dr. Sarabi to help you get the information you need.

Be sure to learn about the cardiology services Dr. Sarabi offers to treat these and other conditions

Coronary Artery Disease

The leading cause of death in the United States for both men and women, coronary artery disease occurs over time as the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle become hardened and narrowed. The hardening and narrowing of the affected arteries results from the buildup on the inner walls of the arteries of cholesterol and other material, collectively referred to as plaque.

As plaque thickens over time, less blood is able to flow through the arteries. This means that the heart muscle fails to receive the full amount of blood and oxygen it needs. Coronary artery disease may reveal itself as a result of chest pain (angina) or suddenly cause a heart attack. A heart attack occurs when the heart's blood supply is completely cut off, and causes permanent damage to the heart muscle.

This condition can also weaken the heart muscle over time, contributing to heart failure (inability of the heart to pump blood efficiently to all parts of the body) and/or arrhythmias (changes to the normal beating rhythm of the heart).

Arrhythmia

In patients with arrhythmia, the heart beats too quickly, too slowly or with an irregular pattern. A faster heartbeat is known as tachycardia, and when the heart beats too slowly it is known as bradycardia.

Coronary artery disease, prior heart attacks, blood chemistry imbalances, abnormal hormone levels and certain medications all can cause an altered or irregular heartbeat. Patients with an arrhythmia may feel lightheadedness, dizziness, chest pain and shortness of breath, among other symptoms. Treatment to restore a normal heart rhythm often involves cardioversion through the use of prescription medication and/or electricity or advanced ablations.

Heart Failure

Contributing to over 300,000 deaths in the U.S. each year, heart failure occurs when the heart is not able to pump enough blood to all parts of the body. Unlike a heart attack, heart failure does not mean that the heart has stopped beating or is about to stop.

Heart failure does cause blood and other fluids to back up into the lungs, and also leads to edema - excess fluid remaining in the feet, ankles and legs. Many patients experiencing heart failure also complain of tiredness and shortness of breath.

Coronary artery disease, high blood pressure and diabetes are the leading causes of heart failure. The underlying cause must be treated for a patient's symptoms to be resolved.

Heart Valve Abnormalities

When functioning normally, the heart valves control forward blood flow in the heart and prevent backwards flow. There are several types of valve disorders that cause the valves to malfunction. Valvular stenosis occurs when one or more valves are too narrow and stiff. Valvular insufficiency occurs when one or more valves do not close tightly.

Valve disorders may be congenital or acquired through an infection, coronary artery disease, hypertension or other diseases and conditions affecting the heart muscle.

Patients with a heart valve disorder may experience shortness of breath, dizziness, chest discomfort, swelling of the extremities and/or rapid weight gain. Once a valve disorder is diagnosed, the goal of treatment is to prevent further damage through the use of medications and/or surgical repair/replacement of the affected valves.

Hypertension

Hypertension is commonly known as high blood pressure. Though it is usually symptomless, hypertension can cause debilitating conditions such as stroke, heart failure, heart attack or kidney failure.

Blood pressure is a measure of the amount of force applied to the walls of the arteries as the blood is pumped. The "top number" in a blood pressure reading (the systolic reading) measures the pressure when your heart beats, while the "bottom number" (the diastolic reading) measures the pressure when your heart is at rest.

Systolic readings between 120 and 139, or diastolic readings between 80 and 89, are a sign of prehypertension. Patients with higher readings will be diagnosed with hypertension, and will need to take steps to control their blood pressure including healthier diet and lifestyle along with prescription medication when needed.

Hyperlipidemia

Hyperlipidemia is more commonly called high cholesterol. Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance. Everyone needs a certain amount of cholesterol for the body to function normally, but excess cholesterol in the blood can build up inside the arteries as plaque, which narrows and hardens the arterial walls.

High cholesterol levels in the blood also can increase the risk of heart disease. A simple blood test is used to determine whether a patient has high blood cholesterol, which can be hereditary and may be more likely for those patients who are overweight and eat a high-fat diet.

Hyperlipidemia can be treated with certain medications along with lifestyle and diet modification.