Heart disease is a leading cause of mortality in the United States. It affects both men and women, as they share many heart risk factors, some of which can be controlled.
Your primary care doctor may refer you to a cardiologist if you have symptoms or diagnostic results that suggest you may have a heart condition. A cardiologist can give you a full account of your heart’s health, making them a critical part of your healthcare team. Through check-ups, you can stay on top of your heart health and minimize the risk of heart disease and complications.
Fortunately, there is very little preparation you need to do for your visit to a cardiologist’s clinic, except be able to recount your health history and provide previous diagnostic test results to the specialist.
What To Prepare
For your cardiologist appointment, make sure you are ready to provide the following:
- Complete information about your family and personal medical history, specifically medical problems related to the heart, as well as recent diagnostic test results, past surgeries, etc. You can request a copy of your medical record and test results from your primary care doctor to bring to your appointment.
- A list of medications you are currently taking, including vitamins and supplements, and medications you’ve been prescribed in the past year that you are no longer taking.
- A list of your symptoms.
- A list of your healthcare providers, such as dentists, pain management doctors, chiropractors, etc.
- A list of your questions, which may include:
- What do you think is causing my symptoms?
- How does my family history affect my heart disease risk?
- How can I lower my cardiovascular disease risk?
- How can I keep better track of my heart health?
- What are the symptoms of heart disease that I should know about?
- How does cardiovascular disease affect men and women differently? What risk factors are specific to my gender?
- What are the signs of good heart health?
Diagnostic Tests
To learn more about what could be causing your symptoms, the cardiologist may recommend diagnostic tests, such as blood tests, urinalysis, an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), a nuclear stress test, or a coronary angiogram, depending on the reasons for the visit. The results of the tests will help the cardiologist understand what’s going on with your heart.
Your cardiologist will help you improve your heart health through the information gained from test results. Their training, experience, and specialization on the heart make them an important part of your healthcare team.
Cardiologist in West Orange, New Jersey
Hudson MD Group is a multispecialty medical practice in northern New Jersey with a superior cardiology department. We perform a wide range of cardiology tests in our office to help us quickly identify what type of cardiovascular issue patients have. Our cardiologists provide personalized treatments that are likely to give excellent results.
Choose us as your provider for cardiology services. Put your heart health in our highly capable and qualified hands. To schedule an appointment with one of our cardiologists, call our office today at (973) 705-4914 or use our secure online form to send us a message.
