Should You Visit a Preventive Cardiologist?

If you have any of the following conditions or characteristics, you may be at increased risk for heart disease or rapid progression of heart disease and should consider scheduling an appointment with a Cardiologist soon:

• Family history of heart attack, stroke, or sudden death, especially at an early age (less than 45 years old in a male relative or less than 55 years old in a female relative)
• A personal history of cardiovascular disease, especially in people younger than 60
• A personal history of Rheumatic Disorders, i.e. Lupus, Rheumatoid arthritis, Psoriasis
• History of premature menopause
• History of complicated pregnancy (gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, preeclampsia, or low birth weight for baby
• Erectile dysfunction
• High blood pressure/Hypertension
• High total cholesterol, high LDL cholesterol, elevated triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol
• Diabetes or prediabetes
• Overweight or a high BMI
• Current or former smoker
• Lack of exercise/sedentary lifestyle

Our Services

Our preventive cardiology program offers a multitude of services that are tailored to your individual needs. Following a comprehensive cardiovascular risk assessment, you will receive a personalized treatment plan that may include:

• Diabetes management
• Lipid management
• Nutrition counseling
• Weight loss management

Lipid Clinic

Cholesterol is a lipid, or fat, that helps the body to produce hormones, cell membranes, and assist with other forms of development. However, if too much cholesterol is in the bloodstream, it can start to stick to artery walls – causing narrowing or even blockages.

These blockages can lead to more severe health problems, such chest pain, cardiac arrest, stroke, heart disease, or even death. Managing high cholesterol and other lipid disorders can be complex. Our lipid clinic is dedicated to optimizing your heart health through specialized lipid management. Led by Dr. Gaurav Sharma, the region’s only Cardiologist board certified in lipids, we provide comprehensive assessments, personalized treatment plans, and ongoing monitoring to address lipid disorders effectively.

Whether you are dealing with high cholesterol, triglyceride imbalances, or other lipid-related concerns, our clinic offers a multidisciplinary approach and individualized treatment plan which may include life style changes and medication.

Lifestyle Changes: 

The most effective lifestyle changes in reducing cholesterol are:

• quitting smoking
• routine physical exercise
• maintaining a good weight
• avoiding saturated fats

Medications: 

When lifestyle changes alone are not enough, medications such as statins may be used. 
At the Sands-Constellation Heart Institute, a new injection called Inclisiran (LEQVIO) is available for eligible patients. Administered in the office every six months, Inclisiran lowers LDL cholesterol by 50 percent. Patients must have:

• heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia
• suffered a heart attack or stroke
• the highest possible dose of statin and ezetimibe without their LDL dropping below 70 mg/dL