Heart & Vascular Specialists of Oklahoma
Rakesh Shrivastava MD, FACC • Venkat Rajaram MD, MS
Ph 405-622-3063
Toll Free 844-GO-HVSOK
About General Cardiology
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Cardiologists are doctors who specialize in diagnosing and treating diseases or conditions of the heart and blood vessels—the cardiovascular system. The doctors at Heart & Vascular Specialists offer comprehensive non-invasive diagnostic cardiovascular services for our patients. This includes consultation with one of our cardiologists as well as an ongoing evaluation and management of cardiovascular problems. We believe that prevention of heart disease offers the best outcome, and we offer services designed to promote primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Your doctor is interested in your total cardiac care, so if he determines that you are a candidate for surgery, he will refer you to a cardiovascular surgeon who specializes in operations on the heart, lungs, and blood vessels. So that you have constant follow up for all future heart health, you remain under the care of your cardiologist even when you are referred to other specialists.
Cardiology Consultation
Your cardiology consultation is usually requested by your general internist, family doctor or sometimes another specialist who may suspect that your heart health is of concern. Sometimes an increasing health related problem may warrant a cardiology consultation. Other times, general health or family health history may present a reason for a referring physician to want you to have a consultation. Whatever the reason, our doctors will talk with you during your examination, review your medical records, and possibly recommend administering further diagnostic testing. Your total health history is important to your cardiologist.
Cardiac Risk Factor Evaluation and Treatment
Our doctors believe that the most effective preventive strategy in reducing the risk of heart disease is an integrative approach including the best of today's progressive medicine, combined with the health benefits of diet and exercise. There are many natural health strategies that can change the course of early heart disease and it's important that you understand how your overall health plays a role in your heart health. Your evaluation will be dictated by your current health. If you are being seen for a "Primary Consult", it usually indicates that you have a health related reason for seeing a cardiologist, or you have a family history that may predispose you to needing additional heart care. Interventional Cardiology is a method of making lifestyle changes, adding certain medications, or having lab procedures that may keep you from needing open heart surgery for years to come. If you are being seen for a "Secondary Consult", your doctor has probably already assessed your need for further care based on a previous heart concern or from newly diagnosed heart disease.
Cardiology is a fluid practice of medicine and new treatments are being innovated all the time. Not only are we able to diagnose the disease more quickly, but we are able to prescribe medications that can correct problems throughout the body that predispose patients to cardiac events. Studies have shown that the risk of cardiovascular death can be reduced by more than 75% by following a healthy diet, partaking in regular physical activity, not smoking, and keeping hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and diabetes under control.