Caring For Your Heart

When it comes to your heart, you deserve the best care possible. Choose Sanford Health for experienced heart providers and the advanced technology and treatments that keep your heart strong.

From routine appointments to emergencies and complex procedures, we cover the full spectrum of heart care.

Visit our experts in cardiology for:

Heart screenings: We offer heart tests that empower you to take control of your long-term health. These painless tests give you and your provider a better look at your risk for heart disease and help you plan for future heart care.

Heart treatments and surgery If you need treatment, we offer minimally invasive and open surgical options. We provide aortic stenosis treatment (TAVR), heart monitoring, heart valve treatment, vascular surgery and more.

Heart rehabilitation and support: Beyond life-saving screenings and treatments, we offer support and rehabilitation for your lifelong heart health. Learn about exercise, prevention, medication management and more.

Children's cardiology: Sanford Children’s pediatric cardiology team treats heart-related birth defects, disorders and disease – all in a child-friendly setting.


When to See a Cardiologist

Cardiologists are specialists who only work with you if you need special heart-related care or have had heart-related conditions in the past.

Your doctor may refer you to a cardiologist if you have symptoms of heart disease or have a family history of heart disease. We work together to diagnose and treat diseases of the heart, including:

  • Arrhythmia
  • Coronary artery disease
  • Heart attack
  • Heart failure
  • High blood pressure
  • High cholesterol

Find a Cardiologist


Heart Hospitals and Clinics Near You

Sanford Heart Hospitals and clinics are in several locations across the Upper Midwest. Plus, Sanford Heart providers also travel to other clinic locations to provide convenient, expert heart care near you.

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Heart Menu

Why Get the Flu Shot?

Protect yourself and your community.

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Heart Events

Get involved with our heart classes and events.

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Heart Attack Signs & Symptoms

Around half of all heart attacks cause symptoms early, before the actual attack. These symptoms can occur days or weeks before the heart attack. If recognized early enough, our specialists can treat your heart to prevent damage and a full attack.

Early signs and symptoms include:

  • Anxiety
  • Back or arm pain
  • Chest pressure, squeezing, aching or burning
  • Fatigue or weakness
  • Feeling full
  • Jaw pain
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Shortness of breath

Ignoring these symptoms puts you at risk of serious heart damage. Go to the nearest Sanford Health emergency room to get treatment.

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Heart Attack Risk Factors

The risk factors for heart disease can be split into two types: those you can control and those you can’t.

Risk factors you can control:

  • Diabetes
  • High blood pressure
  • High cholesterol
  • Lack of exercise
  • Obesity
  • Smoking

Risk factors you can’t control:

  • Family history of heart disease
  • Gender (men are more at risk)
  • Getting older

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High blood pressure is more serious than you may think

Even when most adults feel fine, a third of them have a serious condition that could cause a heart attack, stroke or kidney failure. It’s known as high blood pressure or hypertension.

Most times, there are no symptoms, so people with high blood pressure think they’re perfectly healthy.

Five important things to know

You Could Save a Life

Imagine the worst happens: someone near you is unresponsive and their heart has stopped. You could be their best chance of surviving it.

Complete these two steps:

  • Call 911
  • Push hard and fast on the center of their chest (hands-only CPR)

You don’t need any special training to perform hands-only CPR, but you can seek out a certification course.

Read More about CPR

Heart doctors dedicated to your care

We’re dedicated to creating the best care plan for you. The Sanford Heart team is made up of nationally recognized and experienced cardiologists, surgeons, geneticists and researchers. Our heart providers each play a unique role in caring for our patients.

Depending on your heart needs, you’ll partner with:

  • General Cardiologists. These cardiologists treat patients needing special heart care. They prevent and manage heart and blood vessel problems. 

  • Interventional Cardiologists. Interventional cardiologists use catheter-based treatments to manage heart disease.

  • Electrophysiologists. Electrophysiologists evaluate, diagnose and treat arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms) and implant pacemakers and cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs).

You are the most important part of the team. We will work closely with you to make sure you understand your options and make the right treatment decision for you.

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Access to the Latest Treatments

Clinical trials: Sanford Health offers access to a variety of clinical trials. Participating in a clinical trial can provide you with access to new heart treatments while you help to improve care and find cures. See open clinical trials.

Cardiogenetics: Genetics plays a role in heart disease. With genetic testing, you can learn about heart health for your family’s sake and for your own peace of mind. You can also get customized heart care based on your genetic make-up. Your DNA can tell us about the right medications for you. Find out more.

Patient Stories

Meet Sigrid Strebe

Sigrid Strebe had no risk factors for heart issues, so she didn’t believe her doctor when he said she was having a heart attack. But he was right.

Read Sigrid’s Story

Meet Claude Vershure

It took Claude Vershure about 20 minutes to get a heart screening. Now he’s recovering well after life-saving cardiac surgery.

Read Claude’s Story

Sanford Health News

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