Final answer:
A general practitioner would benefit from having empathy, good communication skills, and a solid knowledge of cardiovascular medicine to best help patients with cardiovascular health, alongside basic medical training and the ability to refer patients to cardiologists when necessary.
Step-by-step explanation:
To help patients with cardiovascular health as a general practice doctor, the traits that would be most beneficial include empathy and good communication skills, knowledge of cardiovascular medicine, and a proficiency in understanding basic anatomy and physiology. While strong surgical skills and expertise in pediatrics are valuable in their respective fields, they are not specifically tailored to addressing cardiovascular health in a general practice setting. A general practitioner should be able to identify signs of cardiovascular issues and understand when to refer a patient to a cardiologist, a specialist in heart diseases who can provide more advanced diagnosis and treatment such as prescribing medications and recommending lifestyle changes like reduced table salt intake and a supervised exercise program. Being prepared, like emergency workers, to treat an array of illnesses and having skills such as decision making and stress management also benefit the practice.