Some factors like age and genetics will always play a role in patients diagnosed with heart disease.

The good news is, several causes of heart disease are reversible.

“Things like obesity,” said David McWhorter, a cardiology physician associate at Salem Health. “Controlling things like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and sleep apnea can play a role.”

Heart-healthy diet and exercise

McWhorter said diet and regular exercise can have just as much of an impact as some medications.

“When it comes to lifestyle modifications the recommendation these days is the Mediterranean diet,” he said. “It’s not a diet, per se, just fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats and staying away from processed foods.”

For exercise, the physician associate recommends 30 minutes a day, five days a week of moderate to intense exercise.

“Moderate intensity exercise means you should be a bit short of breath and have mild sweating by the time you’re done,” said McWhorter.

Screenings and preemptive care

McWhorter said people over the age of 40 should be screened annually by a primary care provider — don’t go several years without monitoring for issues like high blood pressure.

In certain cases, medication could be a useful tool for prevention.

“In general, when a doctor recommends medication for a certain risk factor such as high blood pressure or cholesterol, make sure you take those to keep conditions well controlled to prevent heart disease down the road,” said McWhorter.

The physician associate also recommends being aware of genetic risk factors.

“If there is known heart disease in someone’s immediate family, then they should make sure to screen for risk factors annually, at a minimum, starting around age 40,” said McWhorter.

As for when someone should seek out a referral for a cardiologist, McWhorter said primary care providers can screen for that step.

“Usually, a patient would get referred if they have issues medically managing risk factors,” he said. “That includes hypertension and high cholesterol or if a patient is experiencing chest pain, shortness of breath, light headedness, dizziness, passing out.”

Your path to cardiac care

From heart attacks and high blood pressure to heart disease and failure — we’re here to address your cardiology concerns at Salem Health. Learn more about our team and the steps we can take to get your health back on track.