Protecting Your Heart Through Primary Care

Your heart is at the core of your well-being, and ensuring heart health is critical for a long and active life.

According to the American Heart Association, half of adults in the U.S. have some type of cardiovascular disease. Because heart disease is so common, understanding your personal risk and taking early preventive steps can make a meaningful difference.

While people often associate heart care with needing to see a specialist, primary care providers also play an important role in monitoring your heart health. They can identify risk factors, guide you with practical steps to support heart health, and help determine if specialist care is needed.

“If you have concerns about your heart health, start by scheduling an appointment with your primary care provider,” says Brian Neely, MD, a board-certified family medicine physician at Allen County Regional Hospital-Iola Clinic. “Your provider can evaluate your risk of heart disease and help guide your next steps.”

During a heart health visit, your primary care provider may order blood tests, discuss symptoms to better understand your health, and address any concerns. They can check your risk for heart disease and other chronic conditions, recommend lifestyle changes, and refer you for further testing or to a specialist.

“There are many factors that contribute to heart health, including family history, social factors, and other health conditions,” says Dr. Neely. “We’ll typically start with lab work and use the ASCVD risk calculator to help assess risk.”

To calculate a patient's atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk—an estimate of your chance of having a heart attack or stroke in the next 10 years—clinicians like Dr. Neely consider a variety of indicators, including the patient’s age, race, history of diabetes, gender, smoking status, cholesterol levels, systolic blood pressure, and if the patient is on medication.

“For patients with an intermediate ASCVD risk score, I may recommend a CardioScan to help evaluate the risk more precisely,” says Dr. Neely.

CardioScan, also known as Coronary Artery Calcium Scan, is a special type of CT scan that detects calcified plaque in the coronary arteries. Plaque buildup narrows the arteries and reduces blood flow to the heart muscle, which can lead to heart failure or a heart attack.

“Patients can schedule a CardioScan test right down the road at Allen County Regional Hospital,” says Dr. Neely. “The screening costs $60 out-of-pocket and only takes about 10 minutes, so it’s a convenient way to take a second look, especially for someone who’s risk level is moderate or who needs numbers to get more serious about lowering their risk of a future heart attack.”  

“Depending on screening results and determined risk, sometimes medications are part of the answer, but we can also work with patients on lifestyle changes that can lower certain risks. We may also refer to a specialist.”  

Cardiologists with Saint Luke's Cardiovascular Consultants see patients at the Allen County Regional Hospital Specialty Clinic in Iola, keeping patients close to home for most visits.

Making healthy lifestyle changes can help keep your arteries strong and lower your risk for heart attack and stroke. If you have heart disease, you may need to work on a few aspects of your lifestyle. Keep in mind: the habits that protect your heart and brain also support your entire body. Factors you may need to work on include:

• Diet: Consider reducing fat, cholesterol, and sodium (salt) intake, eating more fresh vegetables and fruits, eating more lean proteins and less red meat, and limiting sweets and processed foods.
• Physical activity: Increase your physical activity. Your provider may recommend moderate to vigorous aerobic activity several times a week. The amount will depend on your health and ability.
• Weight management: If you are overweight or obese, your provider can work with you to lose weight and lower your body mass index (BMI) to a normal or near-normal level.  
• Smoking: If you smoke, break the smoking habit. Your provider can offer resources to help.
• Stress: Your provider can offer ways to help you deal with stress in your home and work life.  

“The earlier you see your provider and assess your risks of heart disease, the earlier you can start work to lower those risks and hopefully prevent trouble down the road,” says Dr. Neely. “But it’s up to you to take the first step.”  

Following heart-healthy guidance can help reduce your risk of heart problems, though they cannot guarantee you won’t develop them. If a heart condition does arise, your primary care provider can refer you to one of our heart specialists at Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute, ensuring you receive the expert care you need.

Your primary care provider knows your health and family history better than anyone and can be a great partner in helping you maintain a healthy heart.

Allen County Regional Hospital’s primary care clinic in Iola gives residents in Allen County and surrounding communities accessible, convenient, high-quality primary care. Our board-certified providers offer family medicine—a primary care specialty devoted to the diagnosis, management, and treatment of patients across all ages and stages of life. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Neely or another primary care provider at the Iola Clinic, call 620-365-6933. 

Brian Neely, MD, is a board-certified family physician with Allen County Regional Hospital–Iola Clinic. Dr. Neely provides care for patients of all ages and has clinical interests in sports medicine and disease prevention.