Cardiologists specialize in the treatment and prevention of heart and blood vessel disease. They may use screenings to determine your risk for heart or cardiovascular conditions, provide checkups to monitor your existing heart disease, or perform surgeries to correct or restore your heart health.

You may need to schedule an appointment with a cardiologist if:

• you are referred by your primary care provider or OB/GYN
• you have a family history of heart disease
• you have high blood pressure or are at risk
• your cholesterol is high, or you are at risk
• you smoke or have a history of smoking
• you've been diagnosed with diabetes

Early detection of heart issues is key to having a healthy heart. Be aware of symptoms of heart disease and speak with your primary care provider on the importance of heart care.

The Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD) Risk Calculator is a risk assessment tool created by the American College of Cardiology. It’s used to help people 40 -79 years old understand their chances of developing heart disease over the next 10 years.  

The Risk Score offers four levels of heart disease risk:

• Low: Less than a 5% risk
• Borderline: A 5% to 7.4% risk
• Intermediate: A 7.5% to 19.9% risk
• High: More than a 20% risk

To assess your heart health, use the ASCVD Risk Estimator Plus tool on the American College of Cardiology website.

(Disclaimer: You will be leaving the UTMB Health website when you click on the estimator link. The site you will visit is managed by a different organization, that is responsible for their own content, privacy policies and practices. Please review their terms and conditions.)