Why your primary care provider is key to your heart health
In addition to providing routine care like annual vaccines and wellness checks, your primary care provider (PCP) can also be your first line of defense against serious illnesses like heart disease. Your PCP will help manage risk factors such as blood pressure, cholesterol and nutrition. And if you need a higher level of care, your PCP can refer you to a cardiologist.
Using innovative tools and treatments, the University of Chicago Medicine’s South Side Community Cardiology program works to improve the heart health of residents in these communities who have some of the highest rates of high blood pressure and heart disease in the city.
Lifestyle choices like physical inactivity, excessive alcohol use, smoking and unhealthy diet are key contributors that increase the risk for heart disease. Fortunately, your primary care physician can help you avoid or manage these conditions. A PCP can also help with:
Nutrition counseling
Healthy eating is one of the primary ways to prevent heart disease. Your PCP can help you manage your diet to meet your nutritional needs and refer you to a dietitian for further care if required.
Monitor your blood pressure
If you have high blood pressure, you may not have any symptoms. So, it’s important to monitor your blood pressure on a regular basis. Your PCP will measure your blood pressure at least once every other year — more often if you have high blood pressure (hypertension). Your PCP can also help you modify your diet to lower your sodium intake and will prescribe medicine if necessary.
Check your cholesterol
Blood cholesterol is a fat-like substance made by your liver and plays an important role in making hormones and digesting fatty foods. Excess amounts of blood cholesterol — from meat, eggs, poultry and dairy products — are bad for the body — it can build up in the arteries, causing them to become narrow and restrict blood flow. As with high blood pressure, there may be few symptoms of high cholesterol — you may not know that you have high cholesterol until you suffer a heart attack or stroke. It’s important to work with your primary care provider to keep your cholesterol at a healthy level.
Manage diabetes
Heart disease and diabetes often go hand in hand as high blood sugar can damage the blood vessels and nerves that control your heart. Furthermore, diabetes can lead to heart failure, a serious condition that means the heart is not pumping blood well. Your PCP can create a personalized care plan for your specific needs.
Cardiologist referral
If health and lifestyle modifications aren’t working, your PCP may recommend medication or refer you to a cardiologist for a higher level of personalized care. Your cardiologist and PCP will work together to customize a treatment plan for your unique needs.
Alan Jackson, MD, is Medical Director of the University of Chicago Medicine’s South Side Community Cardiology program.