Preventive Cardiology

What is preventive cardiology?

While your genetics and family medical history contribute to your risk of heart disease, other risk factors are mainly under your control. For example, lifestyle choices, including your diet, exercise habits, and smoking, contribute to your cardiovascular health risk. 

Preventive cardiology aims to improve and protect your cardiovascular health with lifestyle adjustments, treatments, and routine health screenings to evaluate your risk and health. 

What does preventive cardiology include?

The physicians at Lone Star Heart and Vascular Center provide a comprehensive preventive cardiology program. They carefully tailor your plan to address your individual needs. In general, preventive cardiology includes:

Health screenings

The physicians offer standard health screenings, including blood pressure checks and blood tests to measure your cholesterol, glucose, and other factors that contribute to your heart health risks. 

During your health screening appointment, you also review other risk factors for cardiovascular disease, including your weight, activity levels, diet, alcohol consumption, and tobacco use. 

Diagnostic testing

Lone Star Heart and Vascular Center also offers thorough diagnostic testing if you have any signs of cardiovascular disease, including:

• Chest pain, pressure, or tightness
• Shortness of breath
• Fainting
• Fatigue and weakness
• Fluttering or racing heartbeat
• Lightheadedness or dizziness
• Swelling in your feet or legs

The physicians offer thorough cardiovascular testing, including onsite echocardiograms, electrocardiograms, and stress tests, to monitor your health and identify problems. These tests also track the effectiveness of your treatment plans.

Personalized treatment plans

Your doctor works with you to create and implement a customized treatment plan to improve and protect your cardiovascular health. Depending on your individual needs, your preventive cardiology plan could include:

• Dietary adjustments
• Additional physical activity
• Weight loss
• Smoking cessation
• Medication to control your blood pressure or cholesterol
• Stress management

When necessary, your doctor might provide additional treatments such as angioplasty, defibrillation, or pacemaker implantation to improve your heart health. 

Why is preventive cardiology important?

Many of the contributing factors for heart disease don’t cause symptoms until it’s too late. For example, unless you have routine health screenings, you won’t know if you have high blood pressure or elevated cholesterol levels. 

Preventive cardiology aims to monitor your health and identify risk factors before you experience health problems. Lone Star Heart and Vascular Center wants to help you stay healthy, avoid heart disease, and lead a healthy, active life. 

Call Lone Star Heart and Vascular Center, or make an appointment online today, for personalized preventive cardiology.