Heart disease care: get regular checkups - WMDT 47 News - Delmarva's Choice

By Buddy Smith, Contributing Writer, myOptumHealth

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If you have heart disease, you shouldn't be a stranger at your doctor's office. Seeing your doctor regularly is an essential step on the path to controlling the condition.

Coronary heart disease doesn't go away. But with your doctor's help, you can manage the disease and lower your risk of a heart attack or other serious complications.

Check in for tests

Ask your doctor how often you should have checkups or certain blood tests done. When you have heart disease, your cholesterol and blood pressure will have to be checked. Your doctor can monitor and treat the risk factors that can affect the health of your heart through regular checkups and tests, such as:

• Cholesterol levels, which include LDL "bad" cholesterol, HDL "good" cholesterol and other blood fats called triglycerides
• Blood pressure levels
• Blood sugar levels to help gauge your risk of diabetes

Ask for advice

Your doctor also can advise you about healthy habits that help reduce risk factors and keep heart disease from getting worse. Check in regularly about these lifestyle changes that can help you control heart disease.

• Adopting a heart-friendly diet. A healthy eating plan can help you control your cholesterol and blood pressure. It includes cutting back on saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol, and eating plenty of fruits, veggies and low-fat dairy products. Your doctor or a dietitian can help you achieve these goals.
• Exercising regularly. Talk with your doctor before you start an exercise program. He or she might have you do activities such as walking. An eventual goal of 30 minutes, five or more days a week may be suggested.
• Shedding excess pounds. Eating right and exercising can help you reach and maintain a healthy weight.
• Quitting smoking. If you smoke, ask your doctor about medicines and programs that can help you quit. Also, try to avoid being around other people's tobacco smoke.

If you have diabetes, you should also work with your doctor and members of your diabetes care team to keep blood sugar under control.

Review your medicines

Many people also need medicines to help treat heart disease and reduce their risk factors. For example, your doctor may prescribe medicines that:

• Help prevent blood clots. These medications need to be monitored closely.
• Lower blood cholesterol. Medicines to lower cholesterol may need to be adjusted periodically. Regular liver function checks are also needed when taking some of these drugs.
• Reduce blood pressure, regular checks of your blood pressure can help keep it at a safe level. Sometimes your doctor may need to add new or different medications.
• Ease your heart's workload. People with heart disease often need one or more medicines to help their heart work better. Regular checks can make sure they are doing their job.
• Reduce chest pain (angina). Controlling symptoms is key to quality of life. If you have changes in your symptoms, it could signal problems. Let your doctor know right away.

Also, because you have heart disease, you should get a yearly flu shot.

Keep in touch

If you have questions about your medications or anything else, you don't have to wait until your next appointment to get answers. Call your doctor. It's especially important to let your doctor know if you notice any new symptoms or if your symptoms get worse.

Also, tell your doctor if you often feel worried or sad. These can be signs of anxiety or depression, conditions that may raise your risk of a heart attack unless they are treated.

View the original Heart disease care: get regular checkups article on myOptumHealth.com 

SOURCES:

• Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Zipes DP, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders; 2007. Accessed: 10/15/2009

• National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. Living with coronary artery disease. Accessed: 10/15/2009