When Should You See a Cardiologist?

When Your Chest Hurts

You should schedule an appointment with a cardiologist as soon as possible if you are experiencing chest pain. There are lots of reasons your chest could be hurting, like your lungs hurting when it is cold outside. However, usually chest pain is indicative of a problem occurring with your heart. For example, a sign of poor circulation is pressure in your chest cavity that gets worse when you are physically active.

Note, you should be aware of the signs of a heart attack and know when to call 911. Every heart attack is unique, but most women can recognize a heart attack when they notice jaw, back, or left arm pain, gastrointestinal distress, and difficulty breathing. Most men can recognize a heart attack when they notice chest pain, upper body discomfort, lightheadedness, or breaking out in a cold sweat.

When You Have Been Diagnosed With Diabetes

If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, it is very important that you schedule an appointment with your cardiologist. When your blood sugar control is poor, your blood vessels start to perform suboptimally. Therefore, diabetes is a very significant risk factor for the development of coronary artery disease. We can work with your PCP to develop a risk mitigation plan that will reduce your chance of heart problems significantly.

When You Suffer From Hypertension

If your primary care physician has advised you that you have high blood pressure, you should strongly consider scheduling an appointment with a heart specialist. The higher the pressure of your blood pushing against the walls of your arteries is, the harder your heart has to work to circulate the blood. This increases your risk of having a heart attack or stroke.

When You Have a Family of Heart Disease

There are several types of heart disease, and some of them can be hereditary. If one or more of your immediate family members have had early-onset heart disease, it is very important that you schedule an appointment with a heart specialist. Specifically, you should come in if your mother, grandmother, aunt, or sister was diagnosed with heart disease before the age of 65.

Similarly, you should schedule a cardiologist appointment if your father, grandfather, uncle, or brother was diagnosed with heart disease before the age of 55. We will advise you on how your family health history affects your risk of developing heart disease. Based on your risk, we may order diagnostic tests and recommend prevention steps to take.

When You Are Sedentary and Want To Start Working Out

Exercise, especially aerobic exercise, is great for the health of your cardiovascular system. In fact, walking and other gentle aerobic exercises can reduce your risk of developing heart disease. However, if you already have heart problems, exercise can be unsafe. Therefore, if you currently have a sedentary lifestyle but plan to start exercising, it is crucial that you first meet with a heart specialist and develop an exercise routine that will be safe for you.

When You Have Been Diagnosed With Peripheral Arterial Disease

An appointment with a cardiologist is also highly advisable if you have been diagnosed with peripheral arterial disease. Your risk of having coronary artery disease is much higher if other arteries, like leg or carotid arteries, are diseased. It is of the utmost importance that we determine whether you need to be  tested for coronary artery (heart) disease.

Depending on your family medical history and personal health history, you may need to be tested for heart disease. Regardless of the outcome, we will advise you on lifestyle changes you can make to treat the disease or reduce your chance of developing it.

Your Cholesterol Is High

If your overall cholesterol level is high or your bad cholesterol level is high, you should seriously consider coming in for an appointment with a heart specialist. Commonly found in foods and produced by your liver, this fatty substance can lead to the development of arterial plaque. Unfortunately, arterial plaque increases your risk of developing heart disease.

We can advise you on changes you can make to your diet to reduce your overall or bad cholesterol level naturally. However, depending on your unique case, you may also need to take prescription medications.