Services
Initial Consultation
At your initial consultation we collect your comprehensive personal medical history including a detailed family history.
Lipid Profiling
We draw your blood in our office and then send it to specialized laboratories for testing. Interpreting the results, we can detect metabolic disorders that can lead to the build up of arterial plaque. Indicators we test for include:
• Total cholesterol level
• LDL ("bad") cholesterol level & the different subclasses*
• HDL ("good")cholesterol level & the different subclasses*
• Tryglycerides level
• Apolipoprotein B
• Genetic factors (lipoprotein A and apolipoprotein E)
• Vascular and general inflammatory markers
• Insulin/insulin resistance
*This information can direct cardioprotective dietary recommendations and medication.
Diagnostic Tests
We can perform the following tests in-house:
• EKG (heart scan)
• Ultrasound tests (carotid ultrasound, echocardiogram, stress
echocardiogram, abdominal aorta, arterial lower extremities,
venous lower extremities.
• Holter monitor (24 hour EKG)
• Bio-Z (measuring fluid levels for congestive heart failure patients)
• Treadmill tests without the echo
• Ankle brachial index for peripheral arterial disease
• Aspirin resistance test
Treatment
Based upon your lipid profile, heart scan and other diagnostic tests, we develop a customized program of medication, diet, nutrition and exercise with you that can reduce your risk of heart disease by reversing the process of atherosclerosis. We try to minimize the amount of medication required by encouraging you to adopt the healthy lifestyle program. (We have a few patients who cannot or refuse to take medications and we are still able to achieve progress in reducing cardiovascular risk.) In the rare event that surgery is required; it is usually planned instead of an emergency, greatly improving the chances for the best outcome.
Follow-up Visits
We carefully monitor your compliance to lifestyle recommendations, weight control, and medications against improvements in your blood tests and imaging studies to ensure that progress is being made.
Telephone Consults
Existing patients of HeartCare (for whom we have done a thorough, first time consultation) sometimes ask why the doctor “can’t just call me and go over my labs?” We advise against telephone consults because there are so many advantages to seeing the doctor in person. When you are in the office we can measure your weight and blood pressure and conduct other follow-up procedures and assessments such as a physical exam with a stethoscope to listen to possible indicators of plaque in the arteries.
In addition, your demeanor and questions enable the doctor to gauge how well you comprehend his advice. You are also encouraged to bring a spouse, caregiver, children, or significant other along with you so discussions of diet and exercise can be understood and supported by those directly involved. Clearly, a follow-up is most effective in person.
To accommodate patients with special circumstances or no alternative, we will conduct telephone consults.
Read the full Telephone Consult Policy |
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