According to a report published in the journal Circulation in March, cardiovascular disease (CVD) affects half of Americans. A person is having a stroke or a heart attack in the United States every 40 seconds. The No.1 cause of death is CVD.
This means that your most crucial physician may be your cardiologist. Doctors that specialize in heart-related conditions are called cardiologists. Some study for a year or two while doing additional studies in specialization after their three years of medical residency in cardiology training.
Some things to expect when seeing a cardiologist can include a full follow up about your health history. This would be beneficial to write down beforehand. Then, if you have some questions to ask cardiologist, you should know in advance what to ask since there's a lot you'll want to cover. Write down a list of questions to ask a cardiologist beforehand. You should also include a list of all the herbal supplements, vitamins, and medicines you take, including their dosages.
Here are some heart to heart questions that matter when you're trying to find the right question to ask heart doctors about maintaining your heart health.
1. In The Future, What Is My Risk Of Having Cardiovascular Problems?
Much of your care is driven by understanding your risk for future stroke, heart disease, and aneurysm. You will need your cholesterol treated aggressively if you've got a family history of heart disease, diabetes, and if your cholesterol is borderline. Doctors will use several risk calculators to determine your risk of developing heart disease in 10 years.
You can use the online risk calculator developed by the American Heart Association to get an idea in advance of seeing your doctor. In addition to the necessary health information, you will input your most recent cholesterol and blood pressure readings. The risk calculator will not offer you perfect information but will be a good beginning for a meaningful conversation between you and your cardiologist.
2. For My Specific Condition, What Symptoms Will Indicate Worsening?
Heart disease is an umbrella term, so this is a smart question. Different symptoms indicate a worsening condition for someone with a heart rhythm issue and another with a leaky valve. Even if they think they can tell the symptoms of some conditions, a large percentage of men and women will never experience signs such as chest pain that could indicate a heart attack.
They get shoulder, back, jaw, neck discomfort, nausea, shortness of breath, and sweats. All the warning signs personalized for you must be covered during your cardiologist appointment. If you're living with HIV, it's vital to let the doctor know so they can personalize care for you.
3. How Important Is It To Adopt New Treatments And Procedures?
It is vital to confirm and study every new technique, so your doctor shouldn't jump on the bandwagon. It is also essential that you receive all the medical advances and benefits, so you don't want someone that's too stuck in their ways.
In the cardiac catheterization lab, giving patients a specially developed solution can dramatically reduce death, but, over the years, most doctors' haven't changed their treatment for heart attacks.
Even though there's increased survival over conventional treatments due to a unique congestive heart failure procedure, not too many doctors have adopted it. The best doctors are those that have adopted and stayed up on advances that have proven their value rather than those who are last or first to try something new.
4. Why Are You Recommending I Take This Test?
One of the most important questions to ask cardiologist is why they are recommending a test. A cardiologist will sometimes order a test that won't change your treatment or isn't necessary to be comprehensive. The cardiology questions patients should ask include whether a test will lead to therapy change due to a specific recommendation or if it's reproducible and accurate.
One of the questions to ask cardiologist to check for red flags is whether they co-own the testing facility. Online medical journals can provide you with appropriate guidelines for tests; call the office and ask more questions if you have questions about the value of a prescribed test after looking it up.
A doctor should always explain what a patient will experience and what a test involves when they recommend a test. In the journey towards health goals and health, the doctor-patient relationship is a partnership. Even if a well-trained eye interprets an excellent test, there's no completely accurate test.
5. Why Are You Prescribing This Medication?
Unlike your social media buddies or your friends, doctors have the best position to explain a drug based on science and give its pros and cons. They're also the best people to ask whether HIV and cancer are connected since they have first-hand information from recent research.
There's an editorial published recently in the February 2019 issue JAMA by editors of scientific cardiology-related journals to raise the alarm about patients' decisions on whether to take other medications or statins based on information they've read online that's incomplete.
If you've got concerns or hesitations, your doctor can explain research-proven benefits, so be honest to them about it. Medical hiccups can also be handled by going over your prescriptions carefully. Potential side effects can be explained by your doctor, who will create plans if any occur.
6. Will Lifestyle Changes Make A Difference?
Changes in lifestyle, such as stress reduction, exercise, sleep, can significantly impact cardiovascular disease.
For instance, according to a study published in the JAMA Network in 2018 December, a diet high in healthy fats, fruits, vegetables, and low in added sugars and saturated fats such as the Mediterranean diet can improve heart disease risk factors. If you're obese or overweight, the right diet is crucial.
While other doctors refer you to professionals they work with, such as physical therapists and dieticians, other doctors will go over lifestyle info with you. You're probably curious about "what does a cardiologist do on your first visit." Once you find out, develop a plan that works for you with your cardiologist and talk to them about lifestyle changes.
As you learn what to find out from your cardiologist, you should ensure that your insurance premiums are up to date. Try to avoid these 5 mistakes people make with insurance planning, and you'll be good to go.