Your Trusted Cardiologist In NYC

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What is a Heart Murmur

Heart Murmur – Heed your Cardiologist’s Advise

Any unusual or extra sound heard during a heartbeat is termed as heart murmur. Your normal heartbeat is the sound made by the closing of heart valves as blood moves through your heart. Using a stethoscope, a doctor can hear both the normal heartbeat and the murmur. He can decide about the heart murmur’s location, loudness and timing.

Evaluating heart murmur:

What is a Heart MurmurA cardiologist will conduct physical check up on you while evaluating a heart murmur to note:

·         The faintness or loudness of the murmur to grade it on a scale of 1 to 6.

·         Try to locate the exact place of murmur and assess if it is heard even at the back or at the neck

·         Try to assess the length of the murmur and if it is a low, medium or high pitch

·         When the murmur occurs during heartbeat

·         Ascertain whether a physical activity, breathing or a change in body position affect it

Types of Heart Murmur:

After evaluation and a positive conclusion about the existence of heart murmur, the cardiologist will recommend you certain diagnostic tests like a chest x ray, an EKG (electrocardiogram) and ECG (electrocardiography). These procedures will help to conclude whether the murmur is harmless type or the abnormal type.

The harmless murmur is not due to heart problems and often seen in children. The abnormal type can arise due many heart related problems like:

·         Congenital heart defect (seen more in children)

·         Heart valve disease

·         Septal defects (holes in the heart)

·         Infections

·         Age related changes

·         Rheumatic fever

·         Conditions or Illness not related to heart can cause blood to flow faster as in anemic condition.

Depending upon the type and severity of heart murmur diagnosed, you will be treated by your doctor to correct the underlying cause through medication or surgery.

Find A Cardiologist:

When you experience symptoms related to heart problems:

·         Unexplained breathlessness

·         Heart palpitations

·         Fatigue

·         Chest pain

·         Fainting or dizziness

Call your doctor today to discuss about heart murmur problem.

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Who are the best cardiologists in New York City

Choosing the best cardiologist New York City has to offer is a tall order to fill. A selection checklist is a great way to manage the decision making process.  There are six main categories to evaluate before scheduling an appointment. This article will be your cardiologist evaluation guide.

6 Steps to Finding the Right Cardiologist

Who are the best cardiologists in New York CityCardiologists are required to follow a specified track to complete their medical training. It begins in Medical School, followed by a Residency in Internal Medicine, and comes full circle with a Fellowship in Cardiology. They should always be studying advances in their field.

This background information is an important part of selecting the right doctor. Your choice should be based on the following aspects:

  1. Experience; this will tell you a lot about the specialist’s degree of expertise. Whether they are a recent graduate or have several years of practice under their belt; makes a difference in how they approach your treatment.
  1. Education; receiving a reputable education is a paramount piece of the cardiology puzzle. Do not gloss over it. Do your homework.
  1. Skills; research what’s important to you about a cardiologist. New York City has a vast number of specialists so looking into surgical histories, patient load, publications, etc. is an easy way to narrow the pool.
  1. Location; make sure to choose a clinic that’s close to you in case of emergencies.
  1. Availability; a specialist’s case load is a very important consideration. If you are facing ongoing treatment, try to find a cardiologist with flexible scheduling so you can get the attention you need.
  1. Rate; find out what charges and fees you’ll pay. There are regulations that clinics must follow, but the specialist’s expertise makes a difference. Ask about diagnostics, labs, tests, etc. to avoid insurance issues and  sticker shock.

These factors will not only help you pick the best cardiologist New York City has to offer; they will help you pick the best cardiologist to meet your needs.

Dr. Seldon, a Heart Doctor and Cardiologist in New York City, offers same day appointments and all testing is done on site.  Call us at (212) 367-8000.

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Who is the best cardiologists in NYC

There’s almost nothing worse than the gut-wrenching feeling you get when your doctor walks in the door with bad news about your health. When it involves a vital organ like your heart; all the information about specialists, diagnostics, and treatment can send you reeling.  As the dust settles and the shock wears off, you’re left with a single loaded question, what now? This article will help you find the answer you’re looking for.

First Steps to Take After a Diagnosis

Who is the best cardiologists in NYCOne of the best things you can do for yourself at this stage is to keep it simple. Yes, you need to find a cardiologist, but you also need to avoid stresses that can aggravate your heart problem. With that in mind, here are three basic steps you can take to find a specialist.

1) Ask for a referral. Primary Care Physicians usually have referral information from their network on hand. Try to remember to ask for it before you leave your doctor’s office. This is a common initial step to help you find a cardiologist that fits your needs.

2) Search the internet. The web lets you access a wide range of information without leaving home. Type in the keywords “cardiologist NYC” and review the results.

Review hubs like Yelp and Angie’s List are another good online resource to help you choose a specialist. Using the tag “cardiologist NYC” will pull up unsolicited honest reviews of doctors and clinics in your area submitted by people just like you.

3) Make a few phone calls.  A doctor’s reputation precedes them. This is another tool that can work in your favor. Research the cardiologist’s experience and background, come up with a list of questions, and interview former staff members and association professionals before you make a final decision.

Choosing a cardiologist is an important decision that should not be taken lightly. These steps will help you make an informed and confident decision about your health.

Dr. Seldon, a Heart Doctor and Cardiologist in New York City, offers same day appointments and all testing is done on site.  Call us at (212) 367-8000

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Best Heart Specialists In New York

Studies have shown that death rates from heart disease are 20 percent higher in New York City than anywhere else in the country. There are various environmental, hereditary, and habitual factors that contribute to heart problems. Whatever the reason for this statistical anomaly, one thing is clear; New Yorker’s need good heart specialists. With no shortage of cardiologists to choose from, how do you find the best specialist in the city? Your journey starts with understanding the truth about heart disease.

The Lay of the Land: Identifying the Geography of Heart Disease

Best Heart Specialists In New YorkCardiovascular Disease is an all-inclusive term that categorizes the various problems related to the buildup of plaque inside the heart’s arteries. As more plaque accumulates, the arteries begin to narrow. Over time, this narrowing effect slows blood flow and increases the chances of a heart attack, stroke or other complications. An irregular heartbeat, valve problems, high blood pressure and congenital heart defects are a few of the secondary conditions heart specialists treat.

What does all of this mean for you? If you’ve been diagnosed with heart disease, educate yourself and choose your heart specialist wisely.

The FAQ’s About Heart Disease

Heart disease affects over 80 Million Americans. It can strike without warning. Nearly 46,000 patients’ will be diagnosed with sudden onset or acute heart disease this year alone. Even if you show no sign of heart problems, your best defense is preparation.

Remember the warning signs and symptoms.

·                   Dizziness

·                   Shortness of breath

·                   Heart palpitations

·                   Increased heartbeat

·                   Sweating

·                   Nausea

Symptoms of a heart condition can be subtle and are often misdiagnosed. It is best to see a heart specialist right away if you suspect you are symptomatic. If left untreated acute heart disease can manifest unexpectedly.

The best way to choose a specialist is to do your homework. Research potential clinics in the New York area, have questions prepared, and be honest about your needs and expectations.

Dr. Seldon, a Heart Doctor and Cardiologist in New York City, offers same day appointments and all testing is done on site.  Call us at (212) 367-8000.

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The Best Cardiac Clinic In New York

The Best Cardiac Clinic in New York

Take good care of your heart is sound advice. Finding a good cardiac clinic is essential in order to do just that, but with so many choices on where to go for a great doctor and exceptional care is a good question. Look no further. Dr. Mark Seldon is the best cardiologist in New York.

Locate A Specialist For Blood Pressure In ManhattanDr. Seldon’s Credentials

FACC

Board certified Cardiologist

Board certified Internal Medicine

So what does all this mean? Broken into simple terms these credentials mean Dr. Seldon is top notch among cardiac clinic doctors. FACC, Fellow of the American College of Cardiology, means that other cardiologists recognize Dr. Seldon as a great cardiologist. Board certification means that the physician meets strict and high standards in that particular section of medicine. That means he is an expert in both cardiovascular medicine and the inside workings of the human body.

Education and Residency

Dr. Seldon studied medicine at Mount Sinai at NYU and graduated in 1972. He did internship at Bellevue Hospital until 1974. He then did his residency requirements at Bellevue in 1975; finally Montefiore Medical Center accepted him as a fellow until 1977. All of these hospitals are well known and are exceptional hospitals.

You will not get any better care than at Dr. Seldon’s cardiac clinic. He is expertly knowledgeable in cardiovascular medicine, studied at some of the most prestigious hospitals, and is recognized as one of the best by fellow physicians. Dr. Seldon, a Heart Doctor and Cardiologist in New York City, offers same day appointments and all testing is done on site. Call us at (212) 367-8000.

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Who are the best cardiovascular specialists In New York

Dealing with a diagnosis of heart disease creates a lot of questions. Trying to sift through research for relevant diagnostics can feel futile. Contacting the best cardiovascular specialists in New York helps put a scary situation in perspective. They have expertise and treatment options that they will be put to work for you; starting with something as simple as how to classify your condition.

Heart Disease: A Coat of Many Colors

Who are the best cardiovascular specialists In New YorkHeart disease is an umbrella term that is used to encompass dozens of different problems. The list of conditions can be further bifurcated into categories based on when the symptoms first presented.  If you’ve had the diagnosis from birth, it is congenital. If the condition developed suddenly, it is acute, and so on.  Cardiac distress also affects different areas of the organ including the valves, the muscle, the chambers and arteries, as well as the lining.

Common Cardiac Aliments

Cardiovascular specialists will be able to show you what is happening to your heart and explain how the condition affects it. Here are several  common examples.

  • Congestive heart failure present in heart chambers and triggers diastolic and systolic malfunctions.
  • Rheumatic Heart Disease occurs when the heart’s valves are damaged by Rheumatic Fever.
  • Heart attack is the result of blockages or a buildup of plaque in the veins and arteries.
  • Endocarditis /Pericarditis refer to inflammation in the internal or external lining of the heart.
  • Cardiomyopathy is when high blood pressure enlarges and/or weakens the heart muscle.

The symptoms of heart disease vary depending on the diagnosis, but your cardiovascular specialist can review the specifics of your case. Regular check-ups are recommended even in the absence of pain or flare ups so that your health is monitored and well maintained.

You are the most important judge of who the best cardiovascular specialists are. The choice of which doctor to work with should be weighed carefully. Approach it with your health, personal needs, and well-being in mind.

Dr. Seldon, a Heart Doctor and Cardiologist in New York City, offers same day appointments and all testing is done on site.  Call us at (212) 367-8000.

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The Best Cardiologists In New York

Heart health is key for both quality of life and longevity. Cardiologists are an important part of monitoring and understanding what is happening with your heart.

Heart Disease
The Best Cardiologists In New YorkAccording to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) heart disease was responsible for nearly 25% or one in four deaths in the United States, in 2008. The CDC also states that heart disease is the leading cause of death in both women  and men. Risk factors that increase your chances of heart disease include:

  • Inactivity (53%)
  • Obesity (34%)
  • High Blood Pressure (32%)
  • Cigarette Smoking (21%)
  • High Cholesterol (15%)
  • Diabetes (11%)

Symptoms

If you think you might be in trouble, perhaps you have some disturbing symptoms, then searching for cardiologists and making an appointment with one is an obvious choice. These symptoms might be:

  • Pain or pressure in chest
  • Fainting or shortness of breath
  • Irregular heart beats and palpitations

However, heart disease can often manifest with no symptoms and go unmonitored for years while getting worse. In these cases, a coronary attack might be the first symptom your body gives you, and not everyone gets a second chance in that situation. The CDC indicates that every year, 785,000 Americans have their first coronary attack.

What Should You Do?
It is important to understand the risk factors and how they relate to your lifestyle. The best way to increase your knowledge and life expectancy is to visit a cardiologist before you have a problem. Your cardiologist can suggest lifestyle choices and prescription medicine that will decrease your chance of a major coronary event.

Dr. Seldon, a Heart Doctor and Cardiologist in New York City, offers same day appointments and all testing is done on site.  Call us at (212) 367-8000.

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What Is a Heart Aneurysm

A heart aneurysm is also known as an aortic aneurysm. Aortic aneurysms can be present for years without the individual being aware of the problem. An aneurysm of the heart results from a bulge in the aorta wall, similar in appearance to a balloon. The aorta goes from the heart, through the chest and into the abdominal cavity; it is the primary artery responsible for carrying blood from the heart. When artery walls are healthy, they are muscular and thick, but when the wall has a weak spot, pressure forces the wall of the artery to bulge out.

Possible Causes of an Aneurysm

What Is a Heart AneurysmThere are a variety of reasons why someone may develop a heart aneurysm including:

·         Hypertension (high blood pressure)

·         Aging

·         Syphilis (this used to be a common cause of a thoracic aneurysm, but has recently been more prevalent in aortic aneurysms)

·         Injury to the artery

·         Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)

·         Congenital abnormality (including conditions such as Marfan syndrome which is present at birth)

Symptoms of an Aneurysm

It is important to note that in the majority of individuals with an aortic aneurysm, there are typically no specific symptoms and it is typically only incidentally discovered during an exam. Aortic aneurysm may not show any symptoms, however, in a few case signs or symptoms of a heart aneurysm may include:

·         An extreme pain in the abdomen, chest and/or middle of the back

·         A ruptured aneurysm can lead to stroke, loss of consciousness, shock or heart attack

·         A pulsating feeling may occur when the aneurysm is in the abdominal section of the artery

A heart aneurysm can be detected with an MRI, X-ray, CT scan or an echocardiography. An aneurysm is a serious health concern because when they go unnoticed, it can lead to plaque formation which will further weaken the artery walls. The further weakening may lead to blood clots which in turn may lead to a stroke, heart attack or death. It is important to have regular check-ups and to report any family history of aneurysms to the physician.

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What are Heart Murmur Symptoms

Sometimes Children Outgrow Their Heart Murmur

Heart murmurs can occur in healthy children.  Some of these children will outgrow their heart murmur as they age. A heart murmur will also occur during pregnancy on occasion, these murmurs are referred to as ‘innocent’ heart murmurs. They do not require any kind of treatment or change in your lifestyle because they are not linked to any medical or heart condition. That said, seeking a medical opinion is essential to ensure there is not an underlying condition causing the murmur.

A Murmur Could Indicate a Serious Condition

What are Heart Murmur SymptomsAs previously mentioned, many murmurs are ‘innocent’; however, some murmurs can indicate a serious heart problem.  For example, a heart murmur could be caused by a narrow or leaky heart valve as the blood flows through it. A murmur can also occur because of an increase in blood flow across a valve because of the medical conditions hypothyroidism or anemia.  Heart problems that are present at birth, called congenital heart defects, can also create a heart murmur.  Many times, surgery can repair the congenital heart defects.

Many individuals do not have any heart murmur symptoms whatsoever; however, some heart murmurs are accompanied by symptoms.

Heart Murmur Symptoms

  • Palpitations (rapid heartbeat)
  • Chest Pain
  • Fatigue
  • Breathlessness
  • Bluish colored fingertips or skin (the bluish fingertips are sometimes seen in newborns that have congenital heart defects)

How a Heart Murmur is Detected

If your heart is healthy, it creates a ‘lub-dub’ sound while it is beating. The ‘lub’ is the systolic sound. The ‘dub’ is the diastolic sound.  A heart murmur creates a ‘whooshing’ sound that is added to the ‘lub-dub’ sound.

A heart murmur can be detected with the use of a stethoscope and is often found during a routine physical exam.  If a murmur is found, your doctor may find that it is an ‘innocent’ murmur. If the heart murmur is caused by a more serious heart problem, your doctor could decide to refer you to a cardiologist.  The cardiologist may prescribe medication or recommend surgery to treat your underlying heart problem.

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What does heart failure mean

Today’s lifestyles are all about high tension jobs, high excitement partying and getaways and high calorie food and drink. One of the biggest losses in all of this, is good health, ranking right up there along with emotional isolation, substance abuse and so on. The diseases that are the result of this kind of a lifestyle include heart failure, elevated blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and a host of others. Let us look at heart failure in a little more detail.

What does heart failure meanThis condition is not an exact diagnosis but rather an umbrella term that covers a variety of irregularities. Simply put, it means that the heart is not carrying out its normal function of squeezing blood efficiently through the four chambers and back into the body. There are also more specific dysfunctions that depend on which side of the heart is affected. The chances of heart failure increases with age and between the age of 75-80 the incidence of this condition is as high as one in five people.

Causes of heart failure

If you have any of the following conditions, you need to closely monitor your heart function to ensure that it is working well:

  • Ischaemic heart disease
  • Diseases of the heart muscle, valves or pericardium
  • Consistently elevated blood pressure
  • Thyroid disease

Symptoms 

The symptoms depend to some extent on whether the left or right side is affected. If the condition develops on the left side, you will experience breathlessness when you are exerting yourself physically or lying down flat on your bed. Patients with right ventricle failure complain of swollen ankles or feet due to fluid retention. Some symptoms that are common to failure on either side are:

  • Dizziness
  • Nausea
  • A sharp decline in appetite

If you have a family history of heart disease, or notice any of the above symptoms over more than two weeks, it is best to immediately get a consultation with a good cardiologist. If detected early when the condition is at a very mild stage, the conditions that are causing the heart failure can be treated so that your heart is protected.

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