Family medicine includes preventive care as well as medical management for patients who have suffered a heart attack. Khanh Bao Nguyen, M.D., offers both services at Doctor’s Medical Group in Garden Grove, California.
Heart attacks basically fall into two categories. The first is a blocked artery caused by a clot that prevents blood from flowing to a section of the heart muscle. The area of the muscle served by the blocked artery begins to suffer from oxygen deprivation and eventually dies. The second is a disturbance in the heart rhythm. Called an arrhythmia, these irregular heartbeats may occur because of the blocked artery or happen on their own.
A family history of heart disease is one of the most common risk factors for a heart attack. This is especially true if heart disease occurred in family members at a young age. There are also other risk factors, many of which are under the patient’s control. Overweight and obesity, lack of exercise, smoking, high blood pressure, chronically high blood sugar (diabetes) and elevated blood fats (lipids) are all risk factors for heart attack.
Many routine activities conducted by doctors during a physical exam can be used to screen for risk factors that may lead to heart attacks. These include blood pressure checks, weight checks, and collecting information about lifestyle factors such as smoking, diet, and exercise. Lab tests include blood lipid panels and blood glucose checks. A blood test called C-reactive protein (CRP) measures inflammation and seems to be correlated with heart attack risk.
Avoiding tobacco in any form is the single most important thing patients can do to prevent heart disease. Other lifestyle factors that can lower heart disease risk include eating a healthy diet, getting about 30 minutes of exercise every day, and losing weight or maintaining a healthy weight. Sleep deprivation increases the risk of heart attack; adults need seven to nine hours of sleep every night. Stress management also improves health and lowers heart disease risk.
At Doctor's Medical Group, we accept most insurance plans. Here is a short-list of just some of the most popular plans we accept. Please contact our office if you do not see your insurance provider listed here.
"I've had the pleasure of having Doctor Khanh Nguyen as my PCP for over a year now & have seen him enough times to know I am in great hands."
