Posted on April 22, 2012
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
Heart 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.
Posted on April 21, 2012
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
According 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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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
There 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.
Posted on April 20, 2012
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
As 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.
Posted on April 19, 2012
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.
This 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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A 2010 New York Times article stated that death rates from heart disease in the greater New York City area were approximately 20 percent higher than in most areas of America.
Heart disease, or cardiovascular disease, is a broad term used for various problems that all relate to the buildup of plaque inside the heart’s arteries. The more the plaque accumulates, the more the arteries narrow, slowing blood flow and increases the risk for heart attack, stroke or other heart conditions.
There are also heart conditions related to an irregular heartbeat, heart valve problems, high blood pressure and congenital heart defects.
Heart disease is a serious problem in the U.S. as well as specifically in the New York area. Over 80 million people in the U.S. have some form of cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of both men and women, killing more people than all cancers and AIDS combined. According to theHeart Foundation, over 920,000 people will develop heart disease this year, almost half of which will occur without previous warning signs or symptoms.
If you experience the following symptoms of a heart attack, call 911:
· Pain or heaviness in the chest that sometimes radiates around
· Choking feeling or fullness
· Anxiety, extreme weakness
· Rapid heartbeat
· Vomiting, sweating and dizziness
If you have any of the above symptoms, you should contact a heart doctor New York City. Remember that heart conditions often have subtle symptoms or no symptoms at all.
There are several symptoms of heart disease:
· Dizziness
· Shortness of breath
· Heart palpitations
· Increased heartbeat
· Sweating
· Nausea
The symptoms of a heart attack may be very mild and can be confused with other conditions. If you have any questions or suspect that you may have a heart condition of any kind, call 911 or arrange for an immediate visit to a heart doctor New York City.
Note that people with diabetes are more likely to have a myocardial infarction (MI) or heart attack without any symptoms. Consult a heart doctor New York City for assistance.
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What are Heart Failure Symptoms :
Everyone should be aware of heart failure symptoms. This is a preventive measure, so you can readily apply medication before it gets any worse.
To begin with, there are two types of heart failure symptoms: the chronic and the acute type of heart failure.
Symptoms of Chronic Heart Failure
Nausea- Lack of appetite
- Sudden gain in weight
- Decreased alertness
- Hardship in concentrating
- Fatigue coupled by weakness
- Shortness of breath when you attempt to lie down
- Swelling in the feet, ankles, legs and even the abdomen
Symptoms of Acute Heart Failure
- Irregular heartbeat
- Severe shortness in breath
- Unexpected build-up of fluid in the body
- Chest pain especially if it is accompanied by heart attack
- Severe symptoms in comparison to the one mentioned above
- Appearance of pink and foamy mucus while coughing
Individuals who experience any of these symptoms should immediately consult their doctor about it. They should not disregard these abnormalities because it may be necessary for them to undergo medication. They should not attempt to conceal it from anyone because doing so will only lead to more complications. They should be honest enough to inform their physician about it, so necessary medical aids will be provided.
Everyone should take these heart failure symptoms seriously. Many who have disregarded these in the past suffered serious health problems and it even led to the death of some. It may be caused by other health conditions, so it is absolutely best if you undergo regular heart check-up with your cardiologist. They will assess your condition and undergo certain laboratory tests to evaluate your health.
Heart problems are very serious. No one should take this for granted. If you feel that one of your family members may be concealing any of these above-mentioned symptoms, then you should take the initiative and bring them to the cardiologist. Be vigilant, especially if you one of the family members has suffered from previous heart problem because they are more prone to this type of heart ailments.
Posted on April 18, 2012
Heart failure can take two forms. Chronic heart failure is an ongoing condition that starts progressively and continues over time. Acute heart failure occurs suddenly with symptoms appearing without warning. Seeking treatment immediately can make the difference in your chances of survival, so it is crucial to understand the symptoms of heart failure.
Overall Body Indicators
One of the most important things about identifying cardiac health problems is to listen to your body’s subtle queues. It is easy to overlook some of the more understated symptoms until it progresses to more noticeable, severe indicators.
When you find that you are struggling to do routine exercises, fighting persistent fatigue and muscle weakness, this may be your body’s reaction to a weakening cardiovascular system. These symptoms may also be accompanied by difficulties concentrating and a lack of focus. If you notice these symptoms, you may easily discard them as indicators of increased life demands, vowing to get more sleep.
Additionally, as your cardiovascular system is increasingly strained, your body retains fluid. One of the early signs of fluid retention is swelling in your lower extremities, such as your ankles and feet. You may also notice gradual weight gain despite a loss of appetite and frequent nausea. This weight gain is a result of your body retaining fluids.
Respiratory Struggles
If you experience shortness of breath, particularly when lying down or after physical activity, it may be cause for concern. If it is sometimes accompanied by wheezing, and a cough that persists despite your efforts to treat it, it may be an indicator of significant cardiovascular concerns.
Time to Call a Doctor
A racing heart rate, irregular heart beat and chest pain are all significant indications of heart failure. When chest pain and heart rate fluctuation is accompanied by dizziness, cold sweats and a lightheaded feeling, these are all serious symptoms that require immediate medical attention. If you haven’t already called your doctor about some of the early indications, you should call immediately when you discover these symptoms.
Posted on April 17, 2012
Are Heart Murmur Serious :
When it comes to heart murmurs, many people seem to have the impression that some types of heart murmurs are not serious and do not require medical attention. This may be a potentially crucial mistake.
About Heart Murmurs
Heart murmurs are an unusual sound heard during a normal examination using a stethoscope. Normally, when blood moves through the heart, the blood flows smoothly, creating the typical ba-bum sound of a heartbeat. However, if the blood does not move smoothly through the heart, an extra sound is generated, which is a heart murmur.
Abnormal Heart Murmurs
The reason why a heart murmur can be serious is that it may indicate heart valve disease or another heart or health condition. Heart valve disease usually occurs as part of another condition, infection or disease.
Heart valve abnormalities also may result in a murmur, such as a narrowed, leaking, bowing or stiffening of a valve. Another possibility is endocarditis, which means there is an infection of the heart’s lining, causing destruction to one or more of the heart valves.
Any of these conditions require treatment and supervision by a cardiologist, as there may be underlying conditions that could be serious or even fatal if not treated. If you suspect that you have a heart condition, you should contact a local cardiologist for an evaluation as soon as possible.
Harmless Heart Murmurs
Some heart murmurs are harmless, also called a functional heart murmur, and are often detected in children. However, only a doctor can determine if a child
Posted on April 12, 2012
If you’re reading this, the chances are you’ve got heart failure. The good news is, heart failure is usually treatable, or even curable.
Heart failure caused by anemia or thyrotoxicosis can be completely cured by treating these primary diseases. If you
