How to Prevent a Heart Attack Through Cardiac Screening

You want to do everything you can to protect your heart. Without this muscular organ working the way it should, you face serious health challenges. 

That might have you adopting a heart-healthy lifestyle, choosing nutritious foods, and getting regular exercise. But you can take things a step further by getting regular cardiac screenings. 

David Bolon, MD, and our team offer these screenings right here at Manhattan Integrative Cardiovascular in Midtown East Manhattan, New York City. We use these heart evaluations to shape a personalized heart attack prevention plan for you. 

So, what does a cardiac screening entail, and how can it help you lower your heart attack risk? Let’s take a closer look. 

Checking your heart

Dr. Bolon uses your cardiac screening appointment to evaluate both your heart and your overall health. 

The process starts with a conversation about your personal and family health history. Tell Dr. Bolon if heart issues run in your family. Also, advise him about what you generally eat, how frequently you’re active, and whether or not you smoke. 

Then, to get a feel for how your heart functions and how other key health indicators impact it, Dr. Bolon generally performs:

• A blood pressure check
• A calculation of your body mass index (BMI)
• A cholesterol level check
• A diabetes screening
• Genetic testing

With the genetic testing, Dr. Bolon looks for markers that heighten your risk for cardiac issues like a heart attack. 

If he does find those markers or anything else indicates that you could have heart problems, Dr. Bolon recommends more involved screening. He may suggest an echocardiogram or a carotid ultrasound. 

Based on the results of your screening, Dr. Bolon and our team work with you to develop a heart-problem prevention plan. We might work together to lower your blood pressure or make a plan for future screenings for specific heart conditions that run in your family, for example. 

Ultimately, with your screening, you get a way to identify and address any issues that could increase your risk of a heart attack and other cardiac issues. 

How often to get cardiac screening

If you generally feel healthy, you might think you can skip the cardiac screening for now. But experts, including the American Heart Association, recommend that most people start certain heart-health screenings at age 20. 

If you’ve never had a cardiac screening before, schedule your first one. Based on what Dr. Bolon finds — from your individual health to your family history of heart problems — he can recommend a screening schedule for you. Some people can go a few years between screenings, while high-risk individuals benefit from more frequent heart evaluations. 

To get your first cardiac screening on the books and proactively prevent heart attacks, call our team at (716) 303-4738 or book your appointment online today.