Heart disease is the leading cause of death among men and women in the United States. If you are at risk for heart disease, it is important that you not only get checked, but also partner with someone who can manage your cardiac care.

Medical management is a process of coordinating recommended treatment plans to make sure you receive the most effective medical care possible. For some people it begins after they have had a cardiac event such as a heart attack. For others, it may begin with a referral from their primary care physician.

In both instances, the first step will be an appointment with a cardiologist to assess your heart health, learn more about your personal health history, and discuss next steps. Ronald Fritz, D.O., a cardiologist with Heart Clinics Northwest has been providing medical management to patients for more than 17 years.

“The first thing I do when I get a new patient is look at all of his or her vital signs and symptoms such as chest pain or shortness of breath,” Dr. Fritz said. “I also ask about the history of the symptoms; what the pain is like specifically, how often it occurs, how long it lasts, and what makes the symptoms better or worse. From there, we can work on a diagnosis and treatment plan.”

It’s important for any heart patient to understand what their diagnosis means in order to look into treatment options.

“I think once patients know and understand what’s been causing them pain, a lot of anxiety is relieved,” Dr. Fritz said. “From there we can work to alleviate the symptoms. With good management, many times the symptoms subside or are only occasional.”

Cardiologists such as Dr. Fritz rely on primary care physicians to help identify patients who may be at risk for cardiac complications so they can be examined early and monitored for changes in their heart health. After a referral is made, Dr. Fritz keeps other physicians in the loop through detailed notes, letters and copies of test results. He also includes recommendations for further treatment options or cardiovascular rehabilitation programs.

“It’s important that we not only help facilitate the proper care for our patients, but that we teach them to take responsibility for their care outside of our treatment plan,” Dr. Fritz said. “That’s why I always recommend cardio rehab.”

Cardiovascular rehabilitation specialists work with patients to build strength and develop healthy habits. The process teaches patients the important role exercise plays in decreasing the symptoms of cardiovascular disease. It also helps them learn to incorporate exercise into their daily lives. This is an important aspect of managing care.

“We try to help patients to become responsible for their health issues. When they understand their responsibility they tend to participate in the recovery process more,” Dr. Fritz said. “Rehab addresses many of the issues that got them to a state of poor health in the first place.”

Unfortunately, many people either do not have a primary care physician or do not see a physician for regular checkups. This can prevent them from finding cardiovascular problems early. Heart disease is known as the “silent killer” because unlike other diseases, the symptoms can be very easy to overlook. Although the only way to truly diagnose heart problems is a thorough exam by a physician, warning signs of heart disease may include:

• Chest pain (angina)

• Shortness of breath

• Pain, numbness, weakness or coldness in your legs or arms, if the blood vessels in those parts of your body are narrowed

By working closely with patients and their primary care physicians, cardiologists like Dr. Fritz are able to create medical management plans that produce long-lasting, positive results.

The physicians of Heart Clinics Northwest care for patients in our area. For more information on managing your heart health, contact your family physician or Heart Clinics Northwest at 800-235-3690.