4 Important Reasons to See a Cardiologist

Cardiovascular disease isn’t just the leading cause of death in the United States; it’s the leading cause of death worldwide. Every year around the world, about 17.9 million people die from cardiovascular disease-related incidents, including heart attack and stroke.

If you want to keep your heart healthy and beat those statistics, it helps to take preventive steps. If you suspect that you have a health problem that could be related to cardiovascular disease, it’s important to see a cardiologist right away.

If you take a wait-and-see approach and only contact a cardiologist if you have chest pain, that’s not covering your bases. Your heart’s health affects the health of every other organ and system in your body. Many symptoms that you don’t even associate with your heart could be caused by anomalies or dysfunctions in the hardest working muscle in your body.

At Advanced Medical Care, our expert cardiologist, Mikhail Kapchits, MD, treats cardiovascular symptoms and can also design a heart-healthy prevention plan to keep your ticker ticking. Our team performs tests and evaluations in the comfort of our offices in Queens and Brooklyn, New York.

Why should you see a cardiologist? Following are four of the most important reasons why you should work with a cardiology specialist for your heart health.

1. You have chest pain or irregular heartbeats

Chest pain (angina) is the most obvious reason for seeking a cardiologist’s help and insights. Nevertheless, many people make the mistake of ignoring this important warning sign.

You may not experience stabbing pains in your chest or in your left arm, particularly if you’re a woman. Instead, your angina may take the form of a squeezing sensation in your chest, or a feeling of heaviness.

The pain may also radiate to other areas, such as your jaw. Chest pain and pain in your chest followed by other types of pain may indicate a heart attack. Call 911 if you suspect that you’re having a heart attack.

Just as it doesn’t pay to ignore chest pain, you shouldn’t ignore other cardiac issues, either, even if they seem minor. If your heart skips beats, experiences palpitations (flutters), or beats at an uneven pace, it’s time to see a cardiologist to check for cardiac arrhythmia.

2. You have other symptoms 

When you feel lightheaded or dizzy, your first thought may be to consult a neurologist, not a cardiologist. But problems in your heart can lead to problems in your brain.

When your brain doesn’t receive enough oxygen and nutrients due to inadequate blood circulation, you may feel dizzy or foggy or even faint. Symptoms that you may not associate with your heart, but could be related to cardiac issues, include:

• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness
• Fainting
• Fatigue
• Unexplained aches and pains
• Stomach pain
• Neck or jaw pain
• Swollen feet or ankles
• Leg pain
• Leg ulcers

It’s especially important to pay attention to symptoms that arise when you’re in the middle of an activity. If the symptoms subside when you’re at rest, they could be related to a compromised heart.

3. You have other health conditions, diseases, or risk factors

Other health conditions and issues can put a strain on your heart, increasing your risk for complications from cardiovascular disease. Be sure to consult a cardiologist if you’ve been diagnosed with or have:

• Peripheral artery disease (PAD)
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Diabetes
• High cholesterol
• Chronic kidney disease
• History of cardiovascular issues or disease
• Sedentary lifestyle

Also, be sure to see a cardiologist if you have a history of smoking. Smoking raises your risk for heart disease as well as for certain types of cancer.

4. You have a family history of heart disease

If someone in your immediate family developed cardiovascular disease at a young age or died of a heart attack or stroke, you may benefit from seeing a cardiologist before your own symptoms occur. Different forms of cardiovascular disease are genetic; your family’s history may put you at risk.

Dr. Kapchits can determine how your familial risk influences your own personal risk profile. Our team can conduct a complete evaluation to establish your current level of cardiovascular health. We then help you make any lifestyle changes necessary to keep your heart in the best shape possible.

To ensure that your heart stays healthy, consult the cardiology team at Advanced Medical Care. Call the office convenient to you or schedule an appointment online today.