Smoking is one of the biggest risk factors leading to the onset of cardiovascular disease and is the main cause of illness and avoidable death in the majority of countries. According to the WHO, it’s estimated that 5.4 million people die prematurely due to smoking and if the tendency of the past years continues it Will increase to 10 million by the year 2025. Apart from cardiovascular death, the smoking habit is associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cancer, especially lung cancer. Approximately 50% of smokers can die due to tobacco-related illnesses. The probability of developing acute coronary events is directly related to the number of cigarettes smoked daily and the number of years since smoking began. It is considered that passive smokers have a 30% chance of developing coronary disease. A study revealed that arteriosclerosis increased by 50% in smokers and 30% in passive smokers in relationship to non-smokers. Here at SINCRO we have a team of specialists that allow for complete control of your pathologies, book your appointment here

After suffering a heart attack, the patient often raises some questions and fears about his or her sex life. To find positive solutions, it is necessary to get rid of any taboos or embarrassment that may be experienced when discussing these issues with the doctor. The most common fears and anxieties that arise about sexual life are related to the physical exertion that the activity requires, as the patient is often afraid that the sexual act may pose a significant risk to his or her heart. For patients’ peace of mind, it must be said that it has been demonstrated that the energy expenditure during sexual intercourse is similar to that generated by climbing two flights of stairs. The heart rate of the sexual act is lower than that produced during other normal activities of daily life, and the physical effort required could be described as moderate, which in principle would not cause any complications. It is recommended to resume sexual intercourse after adequate physical training (cardiac rehabilitation) and there to assess physical capacity, symptoms during exercise, and tolerance to moderate activities. In the absence of symptoms, there is no contraindication to sexual intercourse. Specifically in men, in case of requiring medication to improve erectile function, you should always consult your cardiologist for authorization.   It is common to feel fear of death during sexual activity after having a heart attack, however, cases of death occur at a very low rate. In a study of almost 6000 cases of sudden death due to non-traumatic causes, only 34 of them were due to cardiac causes and occurred during sexual intercourse; in 27 of these cases, the deceased was having sex with a different partner than usual, influenced by factors such as nervousness, increased arousal, feelings of guilt, the need to look good and the use of drugs to improve sexual potency. A frequently detected problem is impotence and frigidity; both can be caused by the type of pharmacological treatment, psychological alterations caused by heart disease, and fear; it is important to control risk factors, and comorbidities and always consult your doctor to evaluate causes that can be intervened. In Sincro we have a team of specialists that allow us to perform an integral control of your pathologies, schedule your appointment here.

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the world and it is necessary to be aware of prevention, which is based on healthy lifestyle habits and learning to identify warning signs and symptoms to consult early and reduce the likelihood of complications.  You should consult a professional if you present the following:  The fundamental axis of prevention lies in healthy lifestyles, which involve regular exercise, maintaining an adequate diet and weight, quitting smoking, and having adequate control of diseases such as hypertension and diabetes and low cholesterol levels. At Sincro we have a team of specialists that allow us to carry out an integral control of your pathologies, schedule your appointment here

Heart failure is a condition in which the heart cannot pump blood efficiently to meet the body’s needs; the main symptoms are fatigue, shortness of breath with usual activities when putting on shoes when lying down, swelling in the legs and abdomen, accelerated weight gain due to fluid retention, chest pain and palpitations. For the diagnosis, the physician will use several tools including clinical history, personal and family history, physical examination, laboratory tests to evaluate possible triggers of the disease and its repercussions and other diagnostic aids such as chest x-ray, echocardiogram and in special scenarios, cardiac catheterization, holter, cardiac resonance, among others.  Untreated heart failure can lead to complications such as pulmonary edema, which is the accumulation of fluid in the lungs, kidney problems, arrhythmias, deterioration in quality of life, recurrent hospitalizations, low cardiac output and death.  Treatment has several pillars: lifestyle changes such as a low-salt diet, regular exercise, healthy eating and weight control; on the other hand, there is a group of essential drugs that modify the natural history of the disease and improve symptoms. It is also important to evaluate the need for medical devices, surgery and procedures such as coronary arteriography, bypass surgery, valve repair or replacement, or cardiac transplantation, as appropriate.  You should consult an emergency room if you have sudden weight gain, shortness of breath at rest or with minimal effort, progressive swelling, extreme fatigue, severe chest pain, rapid or irregular palpitations lasting more than 30 minutes, or that cause pain, choking, or loss of consciousness.  Remember to always consult your cardiologist for specific information and guidance on your situation. At Sincro we have a team of specialists that allow us to perform an integral control of your pathologies, schedule your appointment here

Coronary arteries are the blood vessels that bring oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood to the heart; coronary artery disease occurs when these arteries harden and narrow due to the buildup of cholesterol and other substances (atherosclerosis). As this plaque progresses, less blood flows to the heart muscle, leading to symptoms such as chest pain (angina); when an atherosclerotic plaque becomes unstable and ruptures, clots (thrombi) form, suddenly interrupting the blood supply to a territory of the heart, causing severe and in many cases permanent heart damage (depending on the speed at which the flow is re-established).  What are the risk factors?  What are the symptoms? The main symptom in coronary artery disease is angina pectoris, which manifests as pain or tightness in the center of the chest, of variable intensity, triggered by physical activity or strong emotions and improves with rest; the pain may radiate to the neck, jaw, shoulders or arms. If this symptom occurs with decreasing exercise intensity or at rest, it is called unstable angina.  Another important symptom is fatigue or shortness of breath with usual activity.  When an acute myocardial infarction occurs, the cardinal symptom is chest pain of high intensity, associated with shortness of breath and sweating; some people may have loss of consciousness or less common symptoms such as neck pain, nausea or pain in the pit of the stomach.  If you identify symptoms suggestive of coronary disease, you should consult immediately, remember that time is the heart; in an acute myocardial infarction, the most important thing is to reestablish blood flow as soon as possible to prevent complications.  What are the main complications? The fundamental axis of prevention lies in healthy lifestyles, which involve regular exercise, maintaining an adequate diet and weight, quitting smoking, and having adequate control of diseases such as hypertension and diabetes, and low cholesterol levels. If you have any of these symptoms, schedule your appointment.