Introduction to the Field of Cardiovascular Health
Cardiovascular fitness is essential for good health and longevity. Clinicians who practice heart-healthy medicine and engage in cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention must have a deep understanding of dyslipidemia, hypertension, inflammation, obesity, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes mellitus. These specialists work with individuals who are at a higher risk of developing, or already have, heart disease, in order to help them minimize their chances of experiencing further complications.
The Approach to Heart-Healthy Medicine
- Identifying patients at higher likelihood of heart disease. This is done by assessing a patient’s risk factors, such as age, family history, cholesterol levels, blood pressure, hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, inflammation, and smoking status.
- Educating patients about heart disease and how to reduce their chance of developing it. This includes teaching patients about healthy lifestyle choices, such as eating a heart-friendly diet, exercising regularly, and not smoking.
- Monitoring patients’ risk components, laboratory markers, and making recommendations for treatment. This may include medication, lifestyle modifications, or both.
- Referring to other healthcare providers, such as dietitians, exercise physiologists, diabetologists, or lipid specialists, as needed.
Heart health experts play an important role in helping people to live longer, healthier lives. By identifying individuals at higher chance of heart disease and helping them to reduce their risk, specialists can help to prevent heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular illnesses.
Elements of Heart Disease Prevention
- Risk assessment. This involves assessing thoroughly a patient’s cardiovascular likelihood factors for heart disease, such as age, family history, cholesterol levels, blood pressure, diabetes, insulin resistance, obesity, autoimmune conditions, and smoking status.
- Lifestyle modification. This includes counseling patients on healthy lifestyle choices, such as eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and not smoking.
- Pharmacotherapy. This may include medications to lower cholesterol, inflammation, blood pressure, weight, or blood sugar.
- Heart rehabilitation. This is a program of exercise and education that helps people who have had a heart attack or stroke to recover and prevent further progression or complications.
Heart disease prevention is an essential part of the overall approach to cardiovascular disease and longevity. By working with a specialist who specializes in preventive cardiology, people can reduce their risk of developing heart disease and live longer, healthier lives.
Dr. Tashko
