Structural Heart Disease - Types, Symptoms, Causes, And Treatment

As the name indicates, structural heart disease may occur due to any issue with the structure of your heart. That means a person with this condition may have any abnormality in the structure or function of his heart’s chambers, valves, walls, or muscles.

Some people are born with this condition, while others develop it as they age. If it is left untreated, it can lead to other serious health issues. Hence, it’s best to see your cardiologist in New York regularly if you have this condition.

This blog describes the different types of structural disease, who can get it, its causes, symptoms, and treatment.

Different Types of Structural Heart Disease -

Generally speaking, there are three main types of structural heart disease. They are listed here-

Heart Valve Disease - It’s a condition where a valve of the heart opens and closes to control blood flow.

Cardiomyopathy- It’s a disease that involves the muscles of the heart. 

Congenital Heart Disease- It’s a broad term for structural heart problems that a person may have since the time of birth. 

Who Is At Risk?

Typically, it can affect anyone. No matter what your gender, race, or ethnicity is! Usually, people with a family history of structural heart disease are more likely to get it. 

In addition, it is more common in people whose -

• Biological mother had exposure to industrial solvents during the period of pregnancy 

• Parents had rubella during the first trimester of pregnancy

• Parents had consumed certain medications

• Parents had taken alcohol during pregnancy

• Parents had any viral infections during pregnancy

Also, the risk of developing this disease increases as you get older. If you are at risk of developing this disease, it’s best to see a cardiologist in New York regularly and keep a check on your heart health.

Symptoms of Structural Heart Disease:

A person may not have any symptoms of this condition. But as the disease progresses, he can experience the following signs -

• Chest pain or tightness.

• Irregular heartbeats.

• Shortness of breath.

• Dizziness or fainting.

• Fatigue.

• High blood pressure.

• Kidney dysfunction.

• Abdominal swelling.

If you are living across Brooklyn and suspect these symptoms, you can visit a primary care doctor in Brooklyn, NY.

Causes of Structural Heart Disease -

As already discussed above, a person may have this condition at birth. And due to problems with the body’s DNA or genetics, the heart may develop abnormally. 

And if it occurs later in life, it could be due to the following causes -

• Cardiovascular disease.

• Heart attack.

• Amyloidosis, hemochromatosis, sarcoidosis, or other diseases that damage the heart.

• Atherosclerosis.

• Aging

• Excessive consumption of alcohol.

• Aortic aneurysm.

• Autoimmune disease

• Diabetes

• Thyroid disease.

• High blood pressure

• Muscle conditions. For example- muscular dystrophy.

Treatment of Structural Heart Disease -

Some people won’t need any treatment. But they need to monitor their condition throughout their life. And to ensure their heart is healthy and functioning well, they should regularly schedule a visit to their cardiologist. 

Based on your condition, your primary care doctor in Brooklyn, NY, may treat the disease with -

• Necessary Medications.

• Minimally Invasive Heart Procedures - These procedures involve making small incisions to replace or repair a defective valve, if any. 

• Open-Heart Surgery - It’s done to allow a surgeon to open your chest wall and access your heart to replace a valve or for a heart transplant.

When To Visit A Cardiologist ?

Our pumping organ, the heart, is the most hardworking body part in the body. It continuously beats more than 100,000 times every day without taking a break. As it plays a crucial role in keeping us active and alive, it is best to take good care of it. Considering heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in the US, it is best to start seeing a cardiologist regularly. If you are living across New York, you can consider visiting the best cardiologist in New York and staying on top of your heart health.

Cardiologists are doctors who specialize in treating a wide range of heart diseases and conditions. Their primary role is to help patients manage their heart conditions in a better way. Routine check-ups and regular screenings can help prevent heart disease and early diagnosis of a heart condition. 

How Can You Know If You Need To See A Cardiologist ?

Here are five common reasons why you need to see a primary care doctor in Brooklyn offering the best treatment for heart conditions. 

Physician’s Recommendation

It’s the first and most common reason why people see a physician. Make sure you visit a heart doctor whenever your family doctor or other healthcare provider recommends it. Ignoring your doctor’s advice can only increase your risk of developing any serious condition later. So even if you feel fine now, go ahead and meet a cardiologist if your doctor has asked you to do so.

If Experiencing Chest Pain

Chest pain is a hallmark sign of any heart problem. Though many causes could be responsible for chest pain, it is wise to consult a cardiologist if you feel heavy pressure on your chest. This symptom could be a sign that your heart is unable to receive enough blood. A visit to the best heart doctor will help determine the reason for your chest pain. In addition, he will provide the required treatment and tips to help you feel better. 

High Blood Pressure

Having chronic high blood pressure can put you at risk of stroke or heart attack. This is because it can cause your heart to work harder while passing blood to the respective organs and body parts. If you have high blood pressure, see your cardiologist in New York regularly and manage this condition. Controlling this heart problem can save you from experiencing any serious health problems later. 

You Have Diabetes

Diabetes is often linked to cardiovascular disease. Uncontrolled blood sugar levels can affect the functioning of blood vessels. And this can increase the risk of developing CAD (coronary heart disease). Your primary care doctor in Brooklyn can work with a team of cardiologists to offer you the best treatment option to prevent your risk of developing a heart condition. 

You Are An Active Smoker!

Excessive smoking can put you at a higher risk of getting a heart condition. Heart problems and smoking can contribute to high blood pressure and cancer risks. Seeing a cardiologist in New York will help determine whether you are at risk of developing any heart problems or not. So, if you are an active smoker or have a smoking history, you can consider scheduling your appointment with the best cardiologist near your place. After all, it’s a question of your heart’s health and life! 

Why Go for Regular Heart Check-Ups?

Do you know which is the most hardworking organ in our body? It’s our Heart! It’s an engine room that pumps 2000 gallons or more of blood through a 60,000-mile-long network of blood vessels. It’s undoubtedly one of the essential organs. You may wonder what will happen if its functioning gets affected! So, why not go for regular heart check-ups and keep this precious organ in a healthy state! Now, you may also want to look for the best internal medicine doctor in Brooklyn to stay on top of your heart health! Go ahead; you are taking the right step towards your health. 

 

Before you book an appointment with your doctor, read on to know how routine heart check-ups will benefit your health!

Importance of Regular Heart Check-Ups-

If you are already suffering from any cardiovascular condition, a regular visit to a cardiologist is important for your heart health. Sometimes, heart conditions can go unnoticed without routine check-ups. So, if you don’t have any heart condition, you should still go for a heart check-up to detect potential risk factors.

It’s rightly said, “prevention is better than cure”! We have an opportunity to make a difference in our health. Regular health screenings can help diagnose health issues (if any) on time. With the result, you can take the required treatment by visiting an internal medicine doctor in Brooklyn. With routine heart check-ups, you can expect the following-

• Timely detection of heart conditions
• Reduced chances of serious illness
• Getting the right treatment on time
• Reduced overall healthcare treatment costs
• Improved overall health

 

Where to Find the Best Internal Medicine Doctor in Brooklyn, NY, for your Heart Health?

If you are looking for the best internists in Brooklyn, you can visit MKR Medical PC. They are known to have highly experienced internal medicine specialists, primary care physicians, and cardiologists that work together to provide the best possible treatment to support your heart health. 

So, what are you waiting for? Go for a heart check-up now and take the necessary steps to keep it healthy!

 

What are the Three Most Common Heart Disease Risk Factors?

Almost half the population in the U.S. suffers from some type of heart disease. Although many people develop heart diseases due to the natural aging process, a poor lifestyle may also lead to health conditions that may increase the risk of heart diseases. Some of these causes cannot be controlled, but there are various factors that can be managed with regular cardiac testing in New York to reduce the risk of heart diseases.  

 

Following are three common risk factors of heart disease that can be controlled with regular monitoring: 

High Blood Pressure

Hypertension or high blood pressure is one of the top factors that put you at an increased risk of a stroke. It is also referred to as the “silent killer,” as it usually does not show any obvious symptoms in the beginning. BP is a chronic health condition that is highly common among the U.S. population. It is generally recommended for people over 50 to consult with a cardiologist in Brooklyn, NY, and get regular testing to control their blood pressure levels and reduce the risk of heart diseases.

Uncontrolled Cholesterol 

Uncontrolled cholesterol can clog the heart’s arteries and reduce the blood flow to the heart and other major organs. It is also a primary contributing factor for coronary artery disease development.  However, similar to blood pressure, high cholesterol may not produce any specific symptoms. Therefore, it is best to get checked by a cardiologist in Brooklyn, especially if you have a family history of cholesterol.

Poor Lifestyle Habits

And of course, many heart diseases are caused due to a poor lifestyle. For example, an unhealthy diet, smoking, lack of physical activities, and obesity are some of the leading risk factors for heart diseases. In that case, you can reduce the risk of heart diseases by making healthy changes in your lifestyle and consulting with experienced primary care physicians and cardiac experts.

If you need cardiac testing services in Brooklyn, NY, Schedule a consultation with our healthcare experts today!