Is Preventive Cardiology Right For You?
A Guide to Preventive Cardiology
Many people don’t realize how important preventive cardiology is for keeping the heart healthy and preventing serious conditions like heart attacks and strokes. This area of medicine focuses on catching heart problems early and managing risk factors before they become major health issues.
By making simple lifestyle changes, taking medications when necessary, and getting regular checkups, you can lower your risk of heart disease and enjoy a healthier life.
What is Preventive Cardiology?
Preventive cardiology is all about stopping heart disease before it starts. Instead of waiting for symptoms to appear, this approach helps identify risk factors early, allowing for better management of heart health.
Doctors who specialize in preventive cardiology work with patients to create personalized plans that may include diet changes, exercise, and medication to maintain good heart health.
- People with a strong family history of heart disease
- People with uncontrolled cardiac risk factors such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, sleep apnea, or obesity
- People who have had a previous heart attack or stroke
- People who have been diagnosed with a heart condition and need help understanding their illness and want to avoid further problems
- People who are at risk for heart disease due to age, ethnicity, or other factors
- People with abnormal advanced lipid panels
- People with abnormal cardiac imaging results
- People interested in taking a proactive approach to their health
Who Can Benefit from Preventive Cardiology?
Anyone concerned about their heart health can benefit from preventive cardiology. It is especially helpful for people with risk factors such as:
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Smoking
- Family history of heart disease
- Sedentary lifestyle
By addressing these risk factors early, you can significantly reduce your chances of developing heart disease.
Common Heart Conditions Preventive Cardiology Helps
Preventive cardiology focuses on conditions that can lead to serious heart problems. These include:
- Cardiovascular Disease – Includes heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure. These conditions often develop over time without noticeable symptoms, making early detection crucial.
- High Blood Pressure – Uncontrolled high blood pressure can strain the heart and increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.
- High Cholesterol – Too much bad cholesterol (LDL) can clog arteries and lead to heart problems.
- Metabolic Syndrome – A group of conditions, including high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and excess body fat, that increases heart disease risk.
Managing Risk Factors for a Healthier Heart
There are several risk factors that can increase your likelihood of heart disease. The good news is that many of them can be controlled with lifestyle changes and, when necessary, medication.
How Preventive Cardiology Can Help
Preventive cardiologists use different methods to lower your risk of heart disease. These include lifestyle changes, medications, and regular screenings.
Lifestyle Changes
Simple changes to your daily routine can significantly improve heart health:
- Eat a Healthy Diet: Focus on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats.
- Exercise Regularly: Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week.
- Quit Smoking: Stopping smoking improves heart health almost immediately.
- Manage Stress: Techniques like meditation, deep breathing, and hobbies can help lower stress levels.
- Maintain a Healthy Weight: Losing even a small amount of weight can improve heart health.
Medications
In some cases, lifestyle changes alone may not be enough, and medication can help manage risk factors:
- Lipid Lowering Drugs: Help lower bad cholesterol levels.
- Blood Pressure Medications: Help keep blood pressure in a healthy range.
- Diabetes Medications: Help control blood sugar levels.
- Regular Checkups and Screenings
Preventive cardiology also involves regular screenings to detect issues early. Common tests include:
- Blood Pressure Checks: Monitoring blood pressure levels regularly.
- Cholesterol Tests: Measuring LDL and HDL cholesterol and advanced lipids like apoB and Lp(a).
- Blood Sugar Tests: Checking for diabetes or prediabetes.
- Inflammation Testing: Blood tests that look for evidence of inflammation in the body.
- Advanced Imaging: Checks for the presence of atherosclerosis or plaque.
When to See a Preventive Cardiologist
If you have one or more risk factors for heart disease, it may be a good idea to consult a preventive cardiologist. Consider seeing a specialist if you:
- Have a family history of heart disease
- Have high blood pressure or cholesterol
- Are overweight or have diabetes
- Are a smoker
- Want to take proactive steps to improve heart health
Benefits of Preventive Cardiology
Taking a preventive approach to heart health offers numerous benefits:
- Reduces Risk of Heart Disease: Catching and managing risk factors early prevents serious conditions.
- Promotes a Longer, Healthier Life: A healthy heart supports overall well-being.
- Saves Money on Healthcare Costs: Preventing heart disease is often more affordable than treating it later.
Final Thoughts
Preventive cardiology is an effective and proven way to take charge of your heart health before problems arise. By making simple lifestyle changes, staying on top of risk factors, and consulting with a preventive cardiologist when needed, you can improve your heart health and overall quality of life.
Start Early For Better Heart Health
The earlier you start focusing on prevention, the better your chances of avoiding serious heart conditions in the future.
Reach out to us with your questions via our contact form. We do our best to reply within 3 business days.
Yes, a monthly membership option is available for ongoing care.
The membership allows me to work closely with you to modify your cardiac risk factors.
Today’s technology makes it easy to see a telemedicine cardiologist.
We use a state-of-the-art video platform and digital technology to provide you with the same high-quality care you would receive in an in-person visit.
We follow a direct specialty care model, so the relationship is between the doctor and the patient, and no insurance is involved.
Often patients find that they save money paying the doctor directly without copays or deductibles.
Reach out to us with your questions via our contact form. We do our best to reply within 3 business days.
Dr Paeschke is wonderful! Having had a heart attack two years ago, it’s an amazing relief to have an ongoing relationship with a cardiologist who is responsive, patient and super knowledgeable.My prior cardiologist was the one who happened to be attending at the hospital. Perfectly competent but impossible to get any meaningful attention.It’s the opposite with Dr Paeschke and the way she’s set-up her practice. I feel very fortunate!
David, Nevada
I highly recommend Dr Tracy for all your cardiac issues. I found it very easy to get an appointment, no months long wait, both initially and for important follow up visits -which are enhanced through calls or on-line chats with her. It’s important to me that I communicate directly with my doctor, especially given the breadth and complexity of the issues that we discuss and this is always the case. While Dr Tracy’s focus is on prevention using the latest technology/devices/testing, my needs are immediate and I feel very confident they are met and we have the best plan going forward to address them.
Mark, Colorado
Dr. Paeschke is an excellent cardiologist. She is thorough and takes time with me as a patient. The appointment is not rushed and I feel very valued and cared for. I really like that she is close to me in Monument as well. I highly recommend Dr. Paeschke to anyone looking for a preventative cardiologist.
Sharon, Colorado
I have always appreciated Dr. Paeschke’s wisdom, care, and knowledge, ever since being referred to her in 2007. Since, I have found that her Heart Health Prevention and Wellness has helped me become my own advocate in all areas of health in my life provide for a defined lifestyle change. Thank you! Dr. Tracy
Abe, Colorado