Habits that will help you stay safe against heart problems

Considering the deteriorating living styles of people, and simultaneous rise in the incidence of heart problems amongst them, it has become imperative to know how to stay safe from these medical emergencies.

Our eating and lifestyle habits play a major role in enhancing the chances of cardiac trouble amongst us. Health tips offered by a New York cardiologist can help you stay safe against cardiac problems. What are those tips; let us have a look –


1. Change your diet plan – Food is a major factor that contributes to the poor cardiac health. This is the reason why doctors stress making changes in your eating habits when you are at a risk of such medical problems. An acronym used for one approach is DASH i.e. Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. Some major food products to avoid in this diet include fast foods, red meat, packaged snacks, bakery items, margarines and dairy products, as all of these contain saturated, and Trans fats. These fats increase the chances of CHD (Coronary Heart Diseases)

2. Keep check on your weight – People who are obese, and overweight have higher risks of developing cardiac problems as compared to non-obese people. This is the reason why the best cardiologist’s advise patients to keep their weight under control. BMI or the Basal Metabolic Index is one measure to check your body weight. Doctors have observed that people with a basal metabolic index of 25 or more are at a higher risk of facing cardiac problems

3. Quit smoking – Components like nicotine, tar, and carbon monoxide found in tobacco smoke are considered dangerous for heart health. Smoking can lead to atherosclerosis or the narrowing of blood vessels. So, in order to ensure good cardiac health you need to quit smoking. In fact, passive smoking or second hand smoke can also be a serious problem, making people around you prone to heart and lung diseases

4. Do some exercise – 30 minutes of exercise daily and you can reduce your health risk. Sedentary lifestyle has been a major contributor towards worsening cardiac problems. This is the reason why medical professionals stress upon making some light exercises a part of your daily routine. This will not only ensure safety from various heart problems, but at the same time will bring other benefits like control of weight, and maintain all the body organs in a rigorous state, to name a few.


By employing the above mentioned habits in your life, you can reduce risks of facing life threatening cardiology troubles.

As they say, ‘prevention is always better than cure’, and so if you feel at the risk of facing any of these medical problems, then you must make these habits a part of your daily routine as soon as possible. After all, life does not give a second chance, so why risk it, when all the consequences can be easily avoided with a slight effort from your side!

Tests that a NYC cardiologist might ask you to undergo

A cardiologist can be the best judge for your heart’s deteriorating health. Keeping in mind that various cardiac troubles can be detected by using different techniques, you must be prepared to undergo different diagnostic test to have an idea about the physical well- being of your heart.

Here is a look at some common tests that an NYC cardiologist might recommend

1. Stress test – this test is performed on patients who are at a risk of cardiac blockages. As the test requires the person to perform physical activity, doctors also refer to it as an exercise stress test. As a part of the test, the patient is asked to walk on a treadmill bicycle. The doctor monitors the functioning of heart, under such conditions of physical stress, with the help of an electrocardiogram (ECG). Any alteration in the ECG report, when compared to the ECG of a normal person, can indicate the possibility of a cardiac problem. For patients who cannot perform physical activity medications like Adenosine, dipyridamole, and dobutamine are used (to create condition similar to physical stress.

2. Echocardiogram – a cardiologist in NYC might ask you to go for an echocardiogram to detect presence of any deformity in the physical structure of the organ. The test makes use of sound waves to get a moving picture of the organ, similar to an ultrasound, in which the activity of a developing fetus is identified within the mother’s womb. The test can also help the doctor detect a hole in the walls that acts as a septum between left and right chambers of the cardiac cavity.


3. Computerised Tomographic Angiography or CTA – the purpose of this test is to have an idea about the functioning of the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart. With the help of X-rays and high-end computer aided equipment, detailed images of the blood vessels are obtained and the doctor can monitor the blood flow within them through these images. The test is not specific to heart and professionals employ it for evaluating the functioning of arterial systems of various parts of body such as brain, chest, and pelvic region, to name a few.

4. Magnetic Resonance Angiography or MRA – this test is also performed to address problems related to the blood vessels. The test makes use of magnetic fields and radio waves to generate 2-D or 3-D images of the blood vessels. The benefit of this test is that the doctor can precisely locate the blockage in the arteries as well as the severity of the blockage. A key thing to be mentioned here is that people who have pacemakers installed, stents, prosthetic joints, and mechanical heart valves might not be eligible for the MRA, as metals can influence the magnetic field used in the test.

Apart from all these specific tests, there are numerous other diagnostic tests that a doctor might recommend you to undergo. However, more often than not the cardiologist would suggest one of the above mentioned tests.

Some heart conditions about which only a cardiologist can tell you

The heart is one of the most vital organs of the body. A slight imperfection in its functioning could lead to a life threatening medical condition. Although, in general, people are aware of cardiology problems such as heart attack, stroke, coronary disease and hypertension, to name a few, but apart from these, there are many other heart problems that are not so commonly known.

Considering the importance of this organ in healthy living, it becomes important for you to be aware of other frequently occurring cardiac problems that are not commonly known to people.

Here is a look at those heart problems – 


1. Rheumatic Heart Disease: It is a serious condition that has several complications. Rheumatic heart disease is associated with the damage that rheumatic fever causes on the body. Major symptoms of this problem are chest pain, fever, and burning sensation. As far as medical science has been able to diagnose, the complications of this could be improper functioning of the valves of the organ, which restricts them to get closed properly, and therefore blood may leak into one of the chambers. So, even if you have the slightest of doubt in your mind regarding this condition, then immediately get in touch with a NY cardiologist.

2. Pulmonary Disease: this is another highly serious, yet unheard of disease. As the word pulmonary implies, the problem involves lungs and damage caused to them due to various conditions. Chest pain and breathlessness are the common symptoms associated with the disease. Under extreme circumstances there is a possibility that the patient can faint as well. Cystic Fibrosis, Pulmonary Hypertension, and Advanced Emphysema are some of the other diseases associated with it. So far, there is no tried and tested cure for this critical problem, apart from taking precautions under the guidance of a pulmonary and cardiac specialist.

3. Ischemic Heart Disease – ischemia is a medical term used for the situation of reduced blood flow to any organ, and Ischemic heart disease is the condition in which blood supply to the heart is limited due to any reason. This could lead to severe chest pain especially in the left side. Medical professionals associate this disease with the deteriorating lifestyle habits of people, which are becoming more sedentary day by day. Getting rid of that extra fat from the body and adopting a vigorous lifestyle, under the guidance of a specialist is one way out to get rid of this trouble.

These are some of the major cardiac diseases, which I am sure you must not have heard of. To know more about these problems, you must get in touch with the best cardiologist in New York, to avoid any chance of getting affected by any of these issues (or any other sort of heart issues for that matter). After all, prevention is always better than cure!

Heart Murmur – only a cardiologist in NYC can explain what it is

Medical professionals regard cardiac problems as the biggest threat to human health. Over the years, because of changing lifestyles, there has been a serious rise in the incidence of cardiac problems amongst people.

Although now people are more aware about cardiac issues than they were in the past, still there are many problems that are not commonly known to people and can be very dangerous.

Heart Murmur is amongst one such problem that a cardiologist in New York can tell you about. Here is brief overview of this critical medical condition –

What is a heart murmur?

Heart produces sounds when it pumps the blood through its chambers. You can detect these sounds with the help of a stethoscope. In case of any abnormality in the cardiac structure or if there is any problem in the blood flow, the sound is slightly changed signifying turbulence in the functioning of the organ.

What can be the possible reason behind a heart murmur?

The problem can be due to birth defects in the organ or may be caused due to a medical condition. Based on its causal reason, medical professionals have, for example, classified several categories-

Congenital- heard in the new born babies due to defect in valves, blood vessels, the septum or all of these. The child may have to go for surgical intervention to get the defect cured, in case medications do not work effectively

Functional- observed because of any fundamental medical condition. The most common reason for this type of abnormality is the increased heartbeat observed during fever, anemia, pregnancy or hyperthyroidism.

However, the biggest cause of a heart murmur is abnormalities in the heart valves. In medical science, these have been further categorised as –

1. Stenosis or the narrowing of the cardiac valve – the underlying cause for valve stenosis can be scarring of the valve due to any injury or infection (rheumatic fever) or even due to calcification. The narrowing can result into cardiac failure, in extreme situations

2. Sclerosis – it is associated with the medical condition of a build up of calcium, for example, causing stiffness of the valve. Aging is the most prominent reason behind valve sclerosis causing it to narrow and stiffen.

3. Endocarditis – this condition arises because of an infection that can destroy the valve. It has been observed that the cause of infection travels in the bloodstream, and after it reaches heart, causes  oninfection.

4. Regurgitation or insufficiency – it can cause blood leakage in the cardiac cavity, leading to its backward passage (against the normal blood flow)

5. Atrial or Ventricular Septal defects – also known as the holes in the wall of heart can be a major reason behind a heart murmur.

Although, a murmur is considered harmless in most of the cases, this medical condition is known to occur commonly amongst infants, where it can lead to serious consequences, if not treated properly.

Even in case of adults, the disease can lead to fatal concerns, if not treated properly. So, in case you have regular chest pain, swelling abnormalities, or breathlessness, it is advisable to visit a NY cardiologist and get the check-up done at newyorkcardiac.com

Why you must care for your heart?

The heart holds great significance in the functioning of the human body. This makes it essential for us to take the best care of the heart, so that it stays fit and healthy!

Simple steps can make a huge difference when it comes to caring for the heart. You may not even realize how simple changes in your diet and lifestyle, might tend to mark a huge difference in keeping your heart safe from all harms.
Here are few of the major habits that can make a big difference in keeping your heart healthy:

Eat well- You need to eat healthy and nutritious food if you want your heart to stay in the pink of health. Any Cardiologist in NYC would suggest keeping a check on what you eat to ensure healthiness of your heart. Eating green leafy vegetables, fruits and nuts shall keep your heart strong and your metabolism rate at a good level. This would mean you will not put on more weight and the risk of heart ailments will also be reduced.

Workout well- As important as it is to maintain a healthy diet routine, it is equally important to make sure that you burn your calories well by exercising. It doesn’t have to mean an intense workout session in the gym, if you don’t want it to be! Try different things like dancing, yoga, swimming and aerobics to shed off the pounds, burn the calories to ensure healthiness of heart, and also to stay in perfect shape. Exercising also helps to strengthen your heart muscles directly leading to a stronger, fitter and prettier you!

Find solace- The stress and tensions of the modern day are a huge reason for heart ailments. This calls for measures that we never took! We need to take out time for ourselves. Pick a hobby, read a book, take your dog for walk, listen to soothing music, collect coins, anything! You need to do something that helps you get away from the routine rattrap of life so that you find peace of mind and body. These activities shall not only give you a way to rejuvenate your mind and freshen up, but the happiness that it would bring to your life, will help your heart grow stronger each day.

Give up your unhealthy habits – If you are a chronic drinker and smoker, then it’s time you prepare yourself to say goodbye to these unhealthy habits. Wake up and do something about it before it’s too late! You need to make sure that you give up excess drinking and smoking before it degrades your health and makes you extremely sick and vulnerable to a heart attack.

Looking for a good NY Cardiologist can help you stay in touch with the updates about the best healthcare possible. There are heaps of healthcare options to choose from and this is why you need to be careful to make the right choice for the sake of your health. Look for a doctor who can guide you step by step at newyorkcardiac.com

How inculcating healthy habits can save you from heart disease

Heart health is of vital importance for everyone. Because of pollution and several other natural factors, risk of heart ailments have drastically increased over the years.

There is no sort of age specification for heart ailments these days and people of all age groups tend to fall under the risk of heart ailments. This increases the need for being all the more intelligent about what to do to decrease the increasing risks of heart ailments.

The best New York Cardiologist would be that person who would give you a fresh perspective towards these heart problems that might be plaguing your life slowly, and must be waiting to guide you to get the proper diagnostic tests performed.

Understanding the risks

When you go to a good cardiologist, they shall not only examine you for the signs and symptoms that you suffer from, but shall also analyze the various areas of risk that you might be prone to, considering your condition. Heart ailments have different forms. There are many factors contributing towards affecting your health and wellness. A typical cardiologist would examine each of those.

• Congenital heart diseases are the ones that affect a person by birth. Complications during birth might be one of the factors responsible for the same.
• An unhealthy lifestyle can lead to a heart disease. Stress and tensions could literally be hampering your heart. Improper rest, work related stress and unhealthy eating and drinking habits are other prevalent reasons for heart disease.
• Habits like smoking and drinking alcohol in uncontrolled quantities also contribute towards increasing your risk of heart disease.
• Eating food that contains a lot of fat and cholesterol is harmful as it tends to set you on the path of a heart ailment
• Lack of proper exercise and workout, will also contribute to heart attack risk by increasing conditions such as hyperlipidemia, obesity, and diabetes.

So what does the doctor suggest you to do?

If you find a good NYC cardiologist, he shall help you in taking the simple yet crucial steps towards a better life. Warding off the risk of heart ailments is not entirely impossible and one needs to keep some basic things in mind to achieve this feat.

• Eating healthy and nutritious food is essential. Including lots of fiber and proteins in your diet shall help you in maintaining a healthy heart.
• Brisk walks and going to the gym a couple of days a week shall not only tone your physique and keep  your weight in check, but also help you in warding off the risk of heart ailments.
• Simple lifestyle changes can make a huge difference to your health. You need to focus on making efforts, and then incorporating them in your life for positive results. Even the smallest signs and symptoms should not be ignored and be told to the doctor immediately.

To know more about heart related diseases and their prevention, visit newyorkcardiac.com

Consider the risks of a silent heart attack before it takes your breath away!

Lately, there has been a rise in the number of silent heart attack cases. Not only are the  symptoms of this deadly health situation not felt by the individual, but also it is one of the most defenseless health concerns! There have been many cases in the world where people were not able to feel even the slightest movement or disturbance when the people sleeping next to them died of a heart attack!

The plight of a person who gets a silent heart attack cannot be imagined; dying helplessly, without being able to move enough to get the attention of the person lying just a few inches away from you. One of the reasons why situations like these occur is because we are not entirely aware of the signs and symptoms that tend to occur before a person faces a heart attack.

This makes it really important for one and all to have the proper education about the increasing risk of heart attacks, so that even when the slightest discomfort occurs, proper medical aid can be sought, so that one can avert the danger.

The function of the heart is to pump blood throughout the body in regular rhythms, and when the blood supply to the heart is restricted the initial stage of a heart attack occurs. The disruption of flow of blood is called ischemia, and when this occurs in the heart, pain is usually felt.

This pain in the chest is called angina and is usually one of the preliminary symptoms of a heart attack. However, in cases of silent heart attacks, this angina probably is not felt.  Silent ischemia or disruption of blood flow without pain is the reason for a heart attack that exhibits no symptoms of pain.

There is need for understanding that risks of silent heart attacks can also be determined. These risks have to be weighed out and calculated beforehand, so that when an actual situation occurs, you can be prepared for it.  Don’t take any chances with your health because if you do, there is no way in which you will be able to survive a heart attack, unless you are prepared to fight it.

Go to the best cardiologist in NYC and let them weigh the risks for you. If you are at risk of any cardiac disease, you need to make sure that you get yourself tested. These professionals can suggest appropriate tests for you, through which you shall be able to determine your risk, and on that basis undergo the appropriate treatment if you are at increased risk.

So make sure that your NYC cardiologist can do the proper testing. It’s essential for you to make sure that you go to the right medical office; so that you find the right cardiac doctor who can take the best care of your heart health, and help you lead a long, happy and healthy life. Looking through various options in the city, you are sure to find the suitable doctor who offers quality healthcare.

Log on to newyorkcardiac.com to get in touch with them.