The Cardiology physician staff is board certified and offers preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic care for patients.
Several factors determine cardiac health; genes, environment and decisions to exercise and eat right each day. Also in that mix is whether or not preventive care is part of a patient’s regular health routine. Check-ups at medically-suggested intervals play a role in helping a patient remain healthy by detecting problems, and potential problems, early. Detected early, treatment can begin early, and a major health issue can be averted.
In medical terms, “primary prevention” for cardiology refers to the process of helping men and women who are without symptoms, but whose family history, physical condition at present, or other factors put them into a high risk category for developing coronary disease. For them, prevention may involve a diet designed to be “heart healthy,” a personalized exercise program and possibly cholesterol-lowering medication. However, every program is designed to be fitted to the individual and what is right for one patient does not necessarily fit all others.
Another form of prevention is to help a patient who has experienced a heart attack (or other heart involvement) to safely recover. This is referred to as “secondary prevention.”
Although heart attacks are the first illness or heart injury that comes to mind when the public thinks of a cardiologist, there are numerous other heart conditions that should be evaluated by a cardiologist; congenital heart malformations, acquired heart disease (cardiomyopathy, myocarditis, rheumatic heart), arrhythmias, physical injury to the heart, and other issues. Often, heart conditions are “silent,” that is, there are no noticeable symptoms. This is why a complete cardiac check-up is good preventive sense.
Diagnostic tools at the Cardiology Department of UH-GMC include:
- A complete, comprehensive medical history and information related to the patient’s current state of health
- A determination of the likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease by utilizing a well-recognized study (the Framingham coronary heart disease risk score, for example)
- Blood test results
- Stress testing (exercise)
- Stress testing (adenosine)
- Holter monitor (24/48 hours)
- Cardiac event monitor (2 wks/1 mo)
- Echocardiogram
- Stress echocardiogram (cardiac ultrasound)
- Nuclear scan
Once the results from the diagnostics tests have returned to the cardiologist, they can be interpreted for risk of heart attack. From that report, preventive steps can be planned, or interventional steps can be taken.
UH-GMC also offers a series of free classes to educate patients (and their families) about Congestive Heart Failure (CHF). This series helps patients with important questions about symptom recognition, nutrition, exercise and stress management in controlling their condition.
The Cardiology Department emphasizes heart healthy habits, successful return to health from a heart attack, optimum cardiac health for today—and tomorrow.