by cardiopulmonarydiagnostic | Aug 9, 2026 | Uncategorized
Heart disease is the cause of about one in every three deaths in the United States. It’s the leading cause of death for men and women, yet it’s a common misconception that men are at greater risk for heart problems than women.
Many people assume that only older individuals, particular older men, are at risk for heart attack. But if your heart health is compromised, a heart attack can happen at any age and to either sex.
The most common symptom of a heart attack is chest pain for both women and men. But women are more likely to suffer a heart attack with more subtle symptoms, which makes recognizing a heart attack more difficult — unless you know what to look for.
At NJ Cardiovascular Institute, our team is here to help you understand the most common signs of heart attacks in women. We regularly diagnose and treat heart disease to help women of all ages live longer, healthier lives.
Heart attack symptoms go beyond chest pain
Portrayals in movies and TV shows often make heart attacks look like sudden, crushing chest pain. While chest discomfort, pressure, or pain are common symptoms of heart attack, they aren’t the only ones.
Women are more likely than men to have more subtle heart attack symptoms that may be unrelated to the chest. You could be having a heart attack if you experience pain in your:
Arms
Shoulder
Upper back
Abdomen
Neck
Jaw
Heart attack symptoms unrelated to physical pain include:
Nausea or vomiting
Shortness of breath
Lightheadedness
Weakness
Fatigue
Indigestion
Symptoms can be vague, and many women brush them off because they’re not widely known as signs of a heart attack. Learning to recognize the more subtle symptoms can help you identify a cardiac event sooner before permanent damage occurs.
Symptoms can last for days
Since many symptoms of a heart attack in women don’t include chest pain, they’re often overlooked. Unusual fatigue, nausea, weakness, and other signs may be mistaken for illnesses such as the flu.
Vague symptoms make heart attack harder to identify, but women are also more likely to dismiss or minimize their symptoms in comparison to men. In fact, one study found that women waited 54 hours to seek treatment for heart attack symptoms, compared to men who waited just 16 hours.
If you think you or a loved one is suffering a heart attack, call 911 immediately. Follow the operator’s instructions and try to take slow, deep breaths until help arrives. Seeking treatment as early as possible increases your chances of a full recovery.
Understand your risk of heart disease
Heart disease is the number one cause of death for women and men. But both heart attacks and heart disease can appear differently in women than in men. This disparity means that women are more likely to have undiagnosed heart conditions, and they may not even know when they’re at risk for heart attack.
If you’re a woman, it’s important to educate yourself about your heart health. Risk factors that increase your chances of heart disease and heart attack include:
Obesity
High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Diabetes
Sedentary lifestyle
Menopause
Stress
Depression
Smoking
Heart disease is common, but it’s preventable in many cases. Our team is dedicated to helping you strengthen your heart and live your healthiest life.
We partner with you, evaluating your medical history, family history, and current condition to propose a heart-healthy plan that’s right for you. Managing pre-existing conditions and making a range of healthy lifestyle choices can make a big difference for your heart and help reduce your risk of heart attack.
Trust your heart health to our team at NJ Cardiovascular Institute. To learn more about the risks of heart disease and how to spot a heart attack, book an appointment at one of our offices in Newark, Secaucus, or Paramus, New Jersey. Use the online scheduler or give us a call.
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by cardiopulmonarydiagnostic | Aug 9, 2026 | Uncategorized
About half a million Americans suffer cardiac arrest each year. It’s a serious medical condition that develops quickly and without warning. Cardiac arrest is different from a heart attack, although the terms are sometimes used interchangeably.
Cardiac arrest occurs when your heart stops beating, which halts blood flow throughout your body. Symptoms include no pulse, loss of consciousness, and no breathing. Cardiac arrest can cause death — but with prompt medical care, it’s possible to survive.
NJ Cardiovascular Institute is your expert resource for heart health. Kunal Patel, MD, and our team are highly trained in diagnosing and treating heart conditions, from coronary artery disease to heart palpitations, that can cause problems like cardiac arrest.
Cardiac arrest is sudden, but certain factors increase your risk of experiencing this severe cardiac event. You could have a greater risk of cardiac arrest if:
You have coronary artery disease
Coronary artery disease is a common heart condition. It develops when your coronary arteries become narrow because they’re blocked by plaque buildup. The coronary arteries are responsible for transporting blood to your heart, and if they’re blocked, your heart doesn’t get enough blood.
Most people who suffer cardiac arrest have coronary artery disease. In addition to increasing your risk for cardiac arrest, this chronic condition also increases your chances of suffering a heart attack. Angina (chest pain) is the top symptom of coronary artery disease.
Having other heart conditions can increase your risk of cardiac arrest, too. Electrical pulse problems, congenital heart disease, and an enlarged heart may put you at greater risk of cardiac arrest.
You have a history of heart attack
It’s possible to experience cardiac arrest at the same time as a heart attack. Heart attacks caused by coronary artery disease can trigger an irregular heartbeat that then leads to cardiac arrest within the same episode.
But even if you have a heart attack without cardiac arrest, the heart attack can leave behind scar tissue and weaken your heart. These side effects may make cardiac arrest more likely later on. People who have a family history of heart attack or cardiac arrest may also be more likely to experience these cardiac events in their own lifetimes.
You have certain lifestyle habits
Your heart health is linked to your overall health. Your heart health could be at risk if you:
Live a sedentary lifestyle
Eat a diet high in fat and low in vitamins and minerals
Smoke cigarettes
Are obese
Pre-existing conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol can increase your chances of developing coronary artery disease and cardiac arrest.
Other factors that you can’t change affect your risk of cardiac arrest, like age and gender. Men over age 45 are at greater risk for cardiac arrest than women or younger men. Those with a family history of heart problems are also at greater risk.
There are certain symptoms that could indicate heart problems, regardless of other risk factors you might have. Signs that you should come in for a heart health evaluation include:
Chest pain
Irregular heartbeat
Shortness of breath
Fainting
Dizziness
At any time, if someone near you is struggling to breath or has lost consciousness, call 911 immediately. People who suffer cardiac arrest can benefit from a defibrillator or CPR from someone who’s trained while waiting for emergency medical assistance.
If you’re at greater risk for suffering cardiac arrest, it’s more important than ever to take care of your heart. Book an appointment with our team at one of our offices in Newark or Secaucus, New Jersey, to get started on a treatment plan that helps you keep your heart as healthy as possible.
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by cardiopulmonarydiagnostic | Aug 9, 2026 | Uncategorized
Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is a type of heart arrhythmia that affects as many as 6 million Americans. This common heart condition causes rapid, irregular heartbeats, and your risk for having it increases as you get older.
Some people with AFib don’t have any symptoms and don’t know they have it, but AFib is linked to increased risk of stroke, among other health issues. In fact, people with AFib are nearly five times as likely to suffer a stroke than those who don’t have it.
But having AFib doesn’t mean a stroke is inevitable. The team at NJ Cardiovascular Institute understands the risks that AFib brings, and we’re here to help you maintain your best health. We offer AFib testing, such as an electrocardiogram or Holter monitor, and ongoing care management to keep your heart strong and reduce your chances of stroke.
The link between AFib and stroke
In a healthy heart, the upper chambers (atria) beat in tandem with the lower chambers (ventricles) to move blood through your body. AFib is a heart arrhythmia, an irregular heartbeat, that causes the atria to beat out of sync with the ventricles.
When the atria and ventricles aren’t coordinated, blood can pool and clot in the atria. It’s possible for a clot to break off and travel to your brain, blocking cerebral arteries and triggering a stroke.
A stroke is a severe medical emergency that requires immediate care to prevent permanent damage or death. It often causes sudden numbness, dizziness, or changes in vision and speech. If you or someone near you shows signs of stroke, call 911 immediately.
Some people notice symptoms like heart palpitations or fatigue with AFib, but many more don’t know they have it until they begin experiencing other heart issues. To preserve your health as you age, getting screened for AFib is important.
When to consider getting an AFib screening
At NJ Cardiovascular Institute, our team offers echocardiograms (EKGs) to identify potential heart problems before you suffer a stroke or heart attack. An EKG is a noninvasive test that allows us to examine the condition of your heart’s chambers and your heartbeat.
You could benefit from an AFib screening if you:
Are over the age of 50
Have heart disease
Have diabetes
Have high blood pressure
Are obese
Have a family history of AFib
Certain other health conditions, like sleep apnea, can increase your risk of AFib. If you have a history of heart problems or you have other risk factors, you could benefit from AFib screening beginning as early as age 40.
Up to 20% of people who experience a stroke have AFib, and many risk factors are the same. Older adults are at the greatest risk for both, and getting screened can help you take control over your health.
If you have AFib, we can recommend treatment options that reduce your risk of stroke. Blood-thinning medications work to prevent blood clots, and routine monitoring can help us track any changes in your heart health that could make a stroke more likely.
Getting a diagnosis is the first step to actively reducing your risk of stroke and other health problems. When you partner with our team to preserve your heart health, it’s possible to stay healthier longer.
AFib screening is an important preventive measure for older adults. Whether you’re at risk for AFib or you already know you have the condition, book an appointment with us for top-quality heart care. You can choose the office closest to you in either Secaucus or Newark, New Jersey.
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by cardiopulmonarydiagnostic | Aug 9, 2026 | Uncategorized
Hypertension is a contributing cause of nearly half a million deaths in the United States each year. It’s a chronic medical condition that’s diagnosed when the pressure inside your arteries is higher than normal, and only one in four people with hypertension have the condition under control.
Hypertension is often called “the silent killer,” because the condition has no warning signs. The only way to know if your blood pressure is high is through regular blood pressure checks. It sounds scary, but if you’re diagnosed with hypertension, managing your condition can help you live a healthier life.
Our heart team at NJ Cardiovascular Institute, led by Dr. Kunal Patel, is highly trained in diagnosing and treating hypertension. The first step to a healthier heart is understanding your risk of developing hypertension, and we’re here to help.
Recognizing your risk factors for hypertension
While it’s natural for blood pressure to fluctuate throughout the course of a day, hypertension means that your blood pressure is always elevated. Consistently high blood pressure can damage your heart, eventually leading to serious complications like heart attack, stroke, or death.
Anyone can develop high blood pressure, but certain risk factors may make the condition more likely.
Men, seniors, people with a family history of hypertension, and those of African descent have a higher risk.
Some other common risk factors for hypertension include:
Obesity
Diabetes
Chronic kidney disease
Sedentary lifestyle
Unhealthy diet
Tobacco use
Alcohol use
Stress
Some risk factors are genetic, and you can’t change them. But there’s a lot you can do to improve your health and lower your blood pressure.
Modifying your lifestyle to improve your heart health can reduce your risk of hypertension, even if you have genetic risk factors. Talk to our team about your unique health history to find out what you can do to stay as healthy as possible.
Receiving a hypertension diagnosis
Hypertension often goes undiagnosed, because unlike many other chronic conditions, you can’t feel that something is wrong. Getting a blood pressure reading is the only way to know what your blood pressure is.
A blood pressure reading has two numbers: systolic on the top and diastolic on the bottom. Normal blood pressures are below 120/80. You’re at risk for hypertension if your reading is between 120/80 and 129/80, and the stages of hypertension begin when your blood pressure reaches 130/80.
When you come to our office for heart care, you’ll get your blood pressure taken. Our team generally diagnoses hypertension if you’ve had a high blood pressure reading at three separate visits to the office.
Receiving a hypertension diagnosis can be scary, but living a long, healthy life is possible with proper care. If you’re at risk for high blood pressure or you’ve been diagnosed with hypertension, you can improve your health to reduce your chances of life-threatening complications.
NJ Cardiovascular Institute offers a unique Heart Smart Program, so you don’t have to do it alone. From nutritional management and exercise plans to educational content and diagnostic services, you can be confident that you’re making the right choices for heart health.
Is it time for your heart checkup? Don’t let high blood pressure go undetected and undiagnosed. Call one of our offices in Newark or Secaucus, New Jersey, or book your appointment online.
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by cardiopulmonarydiagnostic | Aug 9, 2026 | Uncategorized
Cholesterol is a waxy substance naturally found in your blood. It’s an essential building block for healthy cells, but having too much cholesterol in your blood can lead to buildup in your arteries.
This buildup can narrow the arteries, making your heart work harder to pump blood throughout your body. High cholesterol is a top risk factor for heart disease, which is the No. 1 cause of death in the United States for both men and women.
An estimated 102 million Americans have high cholesterol, but since this common condition doesn’t have obvious symptoms, that number is likely even higher. Having high cholesterol increases your risk of developing heart disease, but the good news is that lifestyle changes can make a big difference for your cholesterol levels and your overall well-being.
Kunal Patel, MD and our heart specialists at NJ Cardiovascular Institute help people manage their cholesterol levels. Today, we’re sharing some of our best tips for lowering cholesterol and boosting heart health.
1. Get moving
Incorporating physical activity into your routine is good for your cholesterol levels and your heart. The Department of Health and Human Services recommends adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise each week, which translates to about 30 minutes most days of the week.
Exercise improves cholesterol levels by boosting HDL, which is “good” cholesterol. Before you start a new exercise plan, talk with Dr. Patel to find activities that are safe for you. If you find working out for 30 minutes at a time too strenuous at first, you can still reap heart-health benefits from shorter sessions of 5-10 minutes at a time.
2. Eat heart-healthy foods
Some foods boast heart-healthy benefits because they lower LDL, the “bad” cholesterol. Soluble fiber is an important substance found in whole grains and beans that may reduce the amount of cholesterol your blood absorbs. Foods with omega-3 fats (like fish) are also good for your health.
Foods high in trans fats elevate cholesterol levels, so reducing or eliminating these from your diet can help you manage high cholesterol. Store-bought baked goods and fast foods are often high in trans fats. Too much sugar can raise your blood triglyceride levels, which can also up your risk for heart disease.
3. Maintain a healthy weight
Carrying extra weight may elevate your total cholesterol levels. If you’re overweight or obese, losing just a few pounds can help lower your cholesterol. Dr. Patel and our team are here to help you find healthy ways to lose weight by making long-term lifestyle changes.
The best way to lose weight and keep it off is by integrating a balanced, nutritious diet and regular exercise into your daily life. Try eliminating foods with extra fat and sugar, and strive to find activities you enjoy (like taking your dog for a walk) to move your body more.
4. Quit smoking
Smoking cigarettes damages the walls of blood vessels. The damage increases your risk of developing arterial plaque, which makes your heart work harder. Quitting smoking prevents damage from continuing, and it also improves HDL cholesterol levels.
Research shows that in as little as 20 minutes after you smoke your last cigarette, your blood pressure and heart rate drop to healthier levels. After three months, blood circulation improves, and after one year, your risk of heart disease can drop by 50%.
5. Visit the doctor regularly
Make visiting the doctor part of your ongoing healthcare routine. Not only can our team diagnose high cholesterol, but we’re here to help you manage it and improve your heart health.
We can recommend diet tips and other lifestyle changes to lower your cholesterol naturally, and if that’s not effective enough, we can prescribe cholesterol-lowering medication. Whether you’re taking medication or not, regular check-ups with Dr. Patel are important to help you stay in control of your health.
There are plenty of ways to achieve lower cholesterol, and you don’t have to do it alone. Get personalized support by booking a consultation online or calling the NJ Cardiovascular Institute office nearest you. We have offices in Secaucus and Newark, New Jersey.
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