The Heart Center

Combating heart disease should be a number one priority for residents of New York. Statistics shows that cardiovascular illness is currently the leading cause of death, according to New York-Presbyterian Hospital, one in every three suffers from some type of heart related illness. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows 27.3 percent ofNew Yorkresidents are treated for high blood pressure and 35 percent of the population reports high cholesterol levels. Nationwide, one out of every 2.8 deaths is due to complications from heart problems.

Heart disease is a broad term for a range of illnesses that affect the heart muscle, the organ responsible from pumping blood throughout the body. Most conditions involve the narrowing of the arteries, known as arteriosclerosis, that carry blood from the heart to organs and limbs. When arteries narrow, blood fails to travel efficiently.

Symptoms of Arteriosclerosis

• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Pain in the legs or arms
• Numbness in the legs or arms
• Cold in the limbs

Any of these symptoms may be a sign that you need to find a cardiologist for diagnose and treatment. A specialist will access your risk factors, such as age, general health, lifestyle and family history, as well as examine you to determine the health of your heart.

As with most chronic illnesses, the best treatment is prevention. Eating right and getting some exercise can go along way to keeping your heart healthy.

Prevention

• Quit smoking
• Manage chronic condition such as high blood pressure
• Exercise at least 30 minutes, six days a week
• Eat a diet high in fiber and low in saturated fat

Simple lifestyle changes will improve your overall fitness level and work towards returning your heart to a healthy state. Living a heart-healthy life should start when you are young and continue throughout the years. Changing your lifestyle at any age, however, is a step in the right direction to preventing heart problems.

Dr. Seldon, a Heart Doctor and Cardiologist in New York City, offers same day appointments and all testing is done on site. Call us at (212) 367-8000.