4 Common Medical Tests to Diagnose Heart Problems!

A doctor may order different cardiac testing in New York or near your home to get some help in finding out about your heart condition. As per the condition, he can provide the best treatment to you. Some of these tests are-

ECG or EKG-

An electrocardiogram reads the heart’s electrical impulse and shows how well your heart is functioning/beating. Small sticky dots are put on your chest, arms and legs. Wire leads are then attached to an ECG machine that records the impulses. The recorded impulses are printed out on paper by the machine. Your doctor will check the results to diagnose any abnormal heart rhythms or other heart problems.

Nuclear Cardiac Stress Test-

It is often called an exercise thallium scan or a nuclear exercise scan. During the procedure of this cardiac testing in Brooklyn, NY, a radioactive substance (tracer) is injected into a patient’s bloodstream that goes to his heart and releases energy. Special cameras are used to take pictures of this energy from outside of the body. A doctor uses these pictures to check how well your heart pumps blood when you are resting and doing any physical activity. This test may help your doctor check whether your heart muscles are working fine or not!

Exercise Stress Test-

It’s a type of ECG done while you exercise. It is often known as a treadmill or exercise test that helps a doctor find out how well your heart is working when you are physically active, i.e., exercising.

Holter Monitor Test-

A Holter monitor test is done if an ECG doesn’t provide desired information about your heart’s condition to a doctor. This test involves wearing a Holter monitor (a device) for one or two days to keep track of the heart rhythm.

If your doctor has suggested you go for any cardiac testing in New York, never ignore it. Getting the test done can help your doctor provide better treatment to you at the right time.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Its Benefits!

 Many different types of therapy are helpful in addressing various health conditions. CBT (Cognitive behavioral therapy) is one of them that is used by many treatment centers to improve the condition of people who have a mental illness. If you have any mental disorders, you can also go for cognitive behavioral therapy in Brooklyn or near your home.

CBT

It's a type of talk therapy that helps patients become aware of negative or unhelpful thoughts. It gives patients a clear perspective on the world around them within a few sessions. This therapy helps clients to respond to false thoughts or negative situations happening in their lives positively in a better way. Sometimes, it is used in combination with other forms of therapy to provide better results. It helps people manage stressful situations positively.

Which Mental Conditions Can be Managed With CBT?

Cognitive behavioral therapy in Brooklyn, NY, or near your home can help manage the following conditions-

·        Anxiety disorders or Depression

·        Schizophrenia

·        Phobias

·        PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)

·        OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder)

·        Sleep Disorders

·        Eating Disorders

·        Bipolar Disorder

·        Addiction

Benefits of CBT

CBT is often considered the gold standard of psychotherapy. It involves the use of many techniques that will help patients improve their symptoms. This therapy offers many benefits. Here we are listing some of them.

·        It can help patients manage their emotions.

·        It can reduce the chances of relapse in addiction.

·        It helps improve communication skills and control negative thoughts.

·        It helps patients cope with a medical condition in a better way.

·        It can help people improve their relationships with partners.

·        It can help people overcome emotional trauma such as violence or abuse.

If you are also looking for an effective approach to help you recognize negative thoughts and behavioral patterns, you can go for cognitive behavioral therapy in Brooklyn. 

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!

 

5 Lifestyle Management Tips Your Physician Wants You to Follow

An unhealthy lifestyle and stressful work-life balance are significant contributors to more than one-third of the US population being obese. The staggering numbers account for most people in the country struggling with their weight and the ability to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Although people are becoming aware of the dangerous effects, including heart diseases, the risk of stroke, and cancers, very few people still make healthy choices in time.

 

Therefore, primary care physicians in West Babylon advise people to visit health care centers for routine check-ups and professional assistance in healthy lifestyle management. 

Lifestyle management has emerged as a prominent field of science that works to integrate lifestyle-based healthy habits into a person's daily routine. It mainly deals with changes in eating habits, exercising, and monitoring other health conditions through regular medical testing. 

The five key elements that primary care physicians and their team of lifestyle management experts work with are:

• Eating Habits. Food is the fuel of our body. Hence, it should be everyone's priority to feed their body the most nutritious and organic food in the required proportions. However, many people today tend to gravitate towards convenience food full of preservatives and added sugar. Instead, nutritionists recommend a low-fat, low-carbohydrate diet packed with ample proteins. A simple habit, to begin with, can be to start eating at least five fresh fruits and vegetables every day.

• Physical Activity. A sedentary lifestyle is the biggest cause of increasing obesity among Americans. Any amount of physical activity can help revitalize your organs and give you more energy. Therefore, listen to your physician when they advise you to exercise for at least 30 minutes 4 to 5 days a week. It can be taking a stroll in your garden or taking the stairs instead of the elevator.

• Sleep Patterns. Contrary to the modern mentality of working hard and losing sleep, a good night's sleep is just as important for your body’s health as is eating healthy, if not more. Thus, every adult should get at least 7 to 9 hours of sound sleep every night to maintain healthy body functions and keep fatigue and ailments at bay.

• Stress Management. Millennials’ life today is full of stress due to work, studies, and all the extra pressure of maintaining an active social life. No wonder mental disorders stemming from poor work-life balance are being reported higher than ever today. So, in order to achieve a healthy lifestyle, one has to be able to manage stress levels properly. Therefore, work with your healthcare providers to create your own stress management strategy which may include meditation, yoga, or simply journaling at the end of the day.

• Specific Conditions. Unfortunately for some, following these healthy habits may not be just enough to achieve a healthy mind and body, especially for people suffering from medical conditions, like diabetes, inconsistent blood pressure, etc. So, if you face these problems, or are struggling with smoking or alcohol consumption, seek medical assistance for healthy lifestyle management.

So, consult with your primary care physicians and their team of internal medicine specialists and nutritionists in Long Island, NY, to help you steer towards a healthy lifestyle. Book an appointment at MKR Medical PC today for the best health care services in New York.

 

What to Expect During an Echocardiogram Test?

An echocardiogram or an echo test is a standard ultrasound test that provides a graphic outline of the heart's movement. It is a painless testing procedure that produces moving images of your heart for evaluation by the Cardiomyopathy Specialist in West Babylon, Long Island, NY. The echo test in Long Island, NY can help evaluate the functioning of a patient’s heart. 

Echo test is usually required to:

• Evaluate your heart’s overall health.
• Identify many kinds of heart diseases (such as valve disease, myocardial disease, cardiac abnormalities, heart defects).
• Assess the disease progression periodically.
• Determine the effectiveness of the medical or surgical treatments.

 What to Expect During the Echo Test? 

Echo test is a non-invasive testing procedure that does not require any special preparation. You can eat, drink and take medications as per usual. However, patients may need to avoid eating and drinking if directed by the cardiologist. The test usually takes less than an hour to complete.

• Before the test, the doctor usually explains the procedure, and if you have any concerns, you can ask the doctor.

 

• During the procedure, the patient is usually required to change into a hospital gown.

 

• Next, the cardiac sonographer will place small, flat, sticky patches known as electrodes on your chest. The electrodes are attached to an electrocardiograph (EKG) monitor, which will measure your heart’s electrical activity during the test.

 

• The sonographer will apply a gel substance to your chest, which helps the sound waves reach your heart.

 

• During this procedure, a hand-held wand with high-frequency sound waves is used to assess the condition of the heart's valves, chambers, blood flow, and overall functioning. Thus, the sonographer will move the wand around various areas of your chest to record pictures of your heart’s different areas.

• Sometimes sonographers may need to press a bit harder to get a clear image. The patient may also need to change positing and hold their breath to obtain better pictures of the heart. 

The pictures from the echo test are reviewed by the cardiologist to determine if the patient’s heart is healthy or has any problems. The doctor will discuss the various options after assessing your test results.

All You Need to Know About the Dangers of a Coronary Artery Disease

Heart conditions are becoming shockingly common, even among the youth in their early thirties. While genetic predisposition to any disease is common knowledge, most Long Island cardiologists state that environmental and lifestyle factors are also key contributors in the rising cases of heart ailments.

 

One such heart disease with a concerning number of cases in the U.S. is coronary artery disease. Although untreatable, this condition is becoming very common even though it can be prevented with some measures.

Coronary Artery Disease & its Causes

It is a condition in which the arteries of our heart muscles get blocked due to plaque build-up (high ‘bad’ cholesterol levels). These arteries are responsible for delivering oxygen-rich blood to the heart along with other nutrients. When clogged, they start to suffocate the heart with the lack of oxygen-rich clean blood, which further leads to cardiac malfunctions in our body.

Who is at High Risk of Getting Coronary Artery Disease?

As mentioned earlier, heart conditions can be hereditary. So, if you have a family history of any cardiac problems, you are potentially at risk. You might also be at risk if you have:

• High blood pressure;
• High cholesterol levels;
• diabetes.

 Apart from this, some lifestyle habits can aggravate the problem as well, like

• Smoking;
• Obesity;
• Lack or absence of physical activities.

What are the Early Symptoms of Coronary Artery Disease?

Early symptoms of CAD may appear to be very minor discomforts and thus are often overlooked by many. However, you should be cautious if you experience any of these symptoms persistently:

• Breathlessness with minimal exertion or even when at rest;
• Weakness, or chronic fatigue;
• Dizziness, or light-headedness;
• Nausea, or cold sweating;
• Other chest discomforts like tightening, numbness, burning, etc.

What to do if the Symptoms Persist?

 Take a note of when you start to experience mild symptoms and then how often do they persist. If they’re recurring but mild, you can schedule a cardiac screening to rule out the possibility of any other ailment disguising as CAD. However, if you experience moderate to severe pain, do not waste a moment and seek medical attention immediately. Your physician will perform a series of tests before knowing for certain about the condition and its severity.

Until then take care of your heart health by employing preventive measures as suggested by your physician. You can also schedule an appointment with MKR Medical PC specialists to get the best Coronary Artery Disease Treatment in Long Island.