Posted on December 18, 2013
How Do I Know If I Have High Blood Pressure
It’s time to talk about a scary, but necessary truth. The generally accepted notion that high blood pressure has symptoms attached to it is a myth. According to the American Heart Association, high blood pressure can be present for extended periods of time, yet symptomatically dormant.
This article will discuss the so-called “symptoms” of hypertension and the truth about how you can monitor your blood pressure.
Chosen Ignorance is not a Solution
If you asked the average person what the symptoms of high blood pressure are, you’d probably hear something like this:
- Severe headaches
- Facial flushing
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Shortness of breath
- Sweating
- Nosebleeds
People who are not getting their blood pressure regularly checked because they think hypertension comes with these symptoms, need to learn the facts about this condition sooner rather than later.
For instance:
- People with hypertension actually have fewer headaches than the general population.
- Facial flushing is not a reliable indicator of hypertension because it can happen for various reasons; anything from increased stress to spicy foods.
- Nosebleeds only occur in about 17% of all hypertension cases. The remaining 83% have no symptoms at all until they are in crisis.
Pay particular attention to the word “crisis” in the final statement above. Hypertensive crisis is when some of the symptoms people talk about actually occur, not before.
Don’t enter Crisis Mode, get your Numbers Checked
Let’s revisit the introduction for a moment. You may recall that cardiologists have said high blood pressure is a long-term, progressive problem that lies symptomatically dormant until it is life-threatening.That life-threatening stage is called hypertensive crisis.
It occurs when your heart
Posted on December 17, 2013
Is Having High Blood Pressure Dangerous
In a word: yes. High blood pressure is dangerous. As much as people might want to ignore that fact, it is a fact. The most dangerous aspect of hypertension is that it usually has no symptoms until the pressure in your heart has reached a critical point.
However, what you need to realize most is by the time the condition has reached a critical point, the focus is on saving your life, but the damage to your heart and circulatory system has already been done. You may survive but there will be physical repercussions for ignoring or mismanaging high blood pressure.
Now that you know the truth, why risk a life-altering outcome? This article will go into greater detail about what happens when your heart
Posted on December 16, 2013
Can I Die From High Blood Pressure
We’ve learned a lot about heart disease over the past several decades. As a result, heart patients are seeing a lot more information on risk factors and warning signs. Information is power, but it also leads to important questions. This article will focus on answering one of those important questions.
The question: can I die from high blood pressure?
The ebb and flow of pressure within the heart
There is a lot of conflicting information about high blood pressure. On the one hand, most people will tell you that you don’t have to worry about hypertension until you are showing signs and symptoms of the condition. On the other hand, health experts share a different perspective.
Like a lot of cardiovascular conditions; high blood pressure rarely has any symptoms, but the lack of symptoms does not mean that you are out of the woods. On the contrary, it could mean that a dangerous vascular time bomb is housed inside your heart. Probably not the picture you were expecting, but it might be more accurate than you think.
According to the Mayo Clinic, uncontrolled high blood pressure is a serious and life-threatening risk factor. What is it a risk factor for?
- Atherosclerosis
- Aneurysm
- Stroke
- Heart attack
- Heart failure
- Kidney disease
- Blindness
The functions within your body rely on a delicate balance so that your internal organs get all of the fuel and nutrition they need. When your blood pressure is elevated for a prolonged period of time, it upsets the delicate balance in vital functions start to topple.
The Domino Effect
Your heart
Posted on December 15, 2013
Who Performs A Vascular Ultrasound Test In New York
A vascular ultrasound is one of the advanced diagnostic tests that is performed by a cardiologist. If there is an issue with your heart function that affects your blood flow or circulation, and a vascular ultrasound may be able to better identify the source of the problem.
This article will take you through the basics of how this type of ultrasound works.
What is the cardiologist looking for?
The answer to this question really depends on what part of your heart is being scanned. The majority of your upper body blood flow is supplied by your aorta. The blood flows through the neck to the upper extremities and down to the lower abdomen before it divides into two arteries that feed the lion
Posted on December 14, 2013
How Can I Get Rid Of An Atrial Flutter
Electrical pulses from your sinus node are what control your heart
Posted on December 13, 2013
Are There Doctors In NYC Who Perform The Treadmill Tests
Treadmill tests are a normal part of the diagnostic process for cardiovascular disease. Depending on where you are in NYC, there are several clinical locations where these tests can be performed. The important thing to look for is all-inclusive care from an experienced cardiologist, like Dr. Mark Seldon.
What are treadmill tests for?
There are two different types of treadmill test that relate to cardiovascular function:
- Tests the heart rate and rhythm
- Tests the metabolic function that involves the heart, lungs, and circulatory system
The diagnostic purpose of the test will determine how these functions are monitored.
In either case, the goal is to get your heart rate up to anaerobic pace. This is done in stages using the treadmill. If you can sustain it, you will be at your highest heart rate for about 10 minutes during the entire test.
Electrodes will be attached to different areas of your torso so that your heart rate and rhythm can be monitored. These electrodes should not interfere with your ability to move during the test. If the cardiologist would like additional information on your heart, circulatory, and respiratory function; an additional breathing apparatus will be used during the test.
How will I communicate during the test?
The equipment used does not limit your ability to communicate with the staff running the test. Treadmill tests are designed so that you can verbally indicate what is going on while the tests are in progress.
In addition, the specialists administering the test are positioned right next the treadmill. There are a couple of important reasons for this:
- You
Posted on December 12, 2013
What Are The Benefits Of Getting A Treadmill Test
Getting a treadmill test is not only good for your heart, it also has other benefits that you may not have considered. It’s true that stress is part of what fuels the test, and but it’s not the stress you’re used to. Stress in this case refers to a certain level of physical exertion. That exertion highlights some important aspects of your current cardiac health and day-to-day lifestyle.
Why is this test beneficial?
On a very logical level, getting a treadmill test will tell you how well your heart is functioning.
When you work out, your body burns through more oxygen in order to circulate a sufficient amount of blood through your heart and body. If that blood flow is restricted or blocked, it will show up in your heart rate, rhythm, and metabolic functions.
This is one of the earliest predictors of heart disease and heart attack available. The sooner any problems are found, the better they can be dealt with.
Another benefit of this test is in how you respond to it. The American Heart Association estimates that at least 60% of the American population is under active. Being underactive is one of the biggest risk factors for heart disease. In order for a risk factor to be considered major, it has to at least double your risk of heart disease. The only other factors that rank as high as under activity are:
Getting a treadmill test might be your first exposure to a sustained period of exercise. The exposure can tell you what kind of aerobic workout works best for you and you might enjoy the physical activity more than you expected to. Anything that improves your odds of sticking to a heart healthy lifestyle should be considered beneficial.
What if the test results are problematic?
The good news is that the signs have been found. The focus can now shift to treating the symptoms and monitoring your progress.
Even if getting a treadmill test shows that you are at an increased risk for a health hazard like a heart attack, it’s better to know sooner than later. Now, you can focus on successfully counteracting the development of coronary artery disease and other potentially life-threatening conditions.
This may not sound like a benefit at the time, but given the alternative tests like these can indicate the effectiveness of treatment protocols and minimize the harmful effects of heart disease. Ask any cardiologist and they will tell you that the greatest benefit these tests can give you is life-changing knowledge.
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.
Posted on December 11, 2013
What Tests Are Available to Check My Heart
Tests to check your heart are done every time you go to your primary care physician
Posted on December 10, 2013
What To Consider Before Choosing A Cardiovascular Specialist
Cardiovascular specialists and the care teams that they work with all have different focus areas to treat heart disease. Any to look for a cardiologist who has an expert-level of experience treating and managing your particular heart problem.
To illustrate this point, the focus of this article will be on cardiovascular specialists and care teams that deal with coronary artery disease (CAD).
Your First Stop
No matter what aspect of heart disease you are facing, your primary care physician (PCP) should always be the first resource you turn to.
Your PCP can help you understand the basic breakdown and treatment approaches for your condition. At that point, they will help you make the decision as to whether a specialist should be consulted or not.
It’s possible to manage borderline signs of heart disease with the help of your PCP. However, if the condition have gone beyond the clinically manageable point, you need to be referred to a heart specialist.
CAD is the condition that needs to be monitored by cardiovascular specialists. There are several complications that can arise as you’re undergoing treatment for the various stages of the disease.
The next section of this article will give you an idea of what your complete care team might look like.
Constructing a CAD Care Team
After getting referred to a cardiologist, your PCP’s role changes. They become more of the care manager. Coordinating all of the different appointments and collecting the information from various sources to get a comprehensive picture of both your diagnosis and prognosis.
A PCP isn’t the only doctor involved in your care. Here are some of the various professionals that may handle different aspects of your CAD treatment:
Posted on December 9, 2013
What Is Cardiovascular Consulting
Heart specialists have different skill sets they bring to different individual cases and treatment environments. One of these skills is cardiovascular consulting. What is it and how is it different from the everyday clinical obligations of a heart specialist? This article will aim to answer those questions.
Call for Consult
Cardiologists don’t always take over patient cases. Sometimes they are contacted by a primary care physician or interventional cardiologist to offer a second opinion or to discuss treatment protocols.
In a nutshell, that’s what cardiovascular consulting involves. These specialists work with other doctors and surgeons to select the best treatment approach for a particular patient. Cardiovascular consulting can take place in a hospital or in a clinical setting. Some consulting services are even part of a more extensive medical practice.
Cardiovascular consulting can also extend to rehabilitation after surgery. The doctors who work in rehabilitation facilities design customized rehabilitation plans to help patients regain strength and functionality as well as adjust to a heart healthy lifestyle.
Specialists who offer consulting services are very well-versed in internal medicine and cardiology. The use of combination of this knowledge as part of comprehensive cardiovascular consulting. They have an expert-level understanding of the circulatory system and its effects on the heart, brain, and lungs.
Your primary care physician and the other members of your cardiac care team will rely on the information provided by cardiovascular consulting to develop a treatment protocol for your heart condition.
A Constant among Variables
If you have a heart condition, it is likely that you will get different types of care from different specialists and medical professionals on your cardiac care team.
Several of the doctors involved may only take part in your care plan for very short time, but most likely your primary care physician and cardiologist will stay on as a constant part of coordinating and managing your ongoing care. Consulting a cardiologist is just the first step on a very long road to heart health.
If you think you might have a heart condition or you are already showing signs of a heart condition; schedule an appointment with your primary care physician to go over the next steps and possible treatment options. From there, you’ll most likely be referred to a cardiologist who will examine and identify the specifics of your condition.
Consulting plays a pivotal role in the fight against heart disease. Hopefully, what we learn through studying the heart will continue to save lives and maintain healthy hearts with new breakthroughs in cardiac treatment.
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.
