HEART ATTACK PREVENTION
We do hear about instances of major heart attack or death in the town among the Indian Community.
Would you wait till you or one of your close friend or family suffer from an episode of sudden death or severe heart attack?
It is important to realize that no one is immune to it and prevention starts early..in 30s to 40s.
If you do have ANY ONE or more of the following risk factors, consider seeing a heart doctor preferably in your early 40s (for man and early 50s for women ), so that preventive measures can be initiated early in life.
1 family history of heart disease before age of 65
2. If you have diabetes -even borderline.
3. If you smoke cigarettes.
4 if total cholesterol level above 200cigarettes. Bad cholesterol LDL above 130.( However heart attack can occur at levels lower than this.)
5 high blood pressure.
6 Obesity.
7 Presence of blockage in any of the arteries in body.(athetosclerosis). eg. Stroke, carotid disease or poor circulation in leg.
Keep in mind that being of Asian Indian origin is a risk factor by itself and if you are male, you are prone to disease 5 to 10 years earlier..
Waiting till heart attack or stroke occurs, is like waiting for the fire to start in the house before taking preventive measures.
Excellent and simple means are available to pick up heart disease way before major events happen. CT scan of heart for calcium score can give advanced warning , so worth discussing with your Doctor.
Pankaj Parikh, MD
Cardiologist,
Carolina Heart Center PA
Ph: 919-881-7770