[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/02\/heart-disease-elizabeth-piccione\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/02\/heart-disease-elizabeth-piccione\/","headline":"Q and A: Heart Disease with Dr. Elizabeth Piccione","name":"Q and A: Heart Disease with Dr. Elizabeth Piccione","description":"Dr. Piccione, a board-certified cardiologist with UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute at UPMC Jameson answers questions about heart disease. ","datePublished":"2019-02-15","dateModified":"2019-02-15","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/heart-vascular","name":"Heart and Vascular Institute","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/heart-vascular","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/heart-and-vascular-institute\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/HR-v-BP-2.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/HR-v-BP-2.png","height":327,"width":754},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/02\/heart-disease-elizabeth-piccione\/","about":["Health Topics A-Z","Heart and Vascular Health"],"wordCount":487,"articleBody":"Elizabeth Piccione, MD, is a cardiologist with UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute at UPMC Jameson. She is board-certified in cardiovascular disease and provides general cardiology services with focuses on heart failure, congestive heart failure, nuclear cardiology, women\u2019s cardiology, and echocardiographyDr. Elizabeth Piccione of UPMC Jameson on Heart DiseaseWhat Is Heart Disease?Heart disease refers to any disease that affects the cardiovascular system. This includes:The heart muscleThe arteries that supply blood to the heartThe electrical system that controls the rhythm of the heartThe valves that control the direction of blood flow within the chambers of the heartWhat Are the Risk Factors for Developing Heart Disease?Risk factors for developing heart disease include:SmokingHigh blood pressureHigh cholesterolA family history of premature coronary disease (for men, younger than 55 and for women, younger than 65)DiabetesObesityInactivityIs There Anything I Can Do to Prevent Developing Heart Disease?Steps that you can take to help decrease your chance of developing heart disease include:Eating a healthy dietMaintaining a healthy weightExercising regularlyNot smokingControlling diabetes and high blood pressure with appropriate medications can also help decrease your risk.If I Already Have Heart Disease, or if I Am at Risk for Developing Heart Disease, What Treatment Options Are Available?There are a variety of medications available to help to treat heart disease. These medications help to:Alter blood pressureControl blood sugarThin the bloodDecrease cholesterol levelsIf needed, minimally invasive procedures and surgeries are also available, including stents to increase blood flow in clogged arteries, pacemakers to control the heart\u2019s electrical system, and valve replacement or repair.Dr. Elizabeth PiccioneWill I Need to Travel to Pittsburgh for Heart and Vascular Care?No. Access to UPMC Heart and Vascular services is available locally through UPMC Jameson. Most procedures can be done locally as well. More advanced cardiovascular procedures that require travel into Pittsburgh are coordinated by our local office. This allows for pre- and post-operative follow-up close to home.What Services Are Available at the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute at UPMC Jameson?There are a variety of services available at UPMC Jameson. You can undergo evaluation by one of our cardiac care team members, including:General cardiologistsElectrophysiologistsVascular surgeonsInterventional cardiologistsCardiothoracic surgeonsThoracic surgeonsPatients can also visit the transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) clinic. This clinic provides evaluation before and after procedures for minimally invasive aortic valve replacement.You can also undergo diagnostic tests including:EchocardiogramsStress testingEKGsHolter and event monitorsUltrasound studies of the arteriesThere are many procedures available at the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute at UPMC Jameson. These include:Acute percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)Left heart catheterizationRight heart catheterizationElective percutaneous interventionPacemaker insertionPeripheral interventionEndovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR)Carotid endarterectomyPeripheral artery bypass surgeryFull range of vascular surgical procedures"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2019","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"02","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/\/02\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Q and A: Heart Disease with Dr. Elizabeth Piccione","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/02\/heart-disease-elizabeth-piccione\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]