Preventive cardiology

Preventive cardiology comprises measures that reduce the risk of developing heart disease or prevent existing conditions from getting worse. Because cardiovascular diseases are one of the most common causes of death, recognising risk factors in good time and controlling them is crucial to keeping the heart healthy.

In cardiology, we distinguish between primary and secondary prevention. Primary prevention refers to measures that prevent heart disease from developing in people who have not yet had a cardiovascular event, while secondary prevention refers to preventing further events in patients who have already had a heart attack, an arrhythmia or another form of heart disease.

Primary prevention includes assessing risk factors such as raised blood pressure, blood lipids and blood sugar, excess body weight, smoking, reduced physical activity, stress and a family history of heart disease. Many of these factors cause no symptoms, so they are often only discovered during preventive check-ups. That is exactly why regular blood pressure checks, laboratory tests and cardiovascular assessments play an important role, especially in middle-aged and older people and those with a family history of heart disease.

The foundation of preventive cardiology is healthy lifestyle habits: a healthy diet, regular physical activity, maintaining a healthy body weight, stopping smoking and reducing stress. In people who already have raised blood pressure, blood sugar or cholesterol, appropriate medication with regular monitoring is also important. Secondary prevention is crucial after a cardiac event, because it significantly reduces the risk of recurrence and improves long-term outcomes.

Preventive cardiology is tailored to each patient. On the basis of the examination, laboratory results and medical history, the doctor assesses the individual risk and proposes measures and a follow-up plan. Timely and consistent prevention is one of the most effective ways of keeping the heart healthy, and small changes in everyday life can have a big impact on long-term well-being.