South Asian Cardiovascular Center

When you’re looking for heart care, you want a place where you feel safe, respected and comfortable. Our experts at the South Asian Cardiovascular Center understand and provide compassionate, culturally sensitive care for your health needs.

The first of its kind in the Midwest, the South Asian Cardiovascular Center at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital serves South Asian people through a special combination of community outreach, advanced clinical services and research.

As a community, South Asians experience a high risk for heart attack and stroke. That’s why we’re here to help you be well with educational materials, screenings, prevention strategies and, if needed, the most effective treatments available.

Specialized care

When you’re here, you are our first priority. Led by Dr. Shoeb Sitafalwalla and his team that includes Dr. Nishant Patel, the experts at the South Asian Cardiovascular Center deliver care that’s personalized and right for you.

Our services include:

• Comprehensive diagnosis and treatment of heart disease: As a leader in cardiovascular care, our specialists offer experience and expertise you can count on with the most advanced technologies and treatments that’s also close to home.
• Advanced lipid analysis: This simple blood test not only looks at how much cholesterol you have, but the quality of the particles and their likelihood of causing heart disease.
• Community outreach and education: To provide free education and screenings, we reach out to South Asian establishments in your community such as faith-based organizations, restaurants, and retail and grocery stores.
• Heart calcium scan: This heart test is quick, affordable and non-invasive and can detect coronary artery disease before you have any symptoms.
• Research: In discovering more about the health of South Asians, we can better help you prevent heart issues in the first place. And if you need treatment, we can provide the latest in proven diagnostics and procedures.
• South Asian nurse navigator: Our compassionate and knowledgeable nurse navigators help guide you and your family throughout your health journey, answering your questions, coordinating your appointments and tests and offering support.
• Heart-healthy recipes and nutrition tips: These recipes and educational videos can help you keep on the road to wellness while still enjoying the foods you love.

About risk factors

If you’re South Asian, you may be at increased risk for cardiovascular disease. This can be due to a variety of factors, ranging from genetics to lifestyle.

Common risk factors include:

• Use of tobacco products including cigarettes, bidis or tambaku paan
• A large waist of more than 36 inches for men or 32 inches for women
• High blood pressure
• High blood sugar or diabetes
• High cholesterol
• A family history of heart disease