by NJ Cardiovascular Institute | May 1, 2022 | Blog, Heart Health
A heart palpitation is an irregular heartbeat. It may only last a second or two, but it feels different than your heart’s normal rhythm. It can make you become very aware of your heartbeat — and you might begin to worry about your health.
Palpitations are fairly common. In fact, they can be caused by anything from a strenuous workout to an extra cup of coffee. Most palpitations go away on their own, and experiencing the occasional irregular heartbeat doesn’t necessarily mean that something is wrong with your heart.
That being said, it’s important to listen to your body and know when it’s time to make a doctor’s appointment. Palpitations can sometimes be a sign of arrhythmia, a chronic heart condition that requires close monitoring.
Kunal Patel, MD, and our team at NJ Cardiovascular Institute specialize in diagnosing palpitations and treating chronic arrhythmias. If you’re concerned about your heart, here’s what you should know about heart palpitations and what could be causing them.
Palpitations: a sign of a heart arrhythmia?
Arrhythmia is a heart condition that develops when your heart beats irregularly, too slowly, or too quickly. The most common type of arrhythmia is atrial fibrillation, or Afib.
On its own, Afib generally isn’t life-threatening. However, having Afib increases your risk of blood clots, heart failure, stroke, and other heart conditions.
Experiencing heart palpitations doesn’t always mean you have an underlying heart condition, and it’s important to learn the differences so you can get the care you need.
Identifying harmless palpitations
Harmless heart palpitations happen once in a while, and they can usually be traced to a clear trigger. These triggers often include:
Caffeine or other stimulants
Hormonal changes
Strenuous exercise
Stress or other mental health issues
In these cases, palpitations are generally short-lived and infrequent.
Recognizing the signs of a more serious issue
On the other hand, the cause of palpitations from arrhythmia and Afib may not be so easy to identify. Your palpitations may be a sign of an underlying heart condition if you have:
Chest pain
Fainting or lightheadedness
Frequent or worsening palpitations
Resting heart rate above 100 beats per minute
Risk factors for heart disease
Shortness of breath
If these symptoms sound familiar, you may have an underlying heart condition, and you should make a cardiology appointment for further evaluation.
Seeking treatment for heart palpitations
Experiencing heart palpitations can be scary. If you're concerned about your heart health, never hesitate to make a doctor’s appointment. Dr. Patel and our team offer comprehensive heart evaluations, and we can identify any potential issues so you can get the care you need.
We start with a thorough review of your medical history and a physical exam. Depending on your symptoms, we may order a stress test or an echocardiogram to gather more details about how your heart functions.
Heart palpitations are often so brief that it’s difficult to catch them in a single doctor’s appointment. To reach a diagnosis, we may have you wear a heart monitor for a few days or weeks to evaluate any recurring irregularities.
If you have Afib or another type of arrhythmia, identifying the condition gives you the opportunity to manage it. We offer ongoing heart care and personalized treatment plans to help you better protect your health.
Concerned about irregular heartbeats? Book an appointment with our team at NJ Cardiovascular Institute to ease your mind. Call one of our offices in Lakewood, Newark, Paramus, or Secaucus, New Jersey, or send us a message online now.
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by NJ Cardiovascular Institute | Feb 1, 2022 | Blog, Heart Health
Chest pain takes many different forms. From an ongoing dull ache to sharp pains that come and go, experiencing chest pain can make you worry that you’re having a heart attack.
While chest pain can indicate a heart attack, there are lots of other possible causes, and they’re not all life-threatening. Muscle strains, acid reflux, and even indigestion could cause chest discomfort, as pain is your body’s way of telling you something is wrong.
Chest pain has a variety of causes, but it’s not normal and you should never ignore it. Kunal Patel, MD and our cardiac team at NJ Cardiovascular Institute specialize in diagnosing and treating chest pain, and we’re here to help you figure out what’s causing your discomfort.
Possible causes of chest pain
Your chest includes the area on the front of your body, from your stomach to your shoulders. It contains lots of bones and muscles, and the two main organs in your chest are your heart and lungs.
A few common vascular conditions that may cause chest pain include:
Heart attack (myocardial infarction)
Angina
Aortic dissection
Pericarditis
Pulmonary embolism
Sometimes, chest pain has nothing to do with your heart or vascular system. Other conditions that can cause chest discomfort include:
Acid reflux (heartburn)
Bronchitis or pneumonia
Gallstones
Muscle strain
Panic attack
Shingles
Different conditions cause different types of pain, but you shouldn’t try to self-diagnose your condition.
Making a doctor’s appointment for chest pain
If you notice mild-to-moderate chest pain without any other symptoms, schedule a cardiology appointment to have an exam. At NJ Cardiovascular Institute, we offer comprehensive diagnostic testing, including stress tests and echocardiograms, to identify any irregularities in your heart’s function.
Regular doctor’s appointments are important, even if you aren’t bothered by chest pain. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, and heart disease are very common health issues that can cause heart problems – but they don’t have noticeable warning signs.
Dr. Patel and our team want to make heart health part of our patients’ lives. Our Heart Smart Program makes it easy to implement healthy lifestyle changes and improve your heart health one step at a time.
Emergency care for chest pain
Heart attack, pulmonary embolism, and other serious conditions are life-threatening and require emergency medical care. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department if you notice symptoms including:
Crushing or squeezing chest pain
Pain in shoulders or arms
Shortness of breath
Lightheadedness
Cold sweat
Nausea
Vomiting
If you’re unsure whether you or someone near you is experiencing a medical emergency, don’t hesitate to seek immediate medical attention.
Chest pain isn’t normal, but experiencing it doesn’t mean you need to panic. Turn to Dr. Patel and our team at NJ Cardiovascular Institute for quality heart care. Call the New Jersey office nearest you or request your first appointment online today.
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by NJ Cardiovascular Institute | Jan 1, 2022 | Blog, Heart Health
Food is your body’s main source of fuel. The foods and drinks you consume every day contain calories and nutrients, which your body converts into energy that keeps you alive.
Eating a healthy diet is one of the most important elements of living a healthy life. Healthy foods contain essential vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that keep your body functioning at its best — so it’s no surprise that the food you eat directly impacts the health of your heart.
Healthy foods can help lower your blood pressure and cholesterol, and reduce your risk of heart disease and other heart problems. Unhealthy foods can have the opposite effect. But what constitutes a healthy diet? And which foods are most important for heart health?
It’s normal to have questions, but protecting your heart doesn’t have to be complicated. Kunal Patel, MD, and our team at NJ Cardiovascular Institute are proud to educate people of all ages about the benefits of heart-healthy eating.
Making simple changes in your diet can have a significant impact on your heart and your overall health. Here’s how it works.
Why your diet matters for heart health
The main food groups are fruits, vegetables, proteins, grains, and dairy. Your body needs food from all these groups to function at its best, but some choices are healthier than others.
Processed foods, like fast food, packaged snacks, and commercial bakery products, are often high in saturated fat, trans fat, sugar, and sodium, while offering little nutritional value.
Eating a lot of unhealthy foods increases cholesterol and triglyceride levels in your blood. Over time, excess cholesterol builds up in your blood vessels, increasing your risk of cardiovascular conditions such as:
High cholesterol
High blood pressure
Heart disease
Heart attack
Stroke
On the other hand, poultry, fish, grass-fed dairy and grass-fed lean beef, whole grains, nuts, fruits, and vegetables are packed with healthy substances your body needs. These healthier options give your body fiber, vitamins, minerals, and other essential nutrients without unhealthy fats and excess sugar and sodium.
What to eat for better heart health
The connections between your diet and your heart health are clear. However, knowing which foods are best isn’t always easy. With our Heart Smart Program at NJ Cardiovascular Institute, we’re here to help you learn.
Fruits and vegetables
Fruits and vegetables are simple to add to your diet, and they offer lots of heart healthy benefits. Choose berries, like strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries for their fiber and antioxidants.
Leafy greens, like kale and spinach, are high in vitamin K, nitrates, and other important nutrients. Other heart-healthy veggies include beets, tomatoes, beans, and legumes.
Fatty fish
While many types of fat can hinder heart health, some types of fat are healthier than others. Unsaturated fat and omega-3 fats are two fats that can boost heart health.
Choose fatty fish like salmon and tuna, which have lots of heart-healthy omega-3 fats. A diet that includes omega-3s has been shown to lower blood pressure, cholesterol, and risk of heart disease.
Whole grains
Whole grain foods contain every part of the grain, and they’re packed with fiber. Eating three or more servings of whole grains every day could lower your risk of heart disease by about 22%.
When you’re shopping, look for 100% whole wheat breads, brown rice, oats, and quinoa. Read labels carefully, and avoid products with refined grains or white flour.
Nuts and seeds
Nuts, including walnuts and almonds, are high in fiber and micronutrients. Eating nuts can help lower your risk of heart disease, because they’re linked to lower cholesterol.
Consider adding seeds to your diet too. Chia seeds, flax seeds, and hemp seeds also have fiber, omega-3 fats, and other nutrients to improve heart function and health.
Boosting heart health starts with the foods you eat every day. Want more tips about ways to eat a heart-healthy diet? Contact us to schedule an appointment with Dr. Patel and our team at NJ Cardiovascular Institute.
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by NJ Cardiovascular Institute | Dec 1, 2021 | Blog, Heart Health
Of every 1,000 births in the United States, about nine babies are born with congenital heart defects. A congenital heart defect is a problem that originated when a baby’s heart was developing in the womb, and it’s the most common birth defect in the country.
A baby’s heart is fully developed by the 8th week of pregnancy, and congenital heart defects form some time between conception and week 8. Most of the time, there’s no clear cause for congenital heart defects — but they can have a significant impact on a child’s health.
As a leading cardiologist, Kunal Patel, MD, specializes in heart care for people of all ages at NJ Cardiovascular Institute, with offices in Secaucus, Paramus, Lakewood, and Newark, New Jersey. If you recently found out your child has a heart defect, learn more about what to do next.
Understand the types of congenital heart defects
A congenital heart defect can occur when your baby’s heart doesn’t develop exactly like it should. There are at least 18 different types of congenital heart conditions, some more severe than others.
Every baby is unique, and some have a combination of conditions. If your baby is diagnosed with a heart defect, it’s important to ask questions and understand exactly what their diagnosis means.
The types of congenital heart defects can be grouped into three main categories.
The first category includes conditions that cause too much blood to flow through your baby’s lungs. These conditions can cause lung and respiratory stress, because oxygen-rich blood circulates through the lungs without traveling to other parts of the body.
Another category includes various heart conditions that cause too little blood to flow to the lungs. With this type of heart defect, the baby’s blood is oxygen-poor and their body doesn’t get enough oxygen.
The third main category of congenital heart defects includes conditions that cause too little blood to travel throughout the body. The baby’s heart may not be strong enough to pump blood to the rest of their body.
Signs of heart defects in babies
Some types of heart defects can be identified before the baby is born, using a fetal echocardiogram. However, many babies are diagnosed with heart defects after they’re born and they begin exhibiting symptoms of heart problems.
Signs of a congenital heart defect may include:
Blue-tinted lips, fingernails, or toenails
Difficulty breathing or rapid breathing
Excessive sleepiness, particularly when feeding
Not every type of congenital heart defect causes symptoms, so it’s important to talk with your child’s pediatrician about their risk.
Care for your child and their heart defect
Learning that your child has a heart defect can be scary, but today’s medical technology means that you have treatment options available to you. An estimated three in four babies born with heart defects don’t need surgery or other medical procedures during their first year of life.
If your baby is diagnosed with a critical congenital heart defect, they may need surgery or another procedure to improve the way their heart functions. Your child’s pediatrician and their health care team will talk with you about your options for care.
Some children may need one or more surgeries to repair the structure and function of their hearts. Surgery isn’t always necessary, as some procedures can be done via a minimally invasive procedure called cardiac catheterization.
The goal of surgery and other treatments is to improve your child’s heart function. However, many congenital heart defects can’t be cured. Your child can live a long, healthy life, but they may need ongoing heart care with a trained cardiologist like Dr. Patel.
Dr. Patel provides personalized heart care for our patients at NJ Cardiovascular Institute. Schedule a consultation to learn more and meet our team. Call the office nearest you or book online now.
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by NJ Cardiovascular Institute | Nov 2, 2021 | Blog, Heart Health
Coronary artery disease is the most common type of heart disease — and it’s the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. It isn’t easy to recognize on its own, but partnering with a cardiologist can help you enjoy a longer, healthier life.
Early identification and personalized treatment are some of the best ways to avoid heart disease complications and improve your heart health, and the right care starts with comprehensive diagnostics.
Kunal Patel, MD and our team specialize in heart care at NJ Cardiovascular Institute. We offer stress testing and other diagnostic services to uncover heart problems and get you started on a treatment plan that meets your needs.
When your stress test is scheduled
A stress test is a safe and effective way to evaluate how well your heart functions when it’s working hard. It’s often used to assess possible causes behind symptoms like chest pain, heart palpitations, and shortness of breath.
If Dr. Patel and our team suspect you may have a heart condition, a stress test helps us reach a diagnosis. Stress testing can identify conditions like arrhythmias and coronary artery disease, and may even be used to evaluate how well treatment is working.
Be sure to tell us about any medical conditions that could affect your ability to participate in a stress test, such as arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions. Let us know if you have diabetes, because we may need to monitor your blood glucose during the test.
For accurate results, you may need to stop taking certain medications prior to your stress test. Review all the medications you take with Dr. Patel to find out if you should modify your medication schedule.
On the day of your stress test
Follow our team’s guidelines for preparation as the day of your stress test gets closer. If you’ve been instructed to stop taking certain medications for a period of time before your test, remember to do so.
Dr. Patel may request that you avoid eating for at least three to four hours before your stress test. You may also need to avoid caffeinated beverages and smoking on the day of your test.
You’ll be on a treadmill or stationary bike for up to 15 minutes during your test, so it’s important to wear comfortable clothing and shoes to your appointment. Lightweight, breathable clothes and athletic sneakers are a good choice.
What to expect during your stress test
Most stress test appointments last about an hour, including time to prepare you for the test. When you arrive, we check your vital signs and listen to your heart and lungs. If you’ve had any chest pain leading up to the test, let our team know.
We attach electrodes to your skin so they can monitor your heart function as you exercise. Then you walk on a treadmill or pedal a stationary bike until your heart rate reaches a set target.
Dr. Patel and our team record and review your results. Once your test is complete, we discuss your results with you and use the information to develop a personalized heart health plan for you.
Stress testing is a simple, effective way to better understand your heart health. Find out more by scheduling a consultation with Dr. Patel and our team at NJ Cardiovascular Institute. To make an appointment, contact us through the online booking tool or call one of our offices in Secaucus, Newark, or Paramus, New Jersey.
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by NJ Cardiovascular Institute | Nov 1, 2021 | Blog, Heart Health
Cholesterol is a naturally-occurring substance found in your blood. It plays an important role in cell building and hormone production, but cholesterol levels that get too high can start doing more harm than good.
About 2 in 5 American adults have high cholesterol. It’s a leading risk factor for heart disease, because it causes fatty buildup in your blood vessels, restricts blood flow, and makes your heart work harder.
Many people know that high cholesterol poses a risk to heart and vascular health. Unfortunately, high cholesterol can also have whole-body health impacts, from increased risk of stroke to numbness in the legs.
Kunal Patel, MD, and our team at NJ Cardiovascular Institute take a comprehensive approach to heart care and cholesterol management. We work with patients to educate them on the impacts of high cholesterol and how they can protect and improve their health.
Here are a few lesser-known impacts of high cholesterol.
1. Increased risk of stroke
A stroke is a medical emergency that occurs when the blood supply to part of your brain is interrupted. If you have high cholesterol, the blood vessels in your brain can narrow along with vessels in the rest of your body.
A stroke can happen when a blood clot blocks blood flow or a narrowed artery significantly reduces blood flow. Signs of a stroke include sudden weakness, speech difficulty, vision changes, and dizziness. In the event of a stroke, it’s extremely important to seek immediate medical care to prevent severe complications or death.
2. Increased risk of gallstones
Cholesterol is an essential element of bile, a digestive substance that helps your body break down dietary fats and absorb fat-soluble vitamins. When you have high blood cholesterol levels, the cholesterol content in bile increases too.
This extra cholesterol, along with calcium, salt, and other minerals, can crystalize and harden into gallstones. Gallstones are hard deposits found in your gallbladder, and they can be very painful.
3. Increased risk of leg pain and numbness
Your legs are quite far from your heart, but they’re also at risk of complications from high cholesterol. Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a complication that can develop when the arteries in your legs get too narrow due to buildup from high cholesterol levels.
PAD can cause numbness and tingling in your legs or feet. Loss of sensation can increase your risk of ulcers and other slow-healing wounds. Another common symptom of PAD is leg pain that feels like muscle cramping, particularly with physical activity.
Undiagnosed and untreated high cholesterol can have a serious impact on your health. The good news is that you have options when it comes to managing your high cholesterol.
Dr. Patel and our team can recommend lifestyle changes, including nutrition and exercise guidance, to lower cholesterol levels naturally. Cholesterol medication can also be an effective option for many people.
Have you had your cholesterol checked lately? Schedule a consultation at NJ Cardiovascular Institute to find out more about improving your cholesterol levels, cardiovascular health, and whole-body wellness. Contact us over the phone or book an appointment online today.
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