Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in America, but early detection and proper management dramatically reduce your risk of heart attack, stroke, and heart failure. At Millennium Park Medical Associates in Greenwood Village, Dr. Farah Khan provides comprehensive cardiovascular care that addresses both existing heart conditions and prevention strategies. From hypertension management to cholesterol control and lifestyle modifications, our Denver Tech Center practice delivers coordinated care that helps you maintain cardiovascular health for life.
Heart disease, also called cardiovascular disease, encompasses conditions affecting your heart and blood vessels. Common types include coronary artery disease (blocked arteries), heart failure (weakened heart muscle), arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats), valve disease (damaged heart valves), and congenital heart defects. These conditions can lead to serious complications like heart attacks and strokes if not properly managed. Early detection through regular screening and proactive care helps detect heart disease early when it's most treatable.
Heart disease symptoms vary depending on the specific condition and its severity. Some individuals experience warning signs, whereas others remain asymptomatic until a serious event occurs.
Common Heart Disease Symptoms: Chest pain or discomfort (pressure, squeezing, or fullness in the chest), shortness of breath (difficulty breathing even without exertion or at rest), fatigue (unusual tiredness that interferes with daily activities), irregular heartbeat (palpitations, racing heart, or feeling like your heart skips beats), dizziness or lightheadedness (feeling faint or unsteady), swelling (fluid retention in ankles, legs, or abdomen), pain or numbness in extremities (especially arms, legs, jaw).
Warning Signs of Heart Attack: Recognize these urgent signs of heart disease requiring immediate emergency care: severe chest pain or pressure lasting more than a few minutes, pain radiating to arms, jaw, neck, or back, extreme shortness of breath, cold sweats, nausea, or vomiting, sudden lightheadedness or loss of consciousness.
If you experience these symptoms, call 911 immediately.
Heart disease treatment depends on your specific condition, severity, and overall health. Our comprehensive approach combines medications, lifestyle modifications, and ongoing monitoring.
Medication Management – We prescribe and monitor medications that improve heart function and reduce cardiovascular risk, including cholesterol-lowering drugs (statins), blood pressure medications, blood thinners, beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, and diuretics tailored to your specific needs.
Lifestyle Modifications – Heart-healthy changes are essential: following a low-fat, low-sodium diet rich in fruits and vegetables, exercising at least 150 minutes weekly, maintaining a healthy weight, quitting smoking, managing stress, and moderating alcohol intake.
Monitoring & Specialist Coordination – Regular follow-up care includes blood pressure checks, cholesterol monitoring, EKG testing, and medication adjustments to ensure treatment remains effective. For advanced heart disease, we coordinate referrals to cardiologists for procedures like angioplasty, stent placement, or cardiac surgery when needed.
Patients throughout Greenwood Village, the Denver Tech Center, Centennial, and Highlands Ranch choose our practice for personalized attention from a team that truly listens. Dr. Farah Khan brings over 20 years of internal medicine experience with a commitment to clear communication and treatment plans that work.
Our convenient Denver Tech Center location offers minimal wait times, same-day appointments, and comprehensive care from providers who know you by name. Whether you need routine care, chronic disease management, or urgent sick visits, expect thorough attention in a practice that values your time.
Heart disease is a broad term covering conditions affecting your heart and blood vessels. It typically develops when plaque (made of cholesterol, fat, and other substances) builds up in arteries, narrowing them and reducing blood flow to the heart. Risk factors include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, obesity, physical inactivity, poor diet, family history, and age. Many people develop heart disease gradually over decades, which is why prevention and early detection through regular screening are so important.
Early heart disease often has no symptoms, which is why screening is critical. When symptoms appear, they may include chest discomfort during exertion that improves with rest, shortness of breath with activity, unusual fatigue, irregular heartbeat, or swelling in legs and ankles. Don't ignore subtle symptoms—schedule an evaluation if you notice concerning changes, especially if you have heart disease risk factors.
While we can't cure most heart disease, we can significantly slow progression and in some cases reverse damage through aggressive treatment. Lifestyle changes (diet, exercise, smoking cessation) combined with medications can reduce plaque buildup, improve heart function, and prevent complications. Some patients achieve substantial improvements with comprehensive management, although reversal depends on disease severity and the timing of treatment initiation.
Adults should have blood pressure checked annually and cholesterol screening starting at age 20 (or earlier with risk factors), then every 4-6 years if normal. If you have diabetes, high blood pressure, or a family history of heart disease, more frequent monitoring is necessary. We create personalized screening schedules based on your cardiovascular risk factors.
