Heart Valves Doctor 11215
People with heart valve problems often do not know it. In other people, the symptoms can be rather severe, making them unable to carry on their regular work or daily activities. When symptoms indicate that you may have heart valve problems, you need to see a heart valves doctor 11215 soon.
Heart Disease Progress
Although heart disease may start slowly, it does not mean that the progress of the disease has stopped. Instead, it progresses at a slow pace, which means it will continually get worse unless treated.
Symptoms of Heart Valve Problems
When you have a heart valve that is not working correctly, it is often called a leaky heart valve or regurgitation. This is because it is no longer able to restrict blood flow to only one direction, allowing it to flow in two directions. This will cause you to experience several symptoms, which may include:
- Chest pain
- Heart palpitations
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Shortness of breath
- Lightheadedness
- Loss of consciousness
- Swelling in your ankles, feet, or abdomen.
Diagnosis
Proper treatment requires that you get an accurate diagnosis. This may require diagnostic tests that may include:
- A chest x-ray
- Echocardiography
- Electrocardiogram (EKG)
- Cardiac MRI
- Stress tests
- Cardiac catheterization.
Repairing Better Than Replacing
As the heart valve disease worsens, the heart valves doctor 11215 may decide it is time to have a surgical intervention. This option may also be used even if the symptoms are not very severe to prevent other complications. Doctors have found that it is easier on the heart to repair a valve when possible, but sometimes it is still necessary to replace it. If a heart valve is replaced, it becomes necessary for you to take blood-thinners the rest of your life.
Treatment
When the damage to your heart valve demands that it be replaced, there are a couple of ways it can happen. You may get a heart valve from a pig, a cow, or from a human donor. This type of heart valve can be expected to last from 10 to 15 years. Another option is to get a mechanical heart valve. These can be expected to last longer than the other type, but it will be necessary to take medications with it to prevent blood clots from forming. This type of surgery may be done using the open-heart method or through a transcatheter.
Prevention
Steps may be taken to prevent heart disease. In order to help retain a healthy heart for as long as possible, you can add the following lifestyle changes:
- Eating heart-healthy foods
- Remaining physically active
- Stop smoking
- Keep blood pressure under control
- Reduce or stop heavy alcohol intake
- If prescribed medications, take them as directed.
Getting the right kind of diagnosis and treatment is very important for your health when you have heart problems. Dr. Abdul Malik, MD is a Cardiologist and a heart valves doctor 11215. He has been practicing for over 24 years and has trained many young doctors in Cardiology and Internal Medicine. He is known as being a patient and friendly doctor who takes time to answer questions from his patients.
Heart Valves Doctor 11215
446 McDonald Ave,
Brooklyn, NY 11218
Kensington: 718.972-4200