Your heart is one of the most hardworking muscles in the body, beating more than 100,000 times a day. It’s vital to take preventative care of this organ to help lower the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Below our team shares why seeing a preventative cardiologist is valuable to your health and the three main categories of people who benefit the most from coming to see our doctors.
What Is Preventative Cardiology?
Did you know heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States, and about one in every four deaths is attributed to it? Typically doctors monitor risk factors like high blood pressure and cholesterol and wait to act until the numbers are alarming. Instead, doctors and patients should proactively take steps to reduce the risk and prevent heart complications before a diagnosis or incident occurs. A preventative cardiologist does just that—they dig deeper through specialized training and research to prevent and treat conditions that might not be recognized by a general cardiologist. In doing so, a preventative cardiologist can also help prevent the need for invasive procedures such as cardiac bypass or coronary stenting.
Though we believe everyone could benefit from seeing a preventive cardiologist, these three groups are at the most risk of developing heart disease and should see a doctor immediately:
Family History of Heart Disease
Certain types of heart disease can be genetic, even if these individuals eat right, exercise and maintain a healthy weight. If a parent or sibling has had early onset heart disease, a cardiologist might suggest screening for risk factors and recommend preventative strategies. Many individuals in this category think the risk doesn’t apply to them but it does and seeing a preventative cardiologist can help discover the genetic mutation before the disease develops.
History of Early Age Heart Conditions
Suffering from a stroke or heart attack at a young age is unusual. Typically heart attacks are most common in individuals who are 60 and older. People younger than their mid-60s who experience a heart attack or stroke should see a preventative cardiologist to prevent further heart disease and damage. Care for this early stage heart disease is usually more aggressive because it doesn’t follow a usual pattern. Your cardiologist will provide a plan for regular screening and ways to reduce your risk. If you’ve been diagnosed with a cardiovascular condition and are searching for the top cardiologist near me, reach out to the team at AMS Cardiology today.
Cholesterol Disorders
If you have high cholesterol that can’t be controlled by lifestyle and diet changes, you should consider seeing a preventive cardiologist. This is almost always due to a genetic cause. Cholesterol is a fatty substance found in foods. Too much “bad” cholesterol can contribute to plaque in the arteries, which can limit blood flow to the heart and increase the chance of heart attack and stroke. People with chronic cholesterol disorders generally benefit from a different approach, with earlier and more aggressive treatment to help lower their levels.
AMS Cardiology Is the Top Cardiologist Near Me
AMS Cardiology is the premier cardiologist research group in the Greater Philadelphia area. Through preventative cardiology, we hope to deliver individualized research-based care to our patients to help reduce risk factors of heart disease and prevent symptoms from worsening. If you’ve been searching for the best preventative cardiologist near me, contact the doctors at AMS Cardiology to book an appointment today.