By Dr. Sarah Fatland, Chief Medical Officer
VISTA, CA – Heart disease does not always begin with dramatic or sudden symptoms. In many adults, the early signs are subtle and easy to dismiss, yet they can signal that the heart is under strain and in need of closer attention
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People often expect heart disease to announce itself loudly; but more often, the body gives quieter signals that may seem minor on their own, but meaningful when viewed together.
Some commonly overlooked signs can include ongoing fatigue, shortness of breath with routine activities, reduced exercise tolerance, or a general sense that the body is not keeping up the way it used to. Ultimately, there is such a wide range of subtle symptoms that can be associated with heart disease, that it is imperative you are communicating personal changes with your clinician. Any noticeable changes do not automatically mean heart disease, but they can reflect how well the heart and blood vessels are functioning and are worth discussing with a clinician.
Just as important as recognizing these signs is managing the conditions that commonly contribute to heart disease, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes that is not well controlled.
“Heart disease develops over time,” said Dr. Sarah Fatland, Chief Medical Officer at Vista Community Clinic (VCC). “Regular medical visits, taking prescribed medications as directed and open communication with your care team are some of the most powerful tools we have to reduce risk and prevent serious complications. What matters is making preventive and chronic care a consistent part of life, not something we only seek when we feel unwell.”
Because VCC offers comprehensive services, care teams can work together to support overall health and identify patterns that may point to increased cardiovascular risk, helping patients address concerns early and in a coordinated way.
“Our goal is to partner with patients over time,” Dr. Fatland said. “When people stay engaged in their care, take their medications, and keep regular appointments, we can often prevent small problems from becoming life-threatening ones.”
VCC provides primary care, preventive services, chronic disease management, optometry and dental care at locations throughout Southern California. Services vary by site. To learn more about VCC, visits www.vcc.org. To make an appointment, call or text 844-308-5003.
About Vista Community Clinic
With fifteen state-of-the-art locations in North San Diego, Orange, Los Angeles, and Riverside Counties, VCC provides affordable, high quality health care to more than 70,000 community residents. Services offered by VCC include primary care, pediatrics, prenatal and women’s health, optometry, chiropractic care, dental health, podiatry, acupuncture and behavioral health services. VCC also offers a wide array of community health education programs which are free and open to all community residents. VCC is recognized by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) as a Patient-Centered Medical Home at eight of its clinic sites and within its behavioral health department, and is the recipient of the HRSA National Quality Leader Seal for exceeding national clinical quality benchmarks. For more information call 760.631.5000 or visit www.vcc.org.
