Heart health is a key aspect of overall wellness, yet many people aren’t sure when to seek specialized care from a cardiologist. Knowing the signs that would prompt a visit to a cardiologist can help you take proactive steps toward maintaining a healthy heart.
First, it is important to know your risk factors for heart disease. Risk factors are certain living habits, attitudes, or body traits that increase the risk of developing heart disease. These include:
- Family history – Heart attack, coronary intervention, or sudden death before 55 years of age in father or 65 years of age in mother.
- Age – Risk increases past age 45 for men and past age 55 for women or postmenopause.
- Sex – Generally, men aged 35-55 run a higher risk of heart disease than women of the same age. However, after age 55, the risk for heart disease is equal for men and women.
- Smoking
- High levels of blood fats
- Lack of exercise
- High stress
- High blood pressure
- Excess weight
- Diabetes
Although there are no guarantees, taking steps to change behaviors to modify risk factors, such as smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, high stress, sedentary lifestyle, high cholesterol, and obesity, can reduce your risk of heart disease.
Aside from knowing your risk factors, you should consider seeing a cardiologist if you experience:
- Palpitations – racing, fluttering, or pounding heart
- Chest pain or discomfort
- Shortness of breath
- Dizziness or fainting
- High blood pressure
- Chronic fatigue
- A family history of heart disease
If you are experiencing symptoms or simply want to take charge of your heart health, Valley Health System’s cardiology team is here to help. Our cardiology team provides comprehensive care across eight locations, including:
- VMG – Cardiology, Clifton – 1030 Clifton Avenue, Clifton
- VMG – Cardiology, Montvale – 135 N. Kinderkamack Road, Montvale
- VMG – Cardiology, Paramus – 95 Route 17 South, Paramus
- VMG – Cardiology, Ridgewood – 1200 East Ridgewood Avenue, East Wing, Suite 304, Ridgewood
- VMG – Cardiology, Ridgewood – 1200 East Ridgewood Avenue, West Wing, Suite 307, Ridgewood
- VMG – Cardiology, Wayne Medical – 1578 Route 23 North, Suite 103, Wayne
- VMG – Cardiology, Westwood – 333 Old Hook Road, Suite 200, Westwood
- VMG – Electrophysiology and Cardiology, New York – 200 West 57th Street, Suite 610, New York
If you require more complex investigation or treatment, your cardiologist may partner with our heart subspecialists specializing in atrial fibrillation, heart failure, heart surgery, structural heart disease, and interventional cardiology. Together, they’ll create a treatment plan customized to meet your needs.
Schedule an appointment online today with a Valley cardiologist by visiting ValleyHealth.com/FindACardiologist or schedule over the phone by calling 1-800-VALLEY 1 (1-800-825-5391) to take a step toward a stronger, healthier heart.
