Heart & Vascular
Heart and vascular disease covers conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels — including coronary artery disease, heart valve disorders, abnormal rhythms (arrhythmias), heart failure and diseases of the aorta and peripheral arteries. Care combines prevention, advanced imaging, medication, catheter-based procedures and surgery, usually planned by a coordinated heart team.
Medically reviewed by the Florence Healthcare medical team · Last reviewed June 2026
Overview
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, yet much of it is preventable and highly treatable. It ranges from narrowed coronary arteries that cause angina and heart attacks, to leaking or stiffened valves, to electrical problems that make the heart beat too fast, too slowly or irregularly.
Modern cardiac care is rarely a single-specialty matter. Cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, electrophysiologists and vascular specialists work together so that medical, catheter-based and surgical options are weighed for each patient. Many conditions once needing open surgery can now be treated through small catheters — for example TAVI for valve disease or stenting for blocked arteries.
International patients benefit from sending their ECG, echocardiogram and imaging for remote review before travel, so the recommended pathway — and the expected hospital stay — is clear in advance.
Common conditions we treat
Symptoms
- Chest pain, pressure or tightness, especially on exertion
- Shortness of breath at rest or with activity
- Palpitations or a racing, fluttering or irregular heartbeat
- Dizziness, light-headedness or fainting
- Swelling in the legs, ankles or feet
- Unusual fatigue or reduced exercise tolerance
- Pain or cramping in the legs when walking
- Cold, pale or bluish hands or feet
When to seek care
Call emergency services immediately for chest pain or pressure lasting more than a few minutes, sudden severe breathlessness, fainting, or chest pain spreading to the arm, neck or jaw — these can signal a heart attack.
How we diagnose
- Electrocardiogram (ECG) and Holter monitoring
- Echocardiography (heart ultrasound)
- Cardiac stress testing
- Coronary angiography and cardiac catheterization
- Cardiac CT and cardiac MRI
- Blood tests including cardiac biomarkers
How we treat it
Treatment is tailored to your diagnosis. Explore the procedures we offer for this area:
Where you'll be treated
Care for this area is led by our Heart Center.
Learn more
Plain-language, provider-reviewed articles on tests, procedures and symptoms in our Health Library.
Heart & Vascular — frequently asked questions
Key warning signs include chest pain or tightness (especially on exertion), shortness of breath, palpitations, dizziness or fainting, and swelling in the legs. Sudden severe chest pain, particularly if it spreads to the arm, neck or jaw, may signal a heart attack and needs emergency care.
Cardiologists diagnose and treat heart disease with medication and catheter-based (minimally invasive) procedures such as stenting and ablation. Cardiac surgeons perform open or keyhole operations such as bypass and valve surgery. In a heart team, both work together to choose the best approach for each patient.
In many cases, yes. Procedures such as TAVI (transcatheter aortic valve implantation) replace a diseased valve through a catheter, usually via the leg, avoiding open-heart surgery. Suitability depends on the valve affected, its severity and your overall health, which a heart team assesses.
Treatment ranges from lifestyle changes and medication to catheter-based angioplasty with stenting, or coronary artery bypass surgery for more extensive disease. The right approach depends on how many arteries are affected, where the narrowings are, and your symptoms and heart function.
Yes. By sharing your ECG, echocardiogram, angiogram and reports, cardiologists can provide an independent expert opinion remotely — so you understand whether medication, a catheter procedure or surgery is recommended before you decide to travel.
It varies by procedure. Catheter-based treatments such as stenting often allow discharge within a day or two, while open-heart surgery typically needs around a week in hospital and several weeks of recovery. Your coordinator outlines the expected stay and follow-up before you travel.
Concerned about heart & vascular?
Share your reports for a free, no-obligation second opinion and a transparent cost estimate — usually within 48 hours.