Heart health is one of the first things checked when you see a doctor, no matter the reason you are there. Nurses and technicians check your pulse and blood pressure before you see the doctor who listens closely while it pumps blood to your whole body. Every visit. Every time. The state of your heart’s health is that important.
However, there are serious conditions going undetected through these simple checks. Through comprehensive and proactive heart screenings, tailored to individual needs, concierge primary care champions early detection and prevention. In this blog post, we delve into the importance of proactive heart screenings and how concierge primary care is at the forefront of promoting cardiovascular wellness.
Routine checks are perfectly appropriate for generally healthy people. An irregularity found during these checks can show a developing problem. What happens if an underlying condition does not present itself in the five minutes someone is paying attention? A serious condition can go undetected.
Preventative heart screenings are key to early detection of risk factors that could be fatal if not corrected early. The development of blood clots, narrowing of arteries, and anatomical anomalies are all early indicators for developing life-threatening conditions. They are also commonly missed during routine vitals.
A stroke occurs when blood supply to the brain is blocked or reduced. This can happen from an artery in the brain becoming blocked or when an artery in the brain ruptures. This medical emergency presents itself quickly and in very specific ways. To recognize symptoms of stroke, remember they come FAST:
· F stands for face drooping on one side.
· A stands for arm weakness.
· S stands for speech difficulty.
· T stands for time to call 911.
A preventative heart screening can identify elevated risks of experiencing stroke. This proactive approach can help you mitigate the risk of such an incident from occurring.
Like a stroke, when the flow of blood to and from the heart is disrupted, a heart attack can occur. Blood clots and build up in the arteries are the most common causes. Symptoms vary drastically from person to person, but these are the symptoms to look for:
· Chest pressure, discomfort, heaviness, tightness, or pain.
· Arm, neck, and jaw pain.
· Shortness of breath.
· NOTE: Anytime you experience heavy chest pain, seek medical attention immediately.
Family history of heart disease raises your risk of having a heart attack yourself.
A congenital heart defect is an anomaly in the heart's development from birth. Detection of such abnormalities can help to identify risk factors for potentially fatal conditions. While some anomalies go undetected, they are most often identified and corrected at a young age, or they correct on their own. Otherwise, they can lead to complications in adulthood, such as sudden cardiac arrest in seemingly healthy people.
Heart abnormalities like a congenital heart defect cannot be prevented. However, knowing about such conditions can provide you with an informed roadmap to ensuring a healthier you.
Some people, when it comes to the true state of their health, like to keep their heads in the sand. They think, “If it’s not causing me any problems, things must be okay.” For some, this is true, until it’s not okay.
Being proactive and preventative with your heart health means you know how healthy you are and can change your lifestyle to support the healthiest version of you. If a life-threatening event occurs, being able to identify early signs and symptoms can improve treatment outcomes, shorten recovery times, and provide you with a better quality of life after the event.
You can proactively change your lifestyle to lower your risk factors by:
· Adjusting to a more balanced diet.
· Exercising regularly.
· Discontinue using tobacco and nicotine products and/or consuming alcohol.
Concierge primary care, also known as direct primary care, puts much emphasis on personalized health plans that are proactive and preventative. Without the burden of insurance requirements, doctors in direct primary care can provide clients with all medical options instead of curating a list of options likely to be covered by insurance.
Insurance rarely pays for proactive screenings without a formal diagnosis or sign of needing an evaluation, such as family history. This means many people must pay out-of-pocket for proactive tests like comprehensive cardiac evaluations. However, the potential life-saving advantages of early detection of risk factors for stroke and heart attack far outweigh the detriment of experiencing these events unexpectedly.
Clients at Connected Health have access to thorough heart health evaluations through a partnership with North Pittsburgh Imaging. Whether they are 30 years-old and generally healthy, or 65 years-old with a complex medical history, there is no gatekeeping of getting a real-time snapshot of your health.
Other perks of primary care at Connected Health are:
· Longer appointment times for a thorough review of findings to ensure you understand all aspects of the study.
· Access to advanced diagnostic technologies that big hospitals have yet to adopt widely for their patient populations.
· Ongoing monitoring and follow-up care. Doctors at Connected Health maintain open communication with their patients to support them along their health journey, instead of just checking in once a year.
To recap, preventative heart screenings are vital to early detection and prevention of possibly fatal cardiac events such as stroke and heart attack. Congenital heart defects can go undetected into adulthood. Concierge primary care gives clients the option to investigate their health proactively, delivering personalized, high-quality healthcare that prioritizes preventative measures and patient well-being.
If you are in Western Pennsylvania, Connected Health is the leading concierge primary care for the Pittsburgh and surrounding areas. Now is the time to prioritize your heart health. Schedule a free consultation for concierge primary care or call 724-933-4305 and discover how a personalized, proactive, and preventive health journey can benefit you today.
Our driving passion at Connected Health is to empower and educate the community to play a leading role in their health with primary care as the foundation.
You no longer have to settle for the unacceptable. We offer concierge experience fit for individuals, families, and companies of all sizes.
Appointments start on time.
Friendly and helpful staff.
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