As the leading cause of death in both men and women, heart disease and its risk factors are important to take seriously to live a long and healthy life. Many folks who have risk factors, like high cholesterol, high blood pressure or family history, and even folks who don’t have any risk factors may be concerned about their heart health and curious about where they currently stand. Unfortunately, heart disease can progress for years without any symptoms, which is why it’s important to be proactive about your heart health.
What is primary prevention for heart disease?
Step 1: Consultation & expertise
When you schedule a primary prevention appointment with our program, you’ll meet with a specialized cardiologist who will evaluate your vitals, any risk factors you have and discuss your lifestyle. In that same visit, you’ll also meet with a wellness coach and a dietitian. Together they will evaluate your current diet and exercise regimen and provide a prescription for improvement.
Step 2: Screening for heart disease and risk factors
If it’s determined that you would benefit from additional diagnostics or testing, you may be scheduled for a non-invasive procedure, like an echocardiogram, cardiac calcium scoring or a Heart Flow Analysis, to determine your current heart health. Once we have an accurate understanding of your numbers, you’ll meet with our cardiologist again to adjust your plan or for any needed therapies.
Step 3: Treatment or ongoing monitoring
If you have any concerns that need treatment, we will refer you a specialist in our multi-disciplinary heart and vascular program for expert care. If your heart is in great condition, we’ll discuss a plan for when you may want to return for a check-up and updated screenings.
Who is the primary prevention program for?
This program is designed for all people who are concerned about their heart health, including:
- People who have no symptoms or history of heart disease and want to keep their heart healthy.
- People who have risk factors for heart disease, like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, Type 2 Diabetes or family history.
- People who have symptoms of heart disease, like racing heartbeat, shortness of breath, or vein and vascular issues.
- People who have had a cardiac event, like a heart attack or stroke.
Do I need a referral for the primary prevention program?
You do not need a referral for primary prevention. You may book an appointment with our program by calling 770-219-0960.
Physicians can also refer to our program or ask questions about our program by calling our Center for Cardiovascular Prevention, Metabolism and Lipids at 770-219-0960.
