Lebanon Cardiology Associates Services

Preventive Cardiology

CHF Clinic
Blood Pressure Management
Dietary Information
Cholesterol Management
Smoking Cessation
Stress Management
Coumadin Clinic

BLOOD PRESSURE MANAGEMENT
Part of our goal in treating high blood pressure is educating the patient with special attention to monitoring their blood pressure readings. To do this effectively we have started a policy of supplying blood pressure cuffs for our patients and teaching them to take home and workplace blood pressure readings. The patients are taught to keep a diary or log of their BP’s and review them with their family physician and cardiologist. The devices are loaned to the patients for one month after which we encourage purchase of the equipment at a local supplier. Having the patient as part of the treatment team gives reinforcement and encouragement.

DIETARY INFORMATION
At Lebanon Cardiology, we strive to offer the best preventive care in the management of heart disease. One of the most important areas is diet planning and counseling. We will assist in planning the appropriate diet for the individual needs of the patient. Examples of this include low salt diets for patients with high blood pressure, low fat diets for patients with arterial blockage due to high cholesterol, and balanced low carbohydrate(sugar) diets for our diabetic patients. We offer diet instruction in the office and often initiate referrals to registered dieticians as needed.

CHOLESTEROL
The significance of elevated blood cholesterol levels in the progression of atherosclerosis has been well established . Current information shows a definite link between survival and lower cholesterol levels in patients who have symptoms of athersclerosis such as heart attack or angina. There are four major categories of cholesterol and fat levels we routinely measure;

HDL or "Good Cholesterol"
LDL or "Bad Cholesterol"
TOTAL CHOLESTEROL
TRIGLYCERIDES

Our goal in treatment is to lower the TOTAL CHOLESTEROL to less than 200 mg% and the LDL CHOLESTEROL to less than 100 mg% . The HDL CHOLESTEROL should be as high as possible, for example greater than 50 mg%. Fortunately diet and medication can significantly alter the TOTAL CHOLESTEROL and the LDL CHOLESTEROL but have little effect on HDL CHOLESTEROL.
If we are unable to achieve our goals by way of diet therapy alone ,we will recommend medication to lower the LDL and TOTAL CHOLESTEROL. A category of drug known as statins have been developed which have shown dramatic ability to lower both LDL and TOTAL CHOLESTEROL and in turn improve survival after a heart attack. Studies have even suggested the medications may lessen the need for an angioplasty. Your cardiologist will review your individual needs and ,if necessary, may suggest the use of these medications in conjunction with a reasonable low fat diet.
TRIGLYCERIDES are also a form of circulating and stored fat. They are important in the diabetic patient and play a limited role in athersclerosis. Usually reduction of sugar, calories, weight, and alcohol in the diet will help to control TRIGLYCERIDES.

SMOKING
Smoking represents a major risk factor in the progression of many types of heart disease. Patients who continue to smoke after a heart attack have a increased risk of dying compared to patients who quit. Regular consumption of tobacco products can lead to progression of blockage in the arteries of the heart, legs and head, leading to heart attack, pain with walking, and stroke. We encourage all our patients to eliminate smoking from their lives ,homes and places of work. Medication and counseling will be made available as needed to assist patients in achieving this goal.

STRESS MANAGEMENT
A very important aspect of preventative cardiology is management of stress that surrounds us in everyday life. We cannot avoid it, but certainly can learn to live with it and adjust to it. A variety of relaxation techniques are available to assist in this area. It has been well documented that heart attacks often occur during periods of significant anxiety or depression . Because of this, we will arrange the appropriate counseling or medication needed to help patients deal with stress. We work with the patient’s primary physician to coordinate the best care for the individual.