Advice from an MD: Taking Control of Your Heart Health

Did you know that cardiovascular disease continues to be one of the most prominent conditions facing Americans, affecting nearly half of all U.S. adults? It’s true and it disproportionately impacts Black Americans because of systemic barriers, including racial discrimination. In fact, more than half of Black women in America (20 and older) have cardiovascular disease, according to the American Heart Association.

And if that’s not bad enough, it’s also one of the most expensive chronic conditions to manage, requiring multiple medications, and out-of-pocket costs—$2,000+ a year.

GoodRx, a leading destination for prescription savings, has found that accessing a cardiology specialist can also be challenging—16.8 million Black Americans live in counties that either have very limited or no access to cardiology specialists.

And that’s why we connected with Dr. Karla Robinson. This licensed, board-certified family physician and medical editor for GoodRx with nearly 20 years of experience has some great tips to help you take control of your heart health without breaking the bank.

Understand What You’re Up Against.Cardiovascular disease is a broad term that includes a spectrum of heart conditions, including coronary artery disease, high cholesterol, hypertension, heart attacks and strokes. Symptoms vary for each condition and some, like high blood pressure or high cholesterol, may not present any symptoms at all.

Get Preventative.“It’s important to focus on preventative measures like maintaining a healthy diet and getting plenty of exercise,” Robinson said. “If you have a family history of heart disease, you should talk to your doctor so you can come up with a prevention plan together.”

Prevention measures can look like quitting smoking, getting exercise and eating well. In addition to supporting overall health, these early prevention measures can help keep medical costs down in the future.

Be Your Own Advocate.“We can’t control the systemic barriers we face in Black communities, but we should do everything we can to manage our lifestyle risks and be our own healthcare advocates,” Robinson said. “Our concerns can easily be dismissed at the doctor’s office or we may not receive the same care due to racism or unconscious bias. In a perfect world, we wouldn’t have to worry about this. But today, we need to ask questions, speak up and switch providers if our needs aren’t being met.”

“And if you do need treatment options for a cardiovascular condition, don’t hesitate to talk about those with your doctor too,” Robinson continued. For example, patients diagnosed with arrhythmias or hypertension are often prescribed long-term medications to help manage the conditions. “One of the most important things in successfully managing cardiovascular disease is that you have a full understanding of your condition and any medications you may be taking,” says Dr. Robinson.

Find Affordable Medication.Managing a chronic condition is expensive, and the cost of critical medications quickly add up, regardless of health insurance status. With GoodRx, users can save money on their prescriptions, and can even access 30 of the most common heart medications for under $30 at more than 70,000 pharmacies nationwide. Since its founding, GoodRx has helped people save more than $70 billion on prescriptions, and for cardiovascular disease people save an average of 84% on common generic medications, as of December 2023. GoodRx also offers exclusive savings on brand-name medications that are often more expensive and tougher to get access to.

Lower prescription prices are a great way to start to overcome some of the barriers to care. “By offering access to prescription savings, GoodRx makes it easier for people to afford, and therefore stay on their medications,” Robinson said. “It’s one of the reasons I joined the GoodRx team. I believe in their overall mission and GoodRx is helping people better manage their health.”

A new report, The GoodRx Effect, estimates that, by saving people money on their medications, GoodRx has directly contributed to the prevention of at least 140,000 emergency room visits and 110,000 hospitalizations for major adverse cardiovascular events like heart attack and stroke.

Access Trusted Information.“Having access to reliable information, while not a substitute for seeing a specialist, equips patients with information and provides the tools needed to make healthcare decisions and be their own health advocate,” Robinson added.

GoodRx Health offers users accurate and up-to-date health information, including information about cardiovascular health. Its Black Health and Wellness Center, developed by Robinson, is an additional resource that covers issues, healthy living, and conditions through the lens of the Black experience in the United States.

Numerous barriers to care exist in the healthcare system, and GoodRx is playing a role in helping people overcome some of these obstacles. Explore how GoodRx makes managing heart health conditions more affordable for you and your loved ones.