by cardiopulmonarydiagnostic | Aug 9, 2026 | Uncategorized
Varicose veins are a common issue affecting approximately half of men and women by the time they reach 50. It’s easy to identify these twisted, enlarged veins on your legs because they usually bulge and appear blue or dark purple in color.
Varicose veins usually aren't cause for concern, aside from their unsightly appearance. At times, however, they indicate a more serious vein disorder that can increase your chances of serious health complications.
As an experienced cardiologist and varicose vein specialist at NJ Cardiovascular Institute, Dr. Kunal Patel brings his specialized training to diagnosing and treating varicose veins and other venous diseases in Secaucus and Newark, New Jersey.
Understanding venous diseases
You have two types of blood vessels circulating blood throughout your body: arteries and veins.
Arteries send oxygen-rich blood out from your heart to the rest of your body. Your blood returns to your heart by way of your veins. These thin-walled structures contain one-way valves that keep your blood moving in one direction.
Venous diseases develop when vein issues interfere with the blood flowing back to your heart. These problems can affect either superficial veins found close to the surface of your skin or the deep veins located in the muscles of your arms or legs.
Varicose veins are a type of vein disease affecting your superficial veins.
Varicose veins
Varicose vein disorder develops when your one-way valves weaken or fail, which allows blood to flow backward or pool in the vein. When this occurs, you can see the swollen vein underneath your skin. Your chances of having varicose veins increase as you grow older, if you’re overweight or obese, or spend long periods of time sitting or standing. You also have a 90% chance of getting varicose veins if both of your parents have the condition.
When you have varicose veins, they can also be a sign of chronic venous insufficiency — when blood pools in either superficial or deep leg veins. It’s possible to have chronic venous insufficiency without having a varicose vein.
Symptoms associated with chronic venous insufficiency include:
Pain and cramping
Swelling in your legs or ankles
Skin changes
Leg ulcers
Varicose veins
Chronic venous insufficiency is a chronic condition that can cause significant pain and discomfort. More serious venous diseases associated with varicose veins include superficial thrombophlebitis and deep-vein thrombosis.
Superficial thrombophlebitis
Thrombophlebitis is a venous condition that develops when your vein grows inflamed, especially because of a blood clot-reducing blood flow.
Signs of superficial thrombophlebitis typically include:
A visible, tender, red vein
Inflammation and irritation of the skin
Pain in your limb
Hardening of the vein
Darkening skin color over your vein
These symptoms can also increase your risk of deep-vein thrombosis (DVT).
Deep-vein thrombosis
Thrombosis develops when a blood clot forms in your veins. This venous disease occurs when your blood doesn’t circulate or clot properly.
Common causes of thrombosis include:
A blood clotting disorder
Prolonged bed rest or sitting
Being overweight or obese
Injury or surgery
Medications, like hormone replacement therapy or birth control
Certain health conditions, like inflammatory bowel disease, heart failure, or cancer
A personal or family history of DVT
Being over 60
DVT is especially serious because blood clots in your veins can break off and travel to your lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism, which blocks blood flow and can cause death.
Signs of deep-vein thrombosis include pain, cramping, or soreness in your leg; red or discolored skin; and a warm sensation. You can also have DVT without any obvious symptoms.
To see if you’re varicose veins indicate a more serious venous condition, call us at NJ Cardiovascular Institute or schedule an appointment online today.
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by cardiopulmonarydiagnostic | Aug 9, 2026 | Uncategorized
Many serious ailments come with warning signs like a lump or pain. High blood pressure, however, can often be a "silent killer" with no symptoms.
Here at the NJ Cardiovascular Institute in Secaucus and Newark, New Jersey, Dr. Kunal Patel and our highly trained team offer state-of-the-art treatment in our friendly relaxed offices. Whether you are suffering from heart disease, high blood pressure, varicose veins, or other issues, we provide personalized care and a customized treatment plan to improve your health.
What is high blood pressure?
Blood pressure readings consist of two numbers that measure the force of the blood against the artery walls. The top (systolic) number measures the force when the heart is beating, and it’s the larger of the two numbers. The bottom (diastolic) number measures the pressure when the heart is relaxed between beats. Blood pressure is considered normal when the systolic number is less than 120 and the diastolic is lower than 80.
Symptoms and statistics
Most people don’t have any symptoms of high blood pressure. Others may experience general symptoms like headaches, shortness of breath, or nosebleeds, which they often don't take seriously. It's not surprising, then, that approximately 11 million adults in the United States don’t know they have high blood pressure — and aren’t receiving treatment.
Risk factors
A number of risk factors can influence who develops high blood pressure. Aging increases the chances, with it being more common in men until their mid-60s, at which point women become more likely to see high numbers. It is also more common in people of African heritage. Genetics play a role, too.
Lifestyle choices can also affect your risk. Being overweight, having a sedentary lifestyle, using tobacco, and drinking too much alcohol can all play a role. A poor diet, including too much salt and too little potassium, can also contribute. Stress, as well as some chronic health ailments, can also increase your risk.
Diagnosis and treatment
Given high blood pressure can lead to everything from heart attacks, strokes, and aneurysms to heart failure, vision issues, dementia, and more, it's important to know your numbers and get treatment if they are high.
Blood pressure changes throughout the day and can also rise when you're at the doctor's office. Therefore, your reading will typically be taken two or three times at three or more separate appointments to make sure the numbers are accurate and consistent. It is measured in both arms, and your doctor may even ask you to take it at home for comparison.
If you’re diagnosed with high blood pressure, improving your lifestyle habits can help, including eating a heart-healthy diet that’s low in salt, exercising regularly, losing weight if necessary, and watching your alcohol intake. If healthier habits don't bring your numbers down low enough, medications can also be discussed.
If you're not sure of your blood pressure numbers or have any other cardiology issues, contact Dr. Patel today to make sure your heart stays in the best condition possible.
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by cardiopulmonarydiagnostic | Aug 9, 2026 | Uncategorized
by cardiopulmonarydiagnostic | Aug 9, 2026 | Uncategorized
Your heart is one of the most important organs. It pumps blood throughout your whole body, supplies oxygen and nutrients to your other organs and tissues, and removes waste products like carbon dioxide. Medical conditions that make it difficult for your heart to do its job are collectively known as heart disease.
At NJ Cardiovascular Institute, Dr. Kunal Patel is a highly experienced, board-certified cardiologist who helps you take good care of your heart. Dr. Patel uses a preventive approach to help you improve your heart health, as well as avoid or manage conditions like heart disease. Here’s what our team would like you to know about the nature of heart disease, some of its lifestyle-related risk factors, and what you can do about them.
What is heart disease?
Heart disease is very common, and it’s also deadly. About 610,000 Americans die every year from heart disease. It’s the leading cause of death for both men and women. Heart disease, or cardiovascular disease, is an umbrella term that includes a number of conditions such as coronary artery disease, angina, and congenital heart defects.
There are a number of factors that affect how likely you are to develop heart disease. These are known as risk factors. Some of these factors are set, such as your age, gender, and genetics. However, you have much more control over certain risk factors that are based on your lifestyle.
Risk factors you can change
Smoking
Smokers are almost twice as likely to have a heart attack than those who never smoked. Smoking damages your arteries, resulting in a buildup of fatty material, which in turn narrows your arteries. This narrowing of the arteries can cause a heart attack, because blood can’t travel through them.
If you smoke, the best thing you can do for your heart is to quit. Also, avoid spending time around people when they’re smoking, since secondhand smoke isn’t good for your heart, either.
Cholesterol
Your liver produces cholesterol, which is a component of all your cells that is used to make essential substances such as hormones. You also take in cholesterol from the foods you eat. Cholesterol comes in two forms: low density lipoprotein (LDL), and high density lipoprotein.
Low density lipoprotein (LDL) is usually known as the “bad” cholesterol because if you have too much of it, it can build up in your arteries and cause heart disease. High density lipoprotein is called the “good” cholesterol because it helps flush excess cholesterol back to your liver. Eating foods high in LDL, such as rich meats and fatty dairy products, can cause you to have high levels of cholesterol.
Hypertension
Hypertension means that you consistently have high blood pressure, so the force of your blood pushing against the walls of your blood vessels is too high. If not controlled, this pressure can cause damage to the tissues inside your arteries, creating a place for cholesterol to gather and narrowing the space where your blood can flow.
Inactivity
It is estimated that 35% of heart disease deaths occur as a result of physical inactivity. Your heart is a muscle, and it needs to be exercised regularly to keep it strong. In addition, regular exercise reduces blood pressure, decreases the chance of developing diabetes, and reduces obesity — which are three other risk factors for heart disease.
Obesity
Obesity puts you at risk for heart disease because it can increase your cholesterol levels. High cholesterol levels can lead to fatty buildup in your arteries, reducing the flow of blood and creating a risk for heart attacks. In addition, obesity can lead to diabetes and high blood pressure. Losing some weight can take a lot of strain off your heart.
Uncontrolled diabetes
A hormone called insulin allows your body to turn sugar (glucose) that’s in your blood into energy for your body. If you have diabetes, your body either doesn’t produce any insulin, or not enough. This results in high levels of glucose remaining in your blood, which is a state known as hyperglycemia. Uncontrolled hyperglycemia can damage your blood vessels, resulting in heart disease.
Heart disease is a very serious medical condition, but there are a number of lifestyle changes you can make that will help keep your heart healthy. At NJ Cardiovascular Institute, Dr. Kunal Patel takes care of your heart and teaches you how to prevent heart disease. Call our office or set up an appointment using our online booking tool today.
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by cardiopulmonarydiagnostic | Aug 9, 2026 | Uncategorized
By now you don’t have to be a nutritionist to know that too much cholesterol is bad for your heart health. If you have high cholesterol, you certainly aren’t alone. About 95 million adults in the United States have unhealthy cholesterol levels. This makes fighting high cholesterol a health priority.
To arm patients with knowledge on managing cholesterol, we’ve put together seven practical ways you can start getting your cholesterol under control today.
Tip #1: Eat cholesterol-fighting foods
What you eat has a major impact on cholesterol balance. Indulge in too much saturated fat and levels of harmful cholesterol will rise. The good news is you can use food to your advantage. Incorporating cholesterol-lowering foods into your diet is an excellent way to fight high cholesterol. Here are our top three cholesterol-fighting picks:
Oats
If you pick up a container of oats, you may notice a heart symbol with a statement that oats lower the risk of heart disease. The Food and Drug Administration approved this claim because oats contain beta glucan, a soluble fiber that reduces cholesterol. Make oats a part of your heart-healthy diet.
Beans
Oats aren’t the only cholesterol-lowering food though, as beans are especially rich in soluble fiber, too. With so many types of beans and the myriad ways to prepare them, you have endless options for incorporating more beans into your diet. No matter what type of bean you like best, they’re all rich in soluble fiber and provide cholesterol-lowering benefits.
Fish
Fatty fish contains omega-3 fatty acids, essential fats your body needs to function properly and that also help lower LDL cholesterol. To reap cholesterol-battling benefits, aim to eat fatty fish 2-3 times a week.
Tip #2: Limit saturated fat
Out of all the components in your diet, saturated fat has the strongest influence on raising levels of bad cholesterol. Limiting saturated fat from fatty cuts of meat, butter, cheese, and other dairy foods and eating more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can get your cholesterol numbers moving in the right direction.
Tip #3: Lose weight
Most adults are carrying some excess weight, and the extra pounds work against healthy cholesterol levels. On the upside, even modest weight loss of 10% of your total body weight has a potent impact on lowering cholesterol. If you’re overweight, shedding some of the excess weight can have a major impact on fighting high cholesterol.
Tip #4: Quit smoking
Despite what we know about the negative health effects of smoking, it’s estimated that more than 34 million American adults smoke cigarettes and roughly half of them are living with a smoking-related disease. Not only does smoking damage your arteries, it lowers levels of good cholesterol.
People who smoke are 2-4 times more likely to develop heart disease than nonsmokers. If you smoke and you struggle with high cholesterol, it’s even more crucial that you take steps to stop smoking. If you’ve tried unsuccessfully in the past, talk to your doctor about resources to help you quit. Medications and programs are available.
Tip #5: Move more
Along with making changes to your diet, exercise is one of the most effective ways to fight high cholesterol naturally. Physical activity boosts good cholesterol and lowers total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL. It does this even if you’re currently overweight. Research shows that when combined with a heart-healthy diet, physical activity like walking, jogging, or cycling improves cholesterol in obese adults.
Tip #6: Moderate alcohol consumption
Moderate alcohol consumption may offer health benefits, such as boosting good cholesterol and lowering the risk of heart disease. This is no reason to start drinking if you don’t currently consume alcohol though.
Heavy drinking, on the other hand, has a negative influence on cholesterol and increases the risk of developing heart disease. Avoiding heavy alcohol consumption can improve your cholesterol levels. Stick to moderate alcohol consumption. Moderate intake is considered two drinks a day for men and one drink per day for women.
Tip #7: Discuss medication
Lifestyle changes are often enough to bring your numbers down if you have high cholesterol. However, if your cholesterol is severely elevated or you have other factors that make it more difficult to control cholesterol, lifestyle changes aren’t always enough. Protecting your heart is the number one priority. If your levels remain elevated despite lifestyle changes, discuss cholesterol-lowering medication with your doctor.
High cholesterol is a serious threat to your heart health. Partnering with a health professional like our board-certified cardiologist Dr. Kunal Patel, is a wise place to start on the path to improved cholesterol. Visit us here at the NJ Cardiovascular Institute for a checkup and for more information about how you can keep your heart healthy. Call 201-866-7000 to schedule an appointment at one of our offices in Secaucus or Newark, New Jersey. Additionally, we accept booking requests here on our website
