Preventative Health

Heart disease doesn’t always announce itself — for many patients, the first sign is a heart attack. At Makam Medical, Dr. Arjun Makam, DO, FACC, specializes in catching and aggressively managing cardiovascular risk before a crisis occurs, using advanced tools including Coronary Artery Calcium (CAC) scoring, CCTA imaging, Lipoprotein(a) testing, and precision lipid management. This is especially valuable for patients with a strong family history of premature heart disease or genetically driven cholesterol disorders. Serving Anaheim and Corona, CA — call us or request an appointment online today.

What is preventive health?

Preventive health is a proactive approach to health care. Instead of treating symptoms and diseases, the goal of preventive health is to stop diseases from occurring altogether. 

What is preventive cardiology, and why does it matter?

Preventive cardiology is the practice of identifying and aggressively managing cardiovascular risk before a heart attack, stroke, or cardiac event occurs. For many patients, the first symptom of heart disease is the event itself — which is exactly why prevention matters more than reaction.

At Makam Medical, Dr. Arjun Makam, DO, FACC, takes a precision approach to cardiovascular prevention. Rather than relying on a basic cholesterol check and a risk calculator, we use advanced imaging, genetic risk assessment, and specialized lipid testing to build a complete picture of your true cardiovascular risk — and act on it early.

Who should consider a preventive cardiology evaluation?

Preventive cardiology is valuable for anyone who wants to understand and reduce their cardiovascular risk, but it is especially important for:

• Anyone with a parent, sibling, or child who had a heart attack, stroke, or required cardiac stenting or bypass surgery before age 55 (men) or 65 (women)
• Patients with persistently elevated LDL cholesterol, elevated Lipoprotein(a), or high triglycerides
• Patients with suspected or confirmed Familial Hypercholesterolemia — a genetic condition that causes dangerously high LDL from birth
• Individuals with diabetes, metabolic syndrome, or chronic inflammation
• Patients with a high Coronary Artery Calcium (CAC) score found on prior imaging
• Anyone who wants to understand their real cardiovascular risk beyond a standard annual physical

You don't need to have had a cardiac event to benefit from this type of evaluation. The goal is to make sure you never have one.

What advanced tools does Dr. Makam use for prevention?

Standard risk calculators and basic cholesterol panels miss a significant number of patients who are at high cardiovascular risk. Dr. Makam uses several advanced tools to identify risk that standard testing doesn't catch:

• Coronary Artery Calcium (CAC) scoring: A non-invasive CT scan that detects calcified plaque in the coronary arteries — often years before any symptoms develop. A high CAC score is one of the strongest predictors of future heart attack risk available in medicine today.
• Coronary CT Angiography (CCTA): Detailed imaging of the coronary arteries to detect early plaque buildup or blockages not visible on standard testing.
• Lipoprotein(a) testing: Identifies an inherited, statin-resistant cholesterol particle that significantly elevates cardiovascular risk — and is missed by every standard lipid panel.
• Advanced lipid panels: Including apolipoprotein B (ApoB), LDL particle size, and inflammatory markers such as hs-CRP.
• Genetic lipid risk assessment: For patients with a strong family history or suspected Familial Hypercholesterolemia.

These tools allow us to identify patients who look low-risk on paper but carry significant hidden risk — and to build targeted prevention strategies around what we actually find.

What can I expect during a preventive cardiology consultation?

Your consultation begins with a thorough review of your personal and family cardiovascular history, current medications and supplements, diet and lifestyle habits, and any prior cardiac testing. Dr. Makam performs a physical exam and determines which advanced diagnostic tests, if any, would provide meaningful additional information for your specific situation.

After gathering all relevant information, Dr. Makam discusses his findings with you in plain language and develops a personalized prevention plan. Depending on your risk profile, this may include:

• Precision lipid management, including advanced medications when indicated
• Dietary guidance targeting the factors most relevant to your specific lipid pattern
• A structured exercise plan
• Weight and metabolic optimization
• Management of contributing conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, or sleep apnea
• Coordination with your primary care physician to ensure continuity

What if my numbers look normal but I'm still worried?

This is one of the most important questions in preventive cardiology. Many patients with significant cardiovascular risk have LDL values in the "normal" range — because standard panels don't measure Lp(a), ApoB, or plaque burden. If you have a troubling family history, a prior abnormal CAC score, or a gut feeling that something is being missed, that is a legitimate reason to seek a specialist evaluation.

Normal numbers don't always mean low risk. Dr. Makam has the tools to find out for certain.

For advanced preventive cardiology care at our Anaheim or Corona, CA offices, call Makam Medical or request an appointment online today.

Makam Medical is a multi-generational cardiovascular disease practice with more than 40 years of experience. Dr. Makam and his team see firsthand the toll heart disease takes on health and people’s quality of life.

Unlike other health care providers, the team takes a holistic and preventive approach to heart health. They offer cardiology consultations to assess health risks and provide guidance on what steps you can take now to prevent health problems in the future.

Who benefits from preventive health?

Everyone benefits from preventive health. If you have concerns about your future health because of lifestyle habits or family history, then you benefit from preventive health care at Makam Medical. 

Though the team manages health for all ages, they emphasize preventive health among younger patients who have the best chance of preventing chronic disease. At the age of 20, one out of every 10 patients has advanced blockages in their coronary arteries and don’t know it.

The interventional cardiologists specialize in managing many chronic health conditions that affect overall health, including hypertension and high cholesterol. They also provides preventive health for people with diabetes to reduce risk of cardiovascular disease.

What can I expect during a preventive health consultation?

You can expect a comprehensive consultation when you visit Makam Medical for preventive health. The team takes a holistic approach to care, focusing on your whole health.

Your preventive health workup includes a closer look at your family history and lifestyle. The team then performs a physical exam. They may also run diagnostic tests to screen for conditions that might increase your risk of chronic disease.

After they gather all the necessary information, the team talks to you about their findings and develops a wellness plan, focusing on the lifestyle changes you can make now to prevent health problems in the future. This might include diet modifications, an exercise program, weight management, and stress-relieving activities.

To schedule your preventive health consultation, call Makam Medical or book an appointment online today.