Expert Heart Care in Pennsylvania

What Conditions Do the Heart Specialists at Penn Highlands Treat?

Penn Highlands offers comprehensive heart care throughout central Pennsylvania. We treat a wide range of cardiac conditions, including:

• Aorta disease: Any type of condition that damages the body’s largest blood vessel, the aorta. Aorta disease can lead to life-threatening bulges or tears in the blood vessel. It is caused by high blood pressure, plaque buildup, trauma and genetic factors (called Marfan syndrome).
• Arrhythmia: When the heart beats too fast, too slow or irregularly. It is a common heart condition and usually harmless. However, very irregular rhythms can lead to serious heart problems.
• Atherosclerosis: When a waxy buildup of plaque lines the walls of the arteries, causing them to become rigid and narrow. Atherosclerosis is caused by high cholesterol, high blood pressure and other factors such as smoking and can lead to heart attacks or other more serious heart conditions.
• Atrial fibrillation (Afib): This is a type of arrhythmia that causes a very fast heartbeat. Afib, which can develop due to aging, significantly increases the risk for heart attack, heart failure, and stroke.
• Congenital heart disease: Any abnormality of the structure of the heart that has been there since birth. Common congenital heart defects include heart valve disease and defective blood vessels.
• Congestive heart failure: When the heart isn’t pumping blood as well as it should be. This common condition can be caused by coronary artery disease, high blood pressure or other reasons and can limit your quality of life and activity level if not managed properly.
• Coronary artery disease (ischemic heart disease): The narrowing of the major blood vessels inside the heart. It’s usually caused by atherosclerosis.
• Heart muscle disease (cardiomyopathy): When the heart muscles become rigid or enlarged, making it difficult for the heart to pump properly. Heart muscle disease can lead to heart failure.
• Heart valve disease: When one or more of the four valves that control blood flow inside your heart doesn’t work as well as it should. Heart valve disease might be something you’re born with or it can develop over time.
• Hypertension (high blood pressure): When the force of blood against the walls of your arteries is higher than normal. It can lead to heart disease or stroke.
• Pericardial disease (pericarditis): Inflammation of the thin sac of tissue that surrounds the heart. It can be caused by viral infection, heart attack, trauma or a number of other conditions.

Where Can I get Heart Care Near Me in Northwestern/Central and Southwestern Pennsylvania?

At The Heart Center at Penn Highlands, we offer complete cardiac care throughout our cardiology offices and hospitals in central Pennsylvania. Our heart specialists diagnose and treat a wide range of cardiac conditions, using the latest diagnostic tests and procedures.

• Cardiac MRI: This test shows heart function in real time so your cardiologist can assess tissue damage after a heart attack, look for conditions affecting your heart valves, or spot masses or blot clots inside your heart. This is a highly specialized test that is only available at a few hospitals in central Pennsylvania.
• Cardiac rehabilitation: Cardiac rehab is a medically supervised program designed to help you improve your heart health after a diagnosis of heart disease, heart surgery or heart attack. We offer a 12-week program—which focuses on exercise, education and counseling—at Penn Highlands hospitals.
• Cardiovascular intensive care unit (CVICU): This specialty unit is where our heart specialists provide care for our sickest heart and lung patients. You may be cared for in the CVICU if you require treatment for congestive heart failure, have a life-threatening arrhythmia, or if you’ve had a major heart attack, open-heart surgery or a procedure to open a blocked artery (angioplasty).
• Cardiovascular-thoracic surgery: Surgery is highly effective for the treatment of heart disease when performed by experienced cardiovascular surgeons like those at Penn Highlands. Our surgeons perform most types of cardiac surgery, including open-heart surgery, valve repair or replacement, complex aortic procedures and more.
• Echocardiogram: This diagnostic test uses ultrasound to see the structures of the heart and can be used to detect congenital heart problems, blockages, valve disease and more.
• Electrocardiogram: This test monitors the electrical signals within your heart and is used to diagnose arrythmia, heart attack and heart failure.
• Heart catheterization: This minimally invasive procedure allows your Penn Highlands cardiologist to view the arteries in and around your heart. If any blockages are detected, your physician will perform a procedure to open them (angioplasty).
• Stress testing: Also called an exercise stress test, this diagnostic exam shows how your heart works during physical activity (walking on a treadmill). Because exercise makes your heart pump harder and faster, an exercise stress test can reveal problems with blood flow within your heart.

Where Does Penn Highlands Provide Heart Care in Pennsylvania?