Preventive heart care is the care provided by preventive cardiologists to prevent heart diseases and keep the heart strong. It involves identifying and addressing risk factors that can lead to heart disease and implementing certain strategies to maintain heart health.
Preventive heart care is especially useful for those who have:
- Few or no risk factors for heart disease and want to keep their heart healthy.
- One or more risk factors for cardiac diseases and want to eliminate or reduce their risk factors.
- Experienced a life-threatening cardiac event, like a heart attack, and want to avoid future events and improve their heart health.
A cardiologist provides preventive heart care according to an individual’s unique health needs and goals.
Let’s discuss the key roles of cardiologists in keeping your heart healthy and strong and where you can find the best cardiologist in Palm Beach County, Florida.
Role #1 They Assess and Manage Your Risk Factors
To administer preventive heart care, preventive cardiology specialists first assess and learn about an individual’s risk factors. Then, they develop a treatment plan to manage their risk factors based on their medical history, health status, and goals.
Typically, to assess your risk factor for cardiac diseases, your cardiology specialist will:
- Talk about your medical history and history of cardiac disorders
- Discuss your lifestyle habits
- Screen you for mental health problems like anxiety and depression
- Conduct a physical exam focused on your heart health
- Order blood tests to check your cholesterol level, blood sugar level, and other health markers
- Perform diagnostic tests like electrocardiograms that show more details about your heart function
- Order other non-conventional tests to discover your risk factor for heart disease, such as specific proteins, lipoproteins, and other substances that can increase the risk for heart disease.
Following the risk assessment, your preventive cardiologist will develop a risk management plan. High blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, obesity, kidney disease,and diabetesare some risk factors that can increase your likelihood of developing cardiovascular disorders. That is why a preventive cardiologist will:
- Monitor your blood pressure regularly and prescribe medication to keep it under control
- Monitor your cholesterol level and advise dietary modifications to reduce the level of bad cholesterol in your body.
- Regularly monitor your blood sugar level and help you keep it under control with medications and dietary changes.
- Collaborate with your nephrologist to keep your kidney disease under control
- Measure your body mass index and recommend strategies to shed your extra pounds
Role#2 They Recommend Lifestyle Modifications
As lifestyle choices can significantly impact heart health, one of the primary focuses of preventive cardiology is encouraging patients to adopt healthy lifestyles. Your preventive cardiologist will discuss your eating habits, physical activity levels, smoking, and alcohol use. Based on the lifestyle assessment, your preventive cardiologist will tell you what you can do daily to lower your heart disease risks.
Generally, cardiologists advise patients to adopt a heart-healthy diet rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats. They also advise reducing the consumption of sugary beverages, processed foods, and foods rich in saturated and trans fats. A preventive cardiology specialist also encouraged their patients to engage in regular physical activity to maintain a healthy weight and keep their hearts strong. Walking, jogging, cycling, and swimming are some of the most commonly recommended physical activities by cardiologists.
What’s more? A cardiologist may also advise you to tame your stress by incorporating stress management techniques such as yoga, meditation, and deep breathing exercises. You may also be advised to get adequate, restful sleep and limit your consumption of alcohol. Smoking can also contribute to cardiovascular diseases; therefore, a cardiologist may advise you to quit smoking.
Cardiology in Palm Beach County, Florida
If you are in search of a reputable cardiology center, visit us here at Advanced Heart & Vascular Institute. Since 2015, our cardiologists have been providing our patients with top-notch preventive healthcare along with cardiovascular treatments. Our award-winning board-certified and fellowship-trained cardiologists, Dr. Eli S. Levine and Dr. Michael A. Schechter, are also experts in performing minimally invasive cardiovascular procedures to allow our patients to have better recovery rates.
If you would like to schedule a one-on-one consultation with our cardiologists to improve your heart health or discuss your heart disease, call us today at (561) 235-5621 or use our convenient online appointment request form.
