Know Your Numbers: Why February Is the Perfect Time for a Heart Health Checkup in Joliet

February 26, 2026

February brings more than Valentine’s Day chocolates and winter weather to Will County. It’s also American Heart Month—a nationwide reminder that heart disease remains the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. For Joliet and Wilmington residents, this month offers the perfect opportunity to get serious about cardiovascular health before problems develop.

At Primary Care Joliet, our physicians and nurse practitioners take heart health personally. With in-house diagnostic testing, including EKGs and echocardiograms, we make it simple to understand your cardiovascular risk without sending you across town for testing. Knowing your numbers could be the most important health decision you make this year.

The Silent Nature of Heart Disease

Heart disease doesn’t always announce itself with dramatic symptoms. Many people walk around with elevated blood pressure, high cholesterol, or early-stage heart conditions without realizing anything is wrong. By the time symptoms appear—chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue—the disease may have progressed significantly.

This silent progression makes routine screening essential. Dr. Melwin Joseph, who specializes in cardiovascular health at Primary Care Joliet, emphasizes the importance of catching risk factors early. Simple tests can reveal problems while they’re still highly manageable through lifestyle changes and medication.

The good news? Heart disease is largely preventable. Understanding your personal risk factors and taking proactive steps dramatically reduces your chances of experiencing a heart attack, stroke, or other cardiovascular event.

Understanding Your Key Heart Health Numbers

Several measurements provide crucial insight into cardiovascular health. Knowing what these numbers mean—and where yours stand—empowers you to make informed decisions about your care.

• Blood Pressure: Often called the “silent killer,” high blood pressure damages arteries over time without causing noticeable symptoms. Normal blood pressure falls below 120/80 mmHg, while readings consistently above 130/80 indicate hypertension requiring intervention.
• Cholesterol Levels: Your lipid panel measures total cholesterol, LDL (“bad” cholesterol), HDL (“good” cholesterol), and triglycerides. High LDL contributes to plaque buildup in arteries, while healthy HDL levels help protect against heart disease.
• Blood Glucose: Elevated blood sugar damages blood vessels and significantly increases heart disease risk. Prediabetes and diabetes both require careful monitoring and management to protect cardiovascular health.
• Body Mass Index (BMI) and Waist Circumference: Excess weight, particularly around the midsection, strains the heart and increases risk for hypertension, diabetes, and other cardiovascular problems.
• Resting Heart Rate: While normal resting heart rate ranges from 60-100 beats per minute, consistently elevated rates may indicate cardiovascular stress or other underlying issues.

These numbers tell a story about your heart’s current state and future risk. Our team at Primary Care Joliet interprets these results in context, considering your complete health picture, family history, and lifestyle factors.

In-House Diagnostics Make Heart Screening Convenient

Many primary care offices send patients elsewhere for cardiac testing, creating delays and inconvenience. Primary Care Joliet takes a different approach. Our clinics in East Joliet, West Joliet, and Wilmington offer comprehensive diagnostic testing right on-site.

Our EKG (electrocardiogram) testing measures your heart’s electrical activity, detecting irregular rhythms, evidence of previous heart attacks, and other abnormalities. This quick, painless test provides immediate insights into cardiac function.

For more detailed evaluation, our echocardiogram services use ultrasound technology to visualize your heart’s structure and function. This non-invasive test reveals how well your heart pumps blood, identifies valve problems, and detects other structural issues that might not show up on standard tests.

Having these diagnostic capabilities available under one roof means faster answers and more coordinated care. Rather than waiting weeks for outside testing appointments, you can often complete your evaluation during a single visit to our office.

Who Should Prioritize Heart Screening This February?

While everyone benefits from understanding their cardiovascular health, certain individuals face elevated risk and should make heart screening a priority.

Adults over 40 should establish baseline heart health measurements even without symptoms. As we age, cardiovascular risk naturally increases, making regular monitoring increasingly important.

Anyone with a family history of heart disease, heart attack, or stroke faces higher personal risk. Genetics play a significant role in cardiovascular health, though lifestyle factors can offset much of this inherited risk.

People living with diabetes, prediabetes, or metabolic syndrome need particularly vigilant cardiac monitoring. These conditions dramatically increase heart disease risk, making regular screening essential for early intervention.

Individuals who smoke, maintain sedentary lifestyles, or carry excess weight benefit from understanding how these factors affect their specific cardiovascular picture. Our providers use screening results to create personalized recommendations for risk reduction.

Those already managing hypertension or high cholesterol should ensure their current treatment plan adequately controls these conditions. Regular monitoring confirms whether medications and lifestyle changes are achieving target goals.

Beyond the Numbers: Lifestyle Factors That Protect Your Heart

Screening identifies risk, but daily choices determine outcomes. The same lifestyle modifications that prevent heart disease also help manage existing conditions.

Physical activity strengthens the heart muscle, improves circulation, lowers blood pressure, and helps maintain healthy weight. Even moderate exercise—brisk walking through Pilcher Park or taking the stairs instead of elevators—makes measurable differences in cardiovascular health.

Nutrition profoundly impacts heart health. Diets rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats support cardiovascular function. Limiting sodium, processed foods, and excessive saturated fats reduces strain on the heart and blood vessels.

Stress management often gets overlooked in heart health conversations, but chronic stress contributes to elevated blood pressure, inflammation, and unhealthy coping behaviors. Finding healthy outlets—whether exercise, meditation, hobbies, or social connection—protects cardiovascular health.

Sleep quality matters more than many people realize. Poor sleep increases risk for hypertension, obesity, and diabetes—all major cardiovascular risk factors. Most adults need 7-9 hours of quality sleep nightly for optimal health.

Tobacco cessation remains the single most impactful change smokers can make for heart health. The cardiovascular benefits begin almost immediately after quitting and continue improving over time.

What to Expect During Your Heart Health Visit

Scheduling a heart health evaluation at Primary Care Joliet is straightforward. Your visit begins with a comprehensive review of your medical history, family history, and current symptoms or concerns.

Basic vital signs—blood pressure, heart rate, weight—provide initial insights. Your provider will listen to your heart and lungs, checking for irregular rhythms, murmurs, or other concerning sounds.

Blood work evaluates cholesterol levels, blood glucose, and other relevant markers. Our in-house lab capabilities mean many results are available quickly, often during the same visit or shortly after.

Based on initial findings, your provider may recommend additional testing such as an EKG or echocardiogram. Having these services available on-site eliminates the hassle of scheduling separate appointments at outside facilities.

Most importantly, you’ll leave with a clear understanding of your cardiovascular risk and a personalized plan for maintaining or improving heart health. Whether that involves lifestyle modifications, medication, or simply continuing current healthy habits, you’ll know exactly where you stand.

The Value of an Established Primary Care Relationship

Heart health doesn’t exist in isolation. It connects to diabetes management, weight, mental health, and countless other aspects of overall wellness. Having an established relationship with a primary care provider who knows your complete health history ensures coordinated, comprehensive care.

Dr. Yatin Shah founded Primary Care Joliet over 28 years ago with this philosophy in mind. As an independent practice, we maintain the flexibility to refer patients to their preferred specialists and hospitals—including Silver Cross, Ascension St. Joseph, Duly Health, and university medical centers—while providing continuity of care that larger health systems often struggle to deliver.

Our team includes board-certified physicians and experienced nurse practitioners who take time to understand each patient’s unique circumstances. From Dr. Niraj Shah’s expertise in preventive services to Geraldine Ntum’s 19 years of healthcare experience, our providers bring depth and dedication to every patient relationship.

Schedule Your Heart Health Screening at Primary Care Joliet

This American Heart Month, make your cardiovascular health a priority. Whether you’re due for routine screening, concerned about specific symptoms, or simply want to understand your risk factors better, Primary Care Joliet provides the comprehensive evaluation you need.

Our three convenient Will County locations—East Joliet, West Joliet, and Wilmington—offer the same high-quality diagnostic services and experienced providers. We accept same-day appointments for urgent concerns and make scheduling routine visits simple through our online patient portal.

Call Primary Care Joliet at (815) 726-2200 to schedule your heart health evaluation today. Your heart works for you every moment of every day—this February, return the favor by learning your numbers and taking control of your cardiovascular health.