Dr. Khushbu Patel, a family practice physician at Spira Care Olathe<\/a>, helps patients evaluate their cardiovascular health and supports them through diagnoses and lifestyle changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dr. Patel shared there are a few things that put people in danger of developing heart disease, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since you might not have symptoms of some risk factors, it\u2019s important to schedule a preventive care visit with your doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou should aim to see your primary care provider at least annually. Regular primary care is important to identify your risk factors, especially risk factors like hypertension and high cholesterol that are typically asymptomatic. It also gives you a chance to build a doctor-patient relationship that can help tailor care to you individually,\u201d Dr. Patel said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Women face even worse odds<\/a>. Nearly half of women older than 20 have some form of cardiovascular disease, <\/sup>2<\/a><\/sup> largely due to increased risk from unique life stages like pregnancy and menopause<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If any of these risk factors hit a little too close to home, Dr. Patel encourages you to see your primary care doctor, who can help with ways to reduce your risk starting today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some things Dr. Patel suggests to her patients are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMaking lifestyle changes can be daunting, which is why at Spira Care we offer a team approach to your care. I frequently encourage patients to work with our behavioral health consultants to implement changes in more manageable, patient-driven steps,\u201d Dr. Patel said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It can feel overwhelming to think about making so many lifestyle changes at once. Dr. Patel says to start simply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYour health is in your hands, and the first step you should take is to see your primary care provider. Regular visits with your doctor will help you catch and address risk factors earlier, and give you the opportunity for patient-centered treatment plans,\u201d Dr. Patel said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Blue KC members with exclusive access to Spira Care can call 913-29-SPIRA (77472) to schedule an appointment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Don\u2019t hesitate. Work with a Care Team today to tune up your heart health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest Emergency Department. In case of a mental health emergency, call or text 988.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Dr. Khushbu Patel is a family practice physician. She is skilled in chronic disease management, as well as Women’s Health and pediatrics. She enjoys family care as it allows her to focus on healthy lifestyles within the whole family. She is fluent in both Hindi and Gujarati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sources:<\/p>\n\n\nWho is at risk<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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How to reduce your risk today<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Take the first step<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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