Your Trusted Preventive CardiologyTreatment and Prevention Experts In South Dakota
What is Preventive Cardiology
The expanding field of preventive cardiology requires a thorough understanding of racial and ethnic cardiovascular risk factors, genetics, metabolic and hormonal changes, pharmacotherapy, diagnostic testing, and lifestyle management to reduce the risk of future cardiovascular events such as heart attack and stroke.
Types of Preventive Cardiology
Preventive cardiology focuses on two types of cardiovascular disease prevention:
Primary Prevention
To prevent your first event like heart attack, stroke, or need for coronary stenting and open-heart surgery.
secondary Prevention
To prevent a future second event after heart attack, stroke, or heart procedure/surgery.
Risk Factor Evaluation
A comprehensive evaluation of all cardiovascular risk factors will include an individualized nutrition plan, lifestyle counseling, and risk stratification using validated scoring systems to decrease your risk of cardiovascular problems in the future.
As part of the evaluation, our physicians will primarily focus on reducing the risk of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease. This will include an evaluation of the following:
- Lipid abnormalities (including Lp(a)
- Apolipoprotein abnormalities
- Genetic screening
- Coronary artery calcium scoring
- Blood pressure
- Fasting and non-fasting glucose levels
- Physical activity and Vitamin D level
- Testosterone level
- Stress reduction
- Smoking cessation
- Weight loss
Additional Risk Assessment: Based on your personalized risk assessment, and after speaking with a physician to determine your health status and goals, additional testing may be required. Typically that may include an electrocardiogram (EKG), echocardiogram, or possible stress testing and CT coronary angiography.
Experienced Care for Preventive Cardiology Symptoms in the Black Hills
Cardiovascular disease is complex at nearly all stages of life. Making small changes at younger ages can have a dramatic effect on future risk of heart attack and stroke. A consultation with a cardiologist focusing on preventive cardiology at Black Hills Heart and Vascular can make change feel empowering. Call us today!
