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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by cardiopulmonarydiagnostic | Aug 9, 2026 | Uncategorized
When arteries in your legs are narrowed or blocked, the muscles and tissues below don’t get enough oxygen-rich blood to function properly. That’s what happens with peripheral artery disease (PAD).
It’s a common condition — but while many people expect PAD to cause dramatic symptoms, the first sign is often subtle: leg pain when walking, or a heaviness or crampy feeling that goes away when you rest. This warning sign is called claudication, and it’s important to take it seriously.
That’s because the same artery-narrowing process that causes PAD can affect other arteries in your body, which may increase your risk of heart attack or stroke. The good news is that PAD is treatable.
Kunal Patel, MD, and our team at NJ Cardiovascular Institute specialize in cardiovascular care in Elizabeth, Lakewood, Paramus, and Secaucus, New Jersey. We want patients to know that persistent leg pain isn’t something to shrug off, and here’s why.
Understanding peripheral artery disease
PAD develops when the arteries that send blood from your heart to your legs become narrowed or blocked. The primary cause is atherosclerosis, which is a buildup of fatty deposits (plaque), cholesterol, calcium, and other materials along artery walls.
Atherosclerosis is one of the most common types of heart disease. And when you have PAD, plaque builds up inside your arteries over time, gradually reducing blood flow and making it more difficult for your leg muscles to get the oxygen they need when you walk or exercise.
It’s important to note that plaque buildup doesn’t just affect your legs. The same condition can affect arteries that supply your heart or brain, and that means PAD is closely linked with other forms of vascular disease. People with high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, a history of smoking, or prior heart disease are at higher risk.
How leg pain can be a warning sign of PAD
One of the earliest and most common symptoms of PAD is leg discomfort during activity like walking or exercising. It can appear in your calves, thighs, or buttocks, and it usually starts when you’re moving and eases when you rest. You might notice:
A crampy, aching, or tight feeling in your legs
Weakness, tiredness, or a feeling of heaviness in your legs, even if it isn’t sharp pain
Coldness, numbness, or a change in skin color in your foot or lower leg — especially when compared with your other leg
Slow healing sores or wounds on your legs, ankles, or feet
Shiny or thin skin on your legs
Leg hair changes or toenail changes
Symptoms of PAD come and go, and it’s not uncommon to only experience them during activity. Many people dismiss this type of leg pain as just getting older or having sore muscles, but it’s important to pay attention to persistent or recurring discomfort, even if it’s mild.
What to do if you think you might have PAD
The leg pain that PAD can cause isn’t just about your legs. If arteries in your legs are narrowing, chances are other arteries might be, too — and that overlap can increase your risk of serious complications like heart attack and stroke.
If you experience leg pain when walking or you notice changes in leg comfort, don’t wait. Our team at NJ Cardiovascular Institute offers comprehensive consultations, where we review your symptoms, your risk factors, and your overall cardiovascular health.
We can order vascular testing — such as an ankle-brachial index, blood flow studies, or imaging — to check for narrowed arteries or reduced blood flow. Once we diagnose your condition, we work with you to create a customized treatment plan.
Depending on your specific needs, we may recommend a combination of lifestyle changes, exercise, medication, or interventional procedures. Having high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or other cardiovascular risk factors makes PAD more likely, so lowering those risk factors can reduce the chance of PAD progression and help protect your heart, too.
Don’t ignore leg discomfort. Once it’s diagnosed, PAD is manageable — and by acting early, you have the best opportunity to protect your legs, your heart, and your long-term health. Contact NJ Cardiovascular for an appointment, and we’ll help you find a path to stronger vascular health and peace of mind.
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by cardiopulmonarydiagnostic | Aug 9, 2026 | Uncategorized
Your heart works tirelessly day in and day out. And although it seems like an unstoppable force, it’s more vulnerable than you might think. In fact, heart disease accounts for one in five deaths in the United States.
Heart disease, high blood pressure, and other cardiovascular conditions are shockingly common, and they can affect anyone. These conditions are serious, but the good news is that taking care of your heart health doesn’t have to be complicated.
A few simple lifestyle changes can significantly boost your heart health. Kunal Patel, MD, and our team at NJ Cardiovascular Institute specialize in cardiology, and our Heart Smart Program is designed to help you make heart health part of your everyday life.
Here are five ways you can start improving your heart health today.
1. Move more, sit less
Physical activity is the best way to maintain a healthy heart. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise most days of the week.
Remember that workouts don’t have to be vigorous to offer heart healthy benefits. Consider activities like taking a brisk walk, going for a bike ride, or even dancing around your living room. Every little bit counts, so find activities you enjoy and make them a regular part of your routine.
2. Eat heart-healthy foods
Did you know the food you eat directly affects your heart health? Try to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats each day.
Go easy on red meats, processed foods, refined carbohydrates, and added sugars, which can increase your risk of heart disease. Small changes — like swapping out sugary drinks for water, opting for 100% whole-grain bread instead of white, and adding more leafy greens to your plate — can make a big difference for your heart and your overall well-being.
3. Manage stress
Chronic stress can take a toll on your heart health. Stress can elevate your blood pressure, which increases your risk of heart disease, so it’s essential to find healthy ways to manage stress in your life.
Take time to prioritize self-care and relaxation. Consider practicing relaxation techniques like deep breathing, meditation, or yoga, engaging in hobbies you enjoy, spending time with loved ones, or seeking support from a therapist or counselor if needed. A little bit of effort here can have a profound impact on your stress levels and your heart health.
4. Get enough sleep
While you sleep, your body performs essential repair and rejuvenation processes. Chronic sleep deprivation means you’re not getting enough sleep, and it can lead to high blood pressure, weight gain, and increased stress levels — all of which can negatively impact heart health.
For optimal heart health, aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night. Establish a consistent sleep schedule and create a relaxing bedtime routine to make it easier to fall asleep, get more restful sleep, and boost your heart health.
5. Join our Heart Smart Program
Last but not least, take your commitment to heart health to the next level by joining our Heart Smart Program. It’s a comprehensive program designed to provide preventive and continued care for your heart through routine checkups.
Along with health marker monitoring, you have access to personalized guidance from Dr. Patel and our team, educational resources to help you understand and manage your heart health, and support from a community of people on their own heart health journeys.
Whether you’re looking to prevent heart disease or manage an existing condition, our program can help you stay on track and achieve your goals. Early detection and proactive management helps you enjoy your best possible heart health at every age.
Prioritizing your heart health doesn’t have to be complicated. These simple changes can significantly reduce your risk of heart disease — so why wait? To get started, call one of our offices in Elizabeth, Lakewood, Paramus, or Secaucus, New Jersey, or send us a message online.
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by cardiopulmonarydiagnostic | Aug 9, 2026 | Uncategorized
A stent is a tiny mesh tube that fits inside an artery. It opens the artery to allow unobstructed blood flow to the heart, and it’s one of the most effective treatments for coronary artery disease.
Getting a stent requires a minimally invasive procedure called angioplasty. And if your loved one just found out they need a stent, it’s normal to have questions.
Kunal Patel, MD, and our team at NJ Cardiovascular Institute specialize in heart care. We take a holistic approach to heart disease treatment, and we work with patients and their families to manage their health.
Here’s what you need to know if your loved one is scheduled for angioplasty.
When is a stent necessary?
Stents treat coronary artery disease, the most common type of heart disease. If you have coronary artery disease, plaque builds up in the arteries that transport blood to your heart, restricting blood flow, causing chest pain, and making your heart work harder.
There’s no cure for coronary artery disease, but it can be managed with medication and lifestyle changes. Unfortunately, these conservative treatments aren’t always enough for severe heart disease.
Angioplasty is a procedure that places a small mesh tube called a stent into an artery. The stent opens narrowed or blocked arteries to improve heart health and lower your risk of complications, including heart attack.
What to expect during angioplasty
Angioplasty is a minimally invasive procedure with local anesthesia. Depending on your loved one’s health, we may administer a sedative to help them relax, and they may or may not be awake during the procedure.
Dr. Patel begins by cleaning an area of skin where he makes a small incision. This might be in the arm, wrist, leg, or groin.
He inserts a thin wire (catheter) through the incision and into a blood vessel, then uses X-ray imaging to guide the wire to the blocked artery. Once it’s in place, he inflates a small balloon to expand the artery and then places the mesh stent.
If your loved one has more than one blocked artery, Dr. Patel can place multiple stents in a single procedure. Angioplasty can take up to several hours from start to finish.
We monitor your loved one’s heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen level throughout the procedure. Once all blockages are addressed, we move them into recovery.
What happens after angioplasty
After angioplasty, the patient usually stays in the hospital overnight so their condition can be monitored. We keep a close eye on your loved one’s heart and make adjustments to their heart medication as needed.
The next day, your loved one can go home. We give you at-home care instructions, such as making sure they drink plenty of fluids and rest for a few days. Expect activity to be limited for about a week, at which point they can return to work and their usual routine.
Call Dr. Patel right away if you notice bleeding, swelling, or signs of infection where we inserted the catheter, or if your loved one experiences pain, discomfort, weakness, or shortness of breath.
Your loved one’s medications may change after angioplasty, so it’s important to follow the doctor’s instructions. Angioplasty doesn’t cure heart disease, and they need regular follow-up care to maintain their heart health.
When a blocked artery threatens your loved one’s health, a stent could be the best solution. Send us a message online or call one of our offices in Elizabeth, Lakewood, Paramus, or Secaucus, New Jersey, to learn more.
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by cardiopulmonarydiagnostic | Aug 9, 2026 | Uncategorized
Your heart works hard. It beats every minute of every day, pumping some 2,000 gallons of blood through your body daily. It delivers oxygen and nutrients to your body through your blood, and it’s what keeps you alive.
You probably know that taking care of your heart is important for overall wellness, but what’s the best way to improve your heart health? And what happens if you’re at risk for common heart problems like heart disease?
Our team at NJ Cardiovascular Institute can help you find answers. Kunal Patel, MD, specializes in heart health and managing chronic heart conditions. Today, we’re exploring some things you might not know about your heart — and how learning about it can help you enjoy better health.
Heart health involves more than just your heart
What comes to mind when you think of heart problems? Something like chest pain, heart attacks, or heart palpitations might be your first thought, but heart health extends far beyond your heart muscle alone.
Your cardiovascular system, also called the circulatory system, is made up of your heart, arteries, veins, and capillaries. Your heart pumps blood through your arteries, sending oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood through your body. Oxygen-poor blood travels through your veins back to your heart and lungs, and the process starts over again.
Some common health conditions, like high cholesterol and high blood pressure, damage your arteries and have a negative impact on your heart over time. Damaged or blocked arteries make it harder for blood to flow smoothly through your veins, which means your heart has to work harder to do its job.
You could be at risk for heart disease
Heart disease, also known as cardiovascular disease, is the leading cause of death in the United States. It’s responsible for about one in four deaths, but it’s largely preventable with proactive heart care.
Since heart disease can develop without noticeable warning signs, it’s important to recognize the factors that could increase your risk.
The three main risk factors for heart disease are:
High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Smoking
Nearly 50% of American adults have at least one of these three risk factors for heart disease.
Other factors that could increase your risk of developing heart disease include:
Diabetes
Eating an unhealthy diet
Excessive alcohol consumption
Obesity
Physical inactivity
If you think you could be at risk for heart disease, schedule a consultation with Dr. Patel. He offers diagnostic testing to evaluate your heart health, and our team works with you to prevent disease progression and improve your heart health.
Improving heart health doesn’t have to be complicated
It’s vital to take care of your heart, but it’s not always easy to know where to start. That’s why we have our Heart Smart Program.
The Heart Smart Program is a comprehensive approach to heart health. We make it simple to implement heart-healthy changes and get the preventive heart care you need. It’s a good option for people with existing heart conditions, but anyone can benefit from taking these steps to improve their heart health.
The program includes nutritional management, exercise routines, and educational sessions to help you make healthy lifestyle changes. You learn about how your diet affects your heart and the important role exercise plays in cardiovascular wellness.
Depending on your needs, we offer a range of diagnostic services to identify and monitor existing heart conditions. We partner with you to help you achieve your best possible health, no matter your age.
Curious about more ways to improve your heart health? Schedule a consultation with Dr. Patel and our team. Call the office nearest you or book an appointment online today.
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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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