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Cardiology Services for Heart Disease Prevention at Dopson Family Medical Center

Every year in the United States, 1 in 4 deaths is caused by heart disease. Heart disease is the leading source of death in both men and women and is becoming more prevalent among younger adults.

February represents American Heart Health Month, and serves as the perfect opportunity to learn about the risks of heart disease and the steps you need to take to improve your heart!

The good news? Heart disease can be prevented by choosing healthier lifestyle choices. Our community here at Ed Fraser Memorial Hospital and Dopson Family Medical Center, along with leading cardiologist Dr. Suresh Patel, will work together with you and your family to create opportunities for healthier lifestyle choices, and furthermore, provide a wide range of cardiology services for the early detection of heart disease.

What are the risks of heart disease?

Heart disease can occur at any age. Half of all Americans have at least one of the top three risk factors for heart disease, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking. Let’s get to know the conditions and behaviors that may put you at risk for heart disease:

    1. High blood pressure: High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is the most common cardiovascular disease affecting millions of Americans of all ages. The older you are, the higher your chances will be for developing this potentially life-threatening condition. High blood pressure can damage your arteries over time, and may lead to heart disease, stroke, and even kidney disease.
    2. High Cholesterol: The risk of high cholesterol is often the result of an unbalanced diet, lack of exercise, and genetic predisposition. High cholesterol increases your chances for developing heart disease. Most healthy adults should have their cholesterol checked every 4-6 years. Some people, such as those who have heart disease or diabetes or who have a family history of high cholesterol, should have their cholesterol checked more often.
    3. Smoking: More than 37 million people are active smokers in the United States. Smoking increases your chances of high blood pressure, blood clots, stroke, and heart disease. Smokers are also twice as likely to have a heart attack compared to non-smokers.

How can the Cardiology Services at Dopson Family Medical Center make a difference?

  1. Managing your conditions: Our comprehensive list of cardiology services led by Dr. Patel will help you track down and control your heart conditions with the latest equipped CT equipment. Our cutting-edge CT equipment has the capability to diagnose heart issues for coronary CTA and calcium scoring. These tests show whether the heart arteries are clogged. Some of our other cardiology services include cardiac stress tests, heart ultrasounds, and event monitors. We work hand in hand with you and your family to strive for full control of your heart health.
  2. Motivate for changes:  When it comes to your heart, you’re in the driver seat. Dr. Patel and his team are here to encourage you and your family to push for changes and take charge of your heart health. We fully welcome you into our community, motivating you to stay active, strive for a healthier lifestyle, and a better eating habit.
  3. Educate and spread the word: As doctors and nurses at Ed Fraser Memorial Hospital, we strive to be leaders in our communities by speaking out and educating our patients about heart disease and ways to prevent it. Our goal is to make a difference in the community by spreading the word about heart health and educating our patients on high cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking, and other heart disease risk factors. We are here to spread the word about strategies for preventing heart disease and encourage people to live heart-healthy lives!

For more on the early detection and prevention of heart disease and how Dopson Family Medical Center can assist in your care, take a look at the cardiology services that we offer. Schedule your next heart health screening with Dr. Suresh Patel at Dopson Family Medical Center by calling (904) 259-7815. Our clinic hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.