Heart disease is the main cause of premature death in the United States and worldwide. It is very important to monitor the health of your heart. A timely visit to a cardiologist may save your life and prevent complications that heart disease may cause. It can be complex for a regular person to know when to see a cardiologist. However, these 9 reasons may assist you in knowing when schedule an appointment with a cardiologist.

1. Diabetes

Diabetes is linked to an increased risk of heart disease. Poorly controlled blood sugar affects your blood vessels and makes you more prone to developing coronary artery disease. Your cardiologist along with primary care physician may develop prevention strategies. This will help lower your risk of heart diseases.

2. High blood pressure

High blood pressure is a risk factor for heart disease. Permanently high blood pressure cause your heart to work harder to circulate blood through your body. This overstrains your heart and increases your risks of stroke or heart attack.

3. Chest pain

Chest pain is the first symptom of heart problems. Chest pain may appear due to problems that are not related to the heart. However, if it occurs and gets worse with activity then it is time to see a cardiologist. Chest pain that appears with activity, can be a sign that your heart doesn’t get enough blood. Pain in the cheat is also a common symptom of a heart attack.

4. Shortness of breath

Shortness of breath may indicate many health problems from allergies to heart attack and heart failure. Heart attack causes the blockage that stops blood flow to the heart and this may cause severe shortness of breath. Heart failure may cause fluid accumulation in your lungs, making it difficult to breathe. Shortness of breath may also indicate such heart problems as abnormal heart rhythm or coronary artery disease.

If you experience shortness of breath that arises without obvious reason (exercising, going upstairs) then you need to contact your cardiologist. You need to do this as fast as possible to prevent serious complications. 

5. Family history of heart disease

A family history of heart disease is a reason to be especially careful about your heart health. Some heart conditions can be genetic. Explore your family heart disease history to determine whether you have a predisposition. If your relatives have had early-onset heart disease, then a cardiologist may help determine your risks. This may decrease your risk of premature death from heart disease.

6. High cholesterol

High cholesterol is another risk factor for heart disease. It contributes to plaque accumulation in the arteries and makes you more vulnerable to a heart attack. High cholesterol is a good reason for regular cardiologist’s appointments. A doctor may recommend you different options for high cholesterol treatment. 

Although, just regular appointments are not enough to prevent heart problems. It is recommended to make some adjustments to your lifestyle to lower the cholesterol. You also need to take prescribed medicines and eat healthy foods to lower the risk of heart disease.

7. You are a smoker

Smoking cigarettes significantly increases your risk of heart disease. It reduces oxygen in your blood so all organs of your body along with heart may experience oxygen starvation. Smoking raises your blood pressure and heart rate. Over a 5-year period, this increases your risk of cardiovascular death by 55%. Regular nicotine use also damages your blood vessels and makes you more prone to blood clots. 

If you are an active smoker then you need to be especially careful about the health of your heart. Visit your cardiologist regularly and don’t hide from your doctor that you smoke cigarettes.