How Resting Heart Rate is a Risk Factor for Death from Cardiovascular Disease?

According to a study conducted in Norway, individuals with increased resting heart rate in their middle age are at a higher risk of death from cardiovascular disease. Past studies have already proven the relationship between the rise in resting heart rate and the increased number of heart patients.

In this study, almost thirty thousand Norwegians males and females with no cardiovascular problem were observed for more than ten years and the average age of the people observed was 52 years.

Individuals whose heart rate increased to 85 beats per minute from 70 beats per minute (in those ten years) were at a 90% higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease compared to those whose pulse remained around 70 beats per minute.

According to the best heart attack doctors around the world, coronary artery or ischemic cardiovascular disease might be predicted by detecting the changes in the pulse with age or resting heart rate.

It was also noted that participants with a healthier lifestyle (in the start of this study) had a low resting heart rate compared to others with increased resting heart rate. Other studies also show that the rise in resting heart rate with passing years can lead to bad consequences for patients suffering from coronary artery disease and hypertension.

This study is very important due to its good follow up and good statistical analysis. This indicates that a lesser increase in heart rate over the years may work a with healthy lifestyle (less smoking, physical activates and exercise) to show good results in the prognosis of cardiovascular disease.

According to any experienced Manhattan cardiologist, complete evaluation of the heart attack risk in an individual can be done by analyzing factors like high level of lipids (high cholesterol or triglycerides), diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and smoking along with family history.

EndoPat is Very Useful for the Early Detection of Heart Attack and Stroke

For timely detection of the risk of heart attack & stroke, the measurement of endothelial dysfunction is very important. This is the reason why the best heart doctors are now using EndoPat for measuring endothelial dysfunction.

In this fifteen-minute test, the patient needs to lie down and then probes are placed on one finger of both the hands. This helps in measuring the potential of blood vessels to dilate, once the blood pressure starts increasing.

This device shows the level of vascular reactivity by measuring reactive hyperemia.

In recent studies, facts have proven that dysfunction is a risk factor of atherosclerosis and hardening of the arteries. This may also lead to the risk of atherosclerosis.

To determine the risk for atherosclerosis in early stages, it is essential to measure endothelial dysfunction, as endothelial dysfunction can also be present before the occurrence of obstructive blockages.

Atherosclerosis begins in the early years. Endothelial dysfunction contributes to it, which leads to the development of plaque in the blood vessels.

Thus to discover the possibility of heart attack and stroke, use of this device to measure endothelial dysfunction is helpful. Early identification helps in making all the necessary lifestyle changes to reduce the risk factors of both heart attack and stroke.

Daily exercising, losing weight, and switching to a healthy diet improve endothelial function.

The EndoPat device can be used to determine the improvements after these lifestyle changes.

EndoPat is useful for different types of patients including patients with a family history of coronary artery disease, chest pain, elevated levels of cholesterol or triglycerides, diabetics, hypertension, women with chest pain, and men with erectile dysfunction.

Link between Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Cardiovascular Disease

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According to the best heart doctors around the world, omega-3 fatty acids an important part of a healthy diet. Since they are not made inside our body, they must be obtained through food. They are essential for body’s normal metabolism. They play an important role in reducing inflammation in joints and blood vessels.

Nuts, plant oils, and seeds are rich sources of omega-3 fatty acids. Fish like salmon, anchovies, herring and sardines provide high amount of Omega-3. Supplement is another way of obtaining these essential acids.

In comparison to other countries, a high cardiovascular disease rate with low dietary percentage of Omega-3 fatty acids in the United States diet indicates the direct impact of these substances on our health.

Consumption of a healthy diet that is rich in these fatty acids can decrease the risk of various heart problems, including strokes.

According to a recent study done on the human brain, individuals (especially in their 70’s) that consume good percentage of Omega-3 fatty acids are likely to suffer less brain shrinkage. It can be helpful in reducing the progress of diseases like Alzheimer as well. It is also found that these substances can reduce pain and stiffness in joints.

The American Heart Association suggests including fish, tofu, and walnut in diet to increase the consumption of essential fatty acids.

Cardiologists that perform stress test in NYC suggest a healthy diet like Mediterranean, which is high in these substances. It also helps in decreasing the triglyceride level in blood.

Why Aggressive Treatment is suggested for Severe Blood Clotting?

AHA (American Heart Association) suggests that doctors should treat medical cases of serious blood clotting more aggressively, especially when blood clot forms in the legs. This condition is called DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis), which in a few cases can be fatal as well.

It occurs when a blood clot is formed in one of the deep veins of the legs. Mostly DVT causes pain in the leg, but can also occur without any clear signs.

Travelling long distances often means long sitting hours. Prolonged sitting can trigger this condition.

A few medical conditions can change the way blood clots. If a patient suffers from one of these such conditions, he may suffer from DVT.

If the clot breaks off, it can travel to any body part. If it travels to the lungs, the condition is called pulmonary embolism (PE). PE is an extremely serious medical complication that can arise from DVT. The symptoms of PE include chest pain, dizziness, lightheadedness, anxiety, shortness of breath, and coughing up blood.

Consult an experienced Manhattan cardiologist to seek quick medical help upon noticing any signs that might be suggestive of PE.

DVT usually causes swelling or pain in one of the legs. At times, the patient may also feel warmth and redness in the legs. Thousands of people in the US alone are diagnosed and hospitalized every year for DVT. Doctors should administer clot busting medicines and use other therapies to treat this condition.

Other than that, some preventive measures and maneuvers should be followed to restrict blood clotting from happening. For example, while traveling in plane, make sure to walk around from time to time. Keep your toes on the floor and raise your heels, then bring them down. After this, keep the heels on the floor and raise the toes up and down.

Adopt healthy lifestyle habits. Avoid smoking and try to lose weight to keep the blood pressure under control. Wearing compression stockings is a good idea to avoid clotting, if your doctor suggests this.

Accurate Diagnosis of Hypertension using Advanced Automatic Device

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Patients suffering from hypertension are at a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease including heart attack. Hypertension is dangerous because in most of the cases it does not show any major symptoms.

Even the diagnosis of high blood pressure is not easy, because of blood pressure variations and ‘white coat’ effect.

The ‘white coat’ effect is the tendency of some patients to show higher blood pressure results when measured in the presence of a doctor, than measured in their natural environment. This can lead to misdiagnosis of high blood pressure and result in inappropriate treatment.

Patients visiting their physicians for the first time may have elevated blood pressure, but several visits may be requested for a definitive analysis. According to a report, 20% to 25% of the high blood pressure patients may have white coat hypertension.

Lately, Bp TRU (a medical device) has earned acceptance in many healthcare centers in the US for accurate detection of hypertension, compare to standard blood pressure measurement technique used by physicians. It works automatically, and records blood pressure without any medical personnel present in the room.

Patients are suggested to adapt a healthy lifestyle for maintaining regular blood pressure level. However, patients that want to get diagnosed for hypertension should consult a cardiologist in Manhattan that uses Bp TRU, to get accurate results.

How Omega-3 Fatty Acids Affect Our Health?

Omega-3 fatty acids are an important component of a healthy diet. They are called ‘essential’ fatty acids, because they are not produced inside the human body, and must be obtained from external sources.

They are extremely essential substances for normal metabolism. They reduce inflammation in blood vessels and joints.

Omega-3 fatty acids must be obtained from food products, instead of health supplements. Herring, anchovies, sardines, and salmon are the fish types rich in these fatty acids. Seeds, plant oil, and nuts are also rich in these fatty acids.

It is an observation that consuming a diet that is rich in these substances is helpful in decreasing the chances of cardiovascular disease, coronary artery disease, and strokes. Compared to countries like Japan, the people of United States consume a diet that has lower percentage of Omega-3 fatty acids. Also, the number of heart patients in the US is higher. These two facts establish a relationship between the positive effects of this substance and health.

The American Heart Association (AHA) advises eating at least two servings of fish every week. Those who follow vegan diet should consume tofu and walnuts. All of these food products are rich in these fatty acids, which are also known to be helpful against rheumatoid arthritis. It helps arthritis by reducing stiffness and pain in the joints.

One of the recent studies suggests that people, who consume diet rich in these substances, are less prone to brain shrinkage. Omega-3 fatty acids may also stop Alzheimers disease from progressing.

A Mediterranean diet is considered one of the healthiest diets in the world. Even the best heart specialist in NYC would suggest this diet, as it is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, which significantly reduces the chances of heart disease. It is also suggested for those who want to lower the level of triglycerides in the blood.

Causes and treatment of Alcoholic Hangover

Alcohol induced hangover is one of the big reasons behind poor job performance of employees and absenteeism at the work place in the US. Excessive consumption of alcohol induces a physiologically unpleasant experience as well as unhealthy psychological effects.

Signs of a hangover begin to show when the level of blood alcohol drops drastically. Some common signs include tremulousness, diarrhea, and a feeling of discomfort, dry mouth, headache, nervousness, and tiredness. Individuals with alcoholic hangover experience a decrease in dexterity and visual-spatial abilities.
The effects of hangover can continue to show for an entire day. When alcohol breaks down into acetaldehyde, it sets into motion a series of negative bodily processes. The breaking down of ethanol adds to the body’s vulnerability to oxidative stress.

Some alcoholic beverages contain ‘congeners’ as a flavoring agent, which increase the intensity of hangovers and the resulting effects. Generally, clear beverages have low levels of congeners whereas darker liquors have higher concentration. This is why vodka and gin cause less intense hangover effects.
The best way to avoid the negative effects of alcohol consumption and hangover is to consume it in a controlled manner and limited quantities. Even the best cardiologist in NYC would suggest that abstinence is the best cure.

Do not consume too much alcohol in one go, instead sip it slowly. Also, make sure to eat before drinking. To keep the body hydrated, drink a lot of water. In fact drinking a good amount of water is the recommended treatment to subdue the effects of hangover. Eat food items like crackers, toast, and soup, and take proper rest if you are feeling tired. If you feel dizzy after drinking alcohol, do not operate heavy machinery. Refrain from driving an automobile or any other vehicle. The best way however to prevent a hangover is to completely refrain from ethanol.

How to prevent mini-strokes (TIAs) by early detection?

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When it comes to TIAs (transient ischemic attacks) better known as mini-strokes, early recognition of symptoms is essential. The episodes of mini-strokes are indicative of a medical emergency. A 49 year old woman recorded her facial movements on her Smartphone. The video helped physicians figure out that it was a stroke. The woman underwent an MRI to confirm it and the results were positive.

To prevent strokes from happening, it is crucial to get one’s health evaluated for various risk factors related to heart problems. One should get checked for hypertension, elevated lipids, plaque buildup in the arteries and diabetes mellitus.

Other than that, sticking to a healthy lifestyle is capable of dramatically decreasing the chances of strokes. Low-risk lifestyle includes regular exercising, maintaining right body weight, healthy diet, and not smoking. Right body mass index is essential to avoid strokes. Those who drink alcohol should moderate their alcohol consumption.

There is a three-part stroke test that emergency medical personnel use for evaluating the possibility of a stroke. In the first part of test, patient is asked to smile or show his teeth. The results of this test will be considered abnormal if one side of the face is partially droopy.

In the second phase, the patient under observation is asked to extend his arms straight out for ten seconds with his eyes closed. If one arm does not move, and the other arm drifts down it means the test result is abnormal.

The third part of the test is to check abnormal speech. For that, patient is asked to repeat a long sentence. If the patient utters wrong words, or cannot speak properly, it means the test result is not normal.

An important risk factor associated with stroke is hypertension. High blood pressure is often silent and doesn’t exhibit any signs. One should get oneself checked for hypertension. The best way to assess risk factors of strokes is to get a complete evaluation done by contacting the best cardiologist in NYC. The complete evaluation includes physical examination, blood tests, and carotid ultrasound. Carotid ultrasound checks if there is plaque building up in the blood vessels.

Risks and causes of sudden cardiac death

Sudden cardiac death refers to a condition in which the heart suddenly stops working. In such a condition, blood flow to the brain and other vital organs of the human body, stops.

The inner electrical system of the human heart regulates rate and rhythm of its heartbeat. Any issue in this system can cause abnormal heartbeats known as arrhythmia. In this condition, the heartbeat can either get too fast or slow and can also result in uneven heartbeats. When that happens, the blood flow to the body may be diminished.

A Top cardiologist NYC suggests two major causes of sudden cardiac death:

Coronary Artery Disease

When plaque builds up in arteries, it leads to coronary heart disease. The coronary arteries supply oxygen rich blood to the heart muscles. When the arteries get narrow, blood flow to the heart muscle decreases. The inadequate blood supply causes a blot clot to form on the surface of plaque. The blood clot can completely block the flow of the blood causing heart attack.

Coronary artery disease is the major cause of sudden cardiac death in adults.

Physical Stress

Excessive physical stress also causes the heart’s electrical system to fail. A hormone named adrenaline is released in the body during extreme physical activity. This hormone increases risk of getting sudden cardiac arrest.

Major risk factors

• Undiagnosed CAD is one of the major risks, causing sudden cardiac arrest.
• Excessive intake of alcohol also puts an individual on the risk of getting sudden cardiac arrest.
• Heart attack and heart failure are also the major causes of SCD.

Signs and symptoms of sudden cardiac death

Loss of consciousness is the first thing to happen, when on the risk of sudden cardiac death. Some people feel lightheaded and giddy before they faint. Within an hour before the cardiac arrest, some people also suffer chest pain, vomiting, breathlessness, and queasiness.



Sudden Cardiac Death is not a heart attack

Sudden cardiac arrest is not a heart attack. A heart attack occurs, when blood does not reach the heart muscles, due to any blockage. The heart may stop functioning abruptly when somebody gets a heart attack. However, the heart stops functioning unexpectedly in case of sudden cardiac arrest. This condition may occur after recovering from heart attack or any other severe heart condition.

How obesity affects the heart?

Obesity increases body mass index and fats in the body. Individuals with elevated body mass index are termed as obese. Increased body mass means the heart needs to pump more blood.

The heart works hard to pump blood in to the entire body of the obese, increasing stress on the heart. Fatty molecules present in the blood constricts blood vessels and makes it difficult for the heart to push blood through vessels.

Can obesity cause heart failure?

Excessive stress on the heart can cause heart failure. Normally this happens when heart muscles die due to lack of supply of oxygen secondary to the fat clogged blood vessels, which restrict blood flow.

Obesity is one of the major reasons that cause heart attacks. It raises blood pressure levels, cholesterol levels and triglycerides levels which lead to  formation of plaque in the arteries.

It also brings down the level of good cholesterol in the body. Good cholesterol prevents formation of plaque. Besides this, obesity causes an increase in blood pressure levels and also leads to diabetes and simultaneously increases the risk of coronary heart disease.

Preventing obesity

Consulting with an expert cardiologist NYC is essential to get the right guidance. After consultation, one must strictly follow all the guidelines suggested by the doctor. There are certain changes and activities that assist you in fulfilling your purpose of maintaining ideal weight:

1. Be active all the time

Making small changes in your daily routine will help you in reducing your weight. Use stairs instead of the elevator. Go for a morning and evening walk to burn more calories. Start exercising.

2. Eat healthy

Eat lots of vegetables and fruits and avoid eating junk and oily food items. Before you eat, check the labels of the food to see the number of calories per serving and saturated fats.

3. Keep track of your weight regularly

Monitor your weight regularly. Doing this will help you in determining how much extra flab you have reduced, and much more you need to shed.

Maintaining your heart’s health is important for healthy living. Take care of your eating habits and activities you carry out on a daily basis, to prevent heart issues.