Preventive Care
The postulation that anyone can suffer a heart attack at any time is disconcerting for many people. The damage on the body can be quite extensive and may lead to stroke or even death. This uneasiness can be quelled by scheduling an appointment with a cardiologist as it provides some reassurance that one’s health is being monitored. But how often should one see a cardiologist? Is it for everyone? Well, it varies from person to person. According to the expert cardiologist Dr. Rishin Shah, when it comes to heart matters, a sit-and-wait approach is simply not good enough. A cardiologist will set up a routine according to the patient’s risk factors, the current state of health, and warning signs. Preventive heart disease measures should be a mainstay for everyone. However, there are particular categories of people who must often see a cardiologist.
Family History
People with a family history of heart attacks have gene issues that increase the risk of the disease, regardless of their diet and body activities. Genetic testing will reveal several “smoking gun” genes that lead to a heart attack. Some cardiologists go further and do genetic testing for specific cholesterol disorders and other advanced blood tests. For individuals under this category, screening should not stop at normal blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Imaging of the blood vessels should also be done in order to determine if the patient inherited the same defective genes, and assess the risk. Early discovery of genetic defects may save one’s life as cardiologists will be in a position to reduce the risk before the disease develops. Anyone with a family history of heart attacks should book an appointment with Dr. Rishin Shah for the best cardiovascular care.
Personal History
It’s unacceptable to see a young person suffer a heart attack, yet such cases are on the rise. Such patients need to take extra care to prevent further heart damage. People in this category require a different plan of treatment. Standard testing and screening methods are not good enough because their heart disease patterns are different. Early-age heart disease patients need additional more aggressive care. They may need to undergo more advanced screening tests, and sometimes even try new forms of treatment based on the latest science and research.
Cholesterol Disorders
Individuals found in this category have extremely high cholesterol that cannot be lowered by diet changes or lifestyle adjustments. It could be genetic, but this has to be determined first before a treatment plan is set up. For instance, familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a genetic disorder that causes very high levels of cholesterol. Thus, different approaches of care can be taken to deal with the cholesterol issue such as filtering cholesterol from the blood (apheresis), or treatment with new, more aggressive drugs.
Multiple Risk Factors
Those in this category have combined risk factors usually associated with heart disorders, for instance, smoking, obesity, high blood pressure, and lack of exercise among others. In this particular case, the individual risk factors have combined in one person, effectively making preventive care difficult and increasing their chances of getting heart disease. Individuals with multiple risk factors will require more than one annual physical exam and an experienced cardiologist. They need real-time support and constant feedback because most risk factors are results of habit.
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