Heart Disease

An estimated 659,000 Americans die from heart disease each year. Because many types of heart disease may be preventable, Cookeville Medical Clinic RHC offers heart disease prevention strategies to protect your heart health. The team of experts provides preventive blood pressure screenings, diabetes testing, and cholesterol checks on-site to assess your risk for heart disease. To schedule a heart disease prevention consultation, call any of the four offices in Cookeville, Gainesboro, Crossville, and Sparta, Tennessee, or request an appointment online today.

What is heart disease prevention?

Heart disease is a common cause of long-term health complications and premature death. Examples of heart disease include:

• Arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat)
• Infections in the heart muscle
• Heart valve disease
• Coronary artery disease
• Congenital heart defects

Since many of these diseases are preventable, it’s important that you take steps now to protect your heart health.

Cookeville Medical Clinic RHC offers heart disease prevention assistance and heart attack and stroke risk screenings to lower your risk factors for different types of heart disease.

What are heart disease prevention strategies?

Cookeville Medical Clinic RHC offers a variety of strategies that lower your risk for heart disease.

Based on your medical history and existing health, the team may recommend:

• Smoking cessation resources
• Limiting alcohol
• Daily exercise programs
• Heart-healthy diet changes
• Weight loss strategies
• Stress management techniques

They encourage you to get regular heart disease health screenings to protect your heart health. 

If the team discovers that you have heart disease during your screening, they can customize a treatment plan to address it and lessen your chances of heart attack and other complications.

How often do I need heart disease prevention screenings?

You should have several screenings regularly to ensure your heart is healthy and functioning optimally. These screenings include:

Blood pressure checks

Starting when you’re 18, you should have blood pressure checks at least once every two years to identify high blood pressure levels in the earliest stages.

Cholesterol screenings

Cholesterol screenings every 4-6 years help identify high cholesterol levels that can lead to heart disease. You may need more frequent screenings if you have a family history of high cholesterol or are taking medications to lower your cholesterol levels.

Type 2 diabetes screenings

Because diabetes is a risk factor for heart disease, you must have regular blood tests to evaluate your blood sugar levels. Typically, you need diabetes screenings every three years, starting at age 45. If you have risk factors for Type 2 diabetes, you may need more frequent testing.

To learn more about the benefits of the heart disease prevention strategies available at  Cookeville Medical Clinic RHC, call the office nearest you, or request a consultation online today.