Preventing Heart Disease
Your risk of heart disease, in particular coronary artery disease or "blocked heart arteries," is related to multiple well-known risk factors. People with no symptoms that may be at risk for developing heart disease include:
- Family history with early onset of heart disease - parent, brother/sister, and your children (before the age of 55/males and 65/females)
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- High cholesterol
- Cigarette smoking
- Lack of physical exercise
If you fall into this category, talk with your family physician and consider early preventative screenings.
A person's risk of having coronary artery disease and future risk of heart attacks and other heart problems can be estimated from the above risk factors.
Identifying & Assessing Your Risk
Our cardiologists are experts in identifying and assessing these risk factors and your risk for heart disease. We also recommend steps that can reduce these risks, including drug therapy to reduce blood pressure and high cholesterol levels, individualized diet and exercise programs to promote weight loss and physical fitness, and steps to help with smoking cessation.
We also determine if further tests would be indicated to help better determine your risk of coronary artery disease. These tests include non-invasive stress tests, coronary artery calcium scoring or non-invasive CT scan coronary angiograms.
Prevention
If you have a family history of heart disease; are concerned about high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking and other cardiovascular risks; or if you are recovering from a heart attack or surgery, you can benefit from a cardiac risk assessment with a cardiologist.
We specialize in the prevention, early detection and treatment of cardiac problems, with an emphasis on early risk factor identification. Using state-of-the-art technology, we provide you with a comprehensive cardiovascular risk assessment and an individual plan on how to improve your heart health.
Diseases such hypertension, high cholesterol and diabetes are targets for prevention. Our staff looks at the entire scope of the vascular system. We screen patients for all types cardiovascular diseases, including blockages and clotting of the legs, neck, heart and kidneys. We have the technology and experience to perform screenings of the carotid arteries, coronary arteries, testing for peripheral arterial disease (PAD/PVD), and renal artery stenosis.
Prevention is the key to a healthy heart. Learn more about Mercy's CT Calcium Exam to assess your risk for coronary heart disease/
Heart Scan
Mercy offers a Heart Scan, which is also known as a CT Calcium scoring test, to predict your risk for coronary heart disease. It's quick, non-invasive and detects calcium in the arteries leading to the heart, indicating that atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries) has begun. If you have risk factors for coronary heart disease (family history, or if you smoke, have high blood pressure or other indicators), this is a great preventative step for your overall health.
Cost
Most insurance plans do not cover a Heart Scan test, though it must be submitted to insurance for a coverage decision. If insurance coverage is not available, the out-of-pocket cost to the patient is $99, after discounting. The radiologist's interpretation will be billed separately, by Radiology Consultants of Iowa (RCI).
To Schedule
Test must be ordered by your doctor by calling Centralized Scheduling at (319) 861-7778.
Heart-Healthy Exercise
Exercise is a key component to good heart health. The simplest, positive change you can make is to start walking – for 30 minutes a day, five times a week. Learn more on the variety of weight loss programs offered at Mercy.
Eating Healthy
A healthy diet and lifestyle are your best choices to help prevent or fight heart disease, cancer, diabetes and obesity. The best heart-healthy diet includes heart-healthy (good) fats and limited (less-healthy/bad) fat, as well as foods with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber. Below are some good heart-healthy food choices to add to your grocery list and to eat regularly.
- Salmon, mackerel and tuna (high in Omega-3 fatty acids). The American Heart Association recommends eating at least two 3.5 ounce servings of fish a week.
- Avocado and olive oil. Both are rich in a healthy fat called monounsaturated fats.
- Nuts and seeds: almonds, pecans, walnuts, pumpkin and sunflower seeds. These are good sources of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats when eaten in moderation. The American Heart Association recommends getting four servings a week.
- Soy foods: soy beans, tofu and soy bean oil are high in polyunsaturated fat, fiber, vitamins and minerals, and low in saturated fat.
- A variety of fruits and vegetables such as kale, broccoli, spinach, grapefruit. The American Heart Association recommends nine servings of fruits and vegetables a day, about 4.5 cups.
- Berries: blueberries, raspberries and strawberries have high levels of phytochemicals called flavonoids.
- Beans: pintos, garbanzo, lentils and kidney beans. A good source of soluble fiber which may help reduce cholesterol. Recommendations to eat ¼ cup per day.
- Winter squash and pumpkins. They are low in calories, high in fiber and high in vitamin A and potassium.
- Whole grains: bread, cereal and oatmeal.
- Dark chocolate is high in flavonoids. Look for 70% or higher cocoa content for best benefits. Treat yourself in moderation to avoid weight gain.
View our healthy recipe videos for recipes ideas and step-by-step cooking instructions and learn the health benefits of the ingredients from our dietitians. Learn more about Mercy’s nutrition education and counseling for guidance in sound nutrition.
