How healthy is your heart?
Why choose BJC HealthCare for heart care?
Your heart can’t wait. Heart care includes regular visits with your primary care doctor and/or cardiologist. Our office locations expand across the St. Louis region and include a team of over 80 cardiologists and 75 primary care physicians ready to support you on your heart health journey.
Expertise and experience
From routine office visits to more complex care, our team of heart experts bring together their skill and knowledge to treat all types of cardiovascular disease. Specializing in a range of treatment options, our physicians focus on providing the most effective treatment plan for each individual person.
Our heart care team of cardiologists, electrophysiologists, interventionalists and surgeons collaborate on your care to help you achieve the best outcome. Our physicians use your medical history, current condition, and other individual factors to make a diagnosis and develop a personalized treatment plan for you.
To schedule an appointment, call 314-273-2315 or fill out a contact form and we will connect you to a heart specialist.
Take the heart health quiz
Answer the questions about your heart health to understand your risks for heart disease.
Signs it’s time to see a cardiologist
Cardiologists specialize in the prevention and treatment of heart disease, treat coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, valve disease, heart failure, heart rhythm disorders, problems with blood vessels and elevated cholesterol.
Factors that increase risk of heart disease
- high blood pressure
- elevated cholesterol
- diabetes
- smoking
- lack of physical activity
- unhealthy weight
- diet high in fat and salt
- excessive alcohol
- family history of heart disease
Signs that it may be time to see a cardiologist
- chest discomfort
- shortness of breath
- swelling in your legs
- light-headedness
- passing out
- fatigue easily with activity
- abnormally fast or slow heart rate
Meet our patients
Patient story
Know the warning signs of a heart attack: Tanya's story
Tanya English was physically fit and led an active lifestyle. Having a heart attack seemed an unlikely event for her. But when the warning signs were there, she knew to seek help.
Patient story
Heart transplant to triathlon: Courtney's story
Courtney Ewert knew something in her body felt odd, but she gave it little thought until she began losing weight. “I noticed over a few weeks that my size was smaller and when I weighed myself, the change was not normal.”
What to expect during your first visit to a cardiologist
Visiting a cardiologist for the first time might seem intimidating and you may be nervous but detecting a problem and taking early steps to treat your heart issues increases your chances of living a longer, healthier life. It’s important to make the most of the time with your cardiologist by planning ahead for your visit.
How to prepare for your visit
- Bring a list of current medications. It is important to include any vitamins and supplements.
- Bring a list of heart-related issues, identifying what symptom(s) you have been experiencing and what you were doing when the symptoms occurred.
- Share your family medical history. Your family history is filled with important clues, so be thorough, especially if your relatives, including your parents, siblings and grandparents, have high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure.
- Discuss your medical history. List your surgeries, along with any medical procedures, including previous cardiac results.
- Schedule additional testing like a stress test or echocardiogram.
Questions to ask your cardiologist
- What lifestyle changes do I need to make?
- Will this medication have certain side effects I should watch for?
- Why did you order that specific test? What does it do or look for?
- Can you explain my test results to me?
- Should I make any changes to my daily activities?
- What warning signs should I watch for that indicate my condition is worsening?
- How will my condition progress?
How your heart works
Request a Consultation
To schedule an appointment, call 314-273-2315 or fill out the form below and we will connect you with a heart specialist that fits your unique needs.