Cardiovascular disease is the number-one killer in the US, killing more people than all types of cancer. Being aware of when to visit a cardiologist may be a life-saving situation, but most individuals wait until an event has taken place and a situation has gotten serious.
Knowing When to visit a Cardiologist
A cardiologist is a doctor who deals with diagnosing and treating disorders involving the heart and blood vessels. Although you are being examined by your primary care doctor, who can address some of the general health issues, some of the symptoms and risk factors require specific cardiovascular evaluation.
Chest Pain or Discomfort
Chest pain is among the characteristic symptoms, which indicate that you have to visit a cardiologist right now. Although the reasons behind all the chest discomfort may not be related to heart issues, the fact that the pressure or pain is felt during physical activity is rather alarming.
The typical presentation is chest pain which gets better with activity and better with rest, which could indicate insufficient supply of blood to heart muscle. This is what is referred to as angina and should be examined by a physician. Your pain extending to your shoulders, neck, arms or jaw is also a cause to give your immediate attention.
Shortness of Breath and Low Exercise Tolerance
A shift in your performance in the previously able activities such as stairs climbing, walking around your house, or exercising may be a sign of heart disease. When exercising, your heart muscle needs more oxygen and any blockages may result in symptoms.
Heart failure or coronary artery disease can be detected by progressive shortness of breath, particularly, during the lie flat posture or during minimal exertion. In case you think that your exercise tolerance is deteriorating without known reasons, it would be necessary to book an appointment with a cardiologist.
Heart Palpitations and Irregular Heartbeat
Heart palpitations and irregular heartbeat is a condition where the heartbeats are irregular, thus causing shortness of breath and fatigue.
When you have a racing heart rate, a fluttering feeling or you think your heart is skipping a beat, it is necessary to have a cardiovascular examination. Although few and harmless palpitations can be considered normal, frequent or serious palpitations can be a sign of arrhythmias or irregular heart rhythms.
A cardiologist will be in a position to tell whether the sensations are caused by anxiety, caffeine, medications, or severe cardiac disorders that need treatment. The symptoms to watch out for are palpitations with dizziness, chest pain, or fainting.
Heart Disease in the Family History
There is a great role of genetics in cardiovascular health. In case close family members such as parents, brothers, and sisters had heart disease before 55 years in men and before 65 years in women, the risk is higher.
Preventive measures are made possible by early awareness. A cardiologist would be able to evaluate your inherited risk and prescribe the right screening tests such as coronary calcium scoring and also write your own prevention plans. Family history predisposes one to more intense and repeated heart check-ups.
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High Cholesterol or High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure leaves the arteries in poor condition with old age risks, exposing them to the risk of heart attack and stroke. A blood pressure that is always over 130/80 mmHg needs some management other than what your primary doctor might give you.
Likewise, elevated cholesterol, especially total cholesterol over 200mg/dl, is a factor in the formation of arterial plaque. Lifestyle modifications and conventional medications are not sufficient to manage these conditions, or you have high-risk cholesterol forms, such as lipoprotein(a), the consultancy of a cardiologist is required to provide specialized treatment options.
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Diabetes or Prediabetes
There is a high association between cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Uncontrolled sugar in the blood destroys blood vessels and nerves that regulate your heart, and causes coronary artery diseases at a very high rate.
Diabetics Type 2 also tend to have other risk factors such as obesity, hypertension and high cholesterol. A heart doctor collaborates with your primary doctor to devise holistic strategies that would minimize your heart related complications. Cardiovascular risk assessment is justified by prediabetes.
History of Smoking
Smoking is also one of the greatest risk factors that can cause heart disease, which is preventable. It injures the linings of the arteries, facilitates the development of the plaque, raises blood pressure, and enhances blood clotting.
Although you may not be smoking at this moment or you may have quit smoking several years back, your high risk does not disappear. A cardiologist will be able to evaluate the cumulative damage, prescribe the right screening tests, and keep a closer watch over the cardiovascular performance, as compared to normal care.
Chronic Kidney Disease or Other Vascular Diseases
Kidney dysfunction is a highly risky factor of heart disease because of relations with hypertension and arterial disease. On the same note, when you have diagnosed peripheral arterial disease, carotid artery disease or leg circulation problems, there is a high likelihood that you have some involvement with coronary arteries.
Such conditions are signs of vascular issues in the whole body that need expert cardiac care. A cardiologist identifies the use of further testing and comes up with treatment plans that take into consideration your overall cardiovascular system.
Other Risk Factors that need Assessment
In addition to these main symptoms, there are other issues that show you should visit a cardiologist:
- Starting Exercise Over Age 40 After Inactivity: Before engaging in new exercise routines cardiac clearance is a way of ensuring exercise safety particularly in the presence of other risk factors.
- Leg Swelling: Swelling of legs on both sides can be an indication of heart failure, whereas cramping in legs during ambulation is indicative of an arterial blockage (peripheral arterial disease).
- Pregnancy Complications: Women with a history of preeclampsia have increased risks of heart diseases in the future.
- Gum Disease: It is surprising to note that periodontal disease is associated with cardiovascular issues as a result of a system-wide inflammatory process.
First Cardiology Visit: What to Expect
The first visit to a cardiologist includes:
- Review of Medical History and Family History.
- Symptom and lifestyle discussion.
- Physical observation, cardiovascular.
- Simple examinations such as electrocardiogram (EKG).
- Measurement of blood pressure, heart rate and oxygen level.
According to the findings, your cardiologist can request other tests including echocardiograms, stress tests, coronary calcium scoring, or cardiac imaging. Treatment programs usually incorporate medication, lifestyle changes such as dietary and physical activity changes, and, in some cases, procedures or surgeries.
Do Not Wait till Things Get Worse
The sooner you fix the cardiovascular issues, the smarter you are. Heart disease tends to develop unknowingly before a big event takes place. In case you identify with the above signs, do not waste time to seek evaluation.
Visits to cardiologists are covered by most insurance plans with a referral by primary care physician, although most specialists will also accept self-referrals. Conversation with your insurance to know what they cover should be made before you book an appointment.
Proactively calling a cardiologist when the right time is literally the difference between life and death, not to mention an enormous difference in long-term health status.
