Preventive Cardiology

Most heart attacks are linked to risk factors that can be identified and changed years in advance. Preventive cardiology focuses on finding your personal cardiovascular risk early and reducing it, before a heart attack or stroke happens.

Personal cardiovascular risk assessment
Blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, smoking, weight and activity
Family history and early heart disease
Lifestyle medicine and, when needed, medicines
Ongoing follow-up

Why prevention matters

The large international INTERHEART study found that a small number of measurable, modifiable risk factors, including abnormal blood lipids, smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, abdominal obesity, psychosocial stress, diet and physical inactivity, account for most of the risk of a first heart attack worldwide, including in South Asia.

Assessing your cardiovascular risk

Risk calculators estimate your chance of a heart attack or stroke over the next 10 years from factors such as age, sex, blood pressure, cholesterol, smoking and diabetes. Other factors can increase your risk further, such as a family history of early heart disease, South Asian ancestry, a high Lp(a) level and chronic kidney disease. Read more in Understanding your cardiovascular risk.

ASCVD RISK calculator? What is ASCVD risk? In Urdu دل کی بیماریوں کا رسک

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The risk factors you can change

blood pressure
LDL cholesterol
blood sugar and diabetes
smoking and all forms of tobacco, including chewing tobacco, naswar and shisha
weight and waist size
physical activity
diet
sleep and stress

Lifestyle medicine

Dr. Qureshi holds a Post Graduate Certificate in Lifestyle Medicine. Lifestyle medicine uses evidence-based changes in nutrition, physical activity, sleep, stress management, avoiding tobacco and other risky substances, and social connection to prevent and help treat chronic disease, alongside medicines when they are needed. See Lifestyle medicine for a healthy heart.

Who should consider a prevention consultation?

people with a family history of early heart disease
people with high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes
smokers and tobacco users
people who are overweight, especially around the waist
anyone who wants to understand their personal heart risk, particularly with South Asian ancestry

Questions patients ask

At what age should I have my heart risk checked?

Risk assessment is commonly recommended from middle age, and earlier if you have risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking or a family history of early heart disease.

I feel well. Why should I see a cardiologist?

Risk factors such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol usually cause no symptoms. Finding and treating them early is the best way to prevent a future heart attack.

References

Visseren FLJ, et al. 2021 ESC Guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention in clinical practice. Eur Heart J 2021;42:3227–3337. doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehab484 (opens in a new tab)
Arnett DK, et al. 2019 ACC/AHA Guideline on the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease. Circulation 2019;140:e596–e646. doi.org/10.1161/CIR.0000000000000678 (opens in a new tab)
Yusuf S, et al. Effect of potentially modifiable risk factors associated with myocardial infarction in 52 countries (the INTERHEART study). Lancet 2004;364:937–952. doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(04)17018-9 (opens in a new tab)
Volgman AS, et al. Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in South Asians in the United States: epidemiology, risk factors, and treatments. A scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation 2018;138:e1–e34. doi.org/10.1161/CIR.0000000000000580 (opens in a new tab)
Lloyd-Jones DM, et al. Life’s Essential 8: updating and enhancing the American Heart Association’s construct of cardiovascular health. Circulation 2022;146:e18–e43. doi.org/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001078 (opens in a new tab)

This page is general information about the condition or procedure, not personal medical advice. Whether a test or treatment is right for you is decided at your consultation. Medical disclaimer.

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CONSULTATION

Book a consultation with Dr. Qureshi

Clinic at Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology (RIC), Room 8. Monday to Friday, 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Call or WhatsApp +92 307 5793387.