Who Needs a Cardiologist?

Does everybody need a cardiologist? According to Suzanne Steinbaum, DO, author of Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum’s Heart Book: Every Woman’s Guide to a Heart Healthy Life and Bottom Line’s “At the Heart of It All” blog, anyone with a strong family history of heart disease should start seeing a cardiologist in their 20s. What do we mean by “strong family history” of heart disease? If one of your parents or any of your siblings had an early heart attack or a stroke (before age 55 for men…age 65 for women), you are at risk for heart disease. A preventative cardiologist can help you better understand the implications of your family history, measure potential disease markers and help manage your cardiac risk factors. No matter what your age or risk factors, there are actions you can take to manage or prevent heart disease, and the earlier you start, the better. Finally, Dr. Steinbaum urges any pregnant woman who has had high blood pressure, preeclampsia or gestational diabetes to consult a cardiologist.

Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum is a cardiologist, author and spokesperson for the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Campaign. She has devoted her career to treating heart disease through early detection, education and prevention. For more great tips from Dr. Steinbaum, check out her other videos and Bottom Line blog, At The Heart Of It All.