Have A Heart!

Two Monmouth-based cardiologists offer tips for your ticker.

Are you doing all you can to protect your cardiovascular health? For American Heart Month in February, the American Heart Association urges everyone to be proactive in preventing heart disease, the leading cause of death in the U.S. Knowing if you’re at risk is the first step in the right direction. “Whenever a new patient comes in, I say that,” says Scott Eisenberg, DO, of RWJBarnabas Health in Eatontown, a cardiologist and a lipidologist who focuses on comprehensive wellness and disease prevention. “Ask, ‘Am I at risk? And what can I do about that?’ You ask the right questions, you get the right answers, and, with the help of the right doctor, you do something about it.”

Jatinchandra Patel, DO, an interventional cardiologist at CentraState Medical Center in Freehold, echoes this point.“At the age of 20, patients should have a lipid check and some basic bloodwork to check on cholesterol profiles, in addition to a blood pressure check,” Dr. Patel says.

The risk factors for heart disease include high blood pressure, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, obesity and tobacco use, as well as a family history of the disease. The first steps to preventing it include maintaining a healthful weight and diet. Our doctors offer a few other suggestions:

• Start early. Your journey toward life-long heart health shouldn’t begin when you turn 40, or even when you turn 20. Dr. Patel stresses that the prevention of cardiovascular disease should begin the day you are born, and that keeping your kids educated about it can help keep you on track too. “Children need to be given nutritious food and good habits,” he says. “Keep your children active, avoid childhood obesity and give your children food habits that will carry them to a healthy adulthood.”
• Treat yourself as an individual. There is no such thing as a one-size-fits all approach to your health, says Dr. Eisenberg. He recommends extensive bloodwork and working closely with your doctor to make sure the care you’re receiving lines up with your needs. “Not everyone needs the same cholesterol pill or aspirin,” he continues. “Sometimes a patient can work with a nutritionist, really dedicate themselves to better habits and they come back in four months with improvement. People can’t be looped into textbook categories. Work with your doctor to find out what works best for you.”
• Get moving. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends adults get 150 minutes of moderate-to-intense physical activity a week. Fitting in a workout around office jobs and family obligations, however, isn’t always easy. In those situations, creating a new routine might work. Dr. Patel speaks on the power of the lunchbreak. “In my office, it started a trend,” he says. “Once one person started doing it, other people were joining them. Once you start walking, a lot of times that will lead to other activities as the walking gets easier. Take advantage of the times in your life when you’re waiting. If your child is at a sports game, take a walk around the track.”
• Slow down. It’s easy to know that stress has an impact on your health, but it’s another thing to do something about it. “Everyone knows, in the back of their mind, that stress can increase cardiovascular events,” Dr. Patel says. “A lot of events I see are related to major stressors.” He says that slowing down and taking time to fully relax, spending time with your family and pursing leisure activities can have a massive impact on your health.
• Protect your smile. People who are diligent about dental hygiene are more likely to care for overall health. But the correlation between oral and heart health goes beyond attitude. According to the Mayo Clinic, poor dental health increases the risk of inflammation and bacterial infection in the circulatory system, which can have an adverse effect on heart valves. Gum disease also increases the risk of developing heart disease.
• Ask before using aspirin. A once-a-day aspirin can lower risk of heart attack or stroke, but talk to your primary care physician before you start. The concept of a baby aspirin being something to automatically add to a routine as soon as you turn 40 is a thing of the past. “This is very individualized, but in general we don’t recommend patients who have never had a stroke or a heart attack to be on a preventative aspirin,” Dr. Patel says. Dr. Eisenberg adds: “Nobody gets aspirin ‘just because’ anymore. It’s always better to talk to your doctor before making that kind of decision.”