Cardiology
At Westchester Health, our Cardiology Department consists of board trained and certified physicians who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of the full spectrum of cardiovascular diseases. Our mission is to deliver comprehensive, state-of-the-art cardiac services that will enhance the quality of your life.
Our cardiologists all have extensive experience in their field, using the latest technology and techniques to diagnose, treat and provide preventative care for all types of heart conditions, including blood vessel diseases, coronary artery disease, heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias) and congenital heart defects, among others.
Prevention as well as treatment
At Westchester Health, our focus is not only on the evaluation and treatment of cardiovascular problems but also on preventative care. We are especially sensitive to the unique needs of women in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac disease.
In addition to providing the highest quality of cardiac care, our Cardiology group works closely with your primary care provider and other specialists to coordinate and implement a total treatment plan that is customized for your specific condition to achieve the best possible outcome. We also focus on educating you and your family about lifestyle changes you can make to control, improve or even eradicate your particular cardiovascular disorder.
What makes Westchester Health’s Cardiology Department different?
At Westchester Health, we firmly believe that good treatment starts with good listening. We also believe that the best patient is an informed patient, and that patient education is critical to your long-term health.
From the first time you arrive at our offices, we spend as much time with you and your family as is necessary to make sure you understand your condition, the diagnostic tests we are recommending and all of your treatment options. Throughout your journey with us, we will continue to explain our recommended course of treatment and answer any questions you may have so that you understand what to expect.
Whether you have been with Westchester Health for years or are new to our practice, you quickly recognize that our Cardiology group truly cares about each and every one of our patients. When you need us, we are here for you.
Always at the forefront of medicine
The world of medicine continues to change and evolve, especially regarding the treatment of cardiovascular disease. As part of Northwell Health, our cardiologists participate in its Department of Cardiology training programs, making sure they are continually up-to-date on the newest breakthrough treatments for our patients’ cardiac conditions. This emphasis on ongoing training also ensures that our cardiologists have ready access to the latest technological advances in cardiac care.
Cardiologists are experts at treating a variety of cardiac conditions, including:
Arrhythmia
Arrhythmia is an abnormal heart rhythm, causing your heart to beat too fast, too slow or irregularly. This means that your heart cannot pump blood effectively, which can damage your lungs, brain and other organs. The most common type of arrhythmia is atrial fibrillation (AFib) when your heart is beating irregularly and too fast. Many factors can affect your heart's rhythm, such as a heart attack, smoking, congenital heart defects, certain medicines and stress.
Coronary Artery Disease
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common type of heart disease and is the leading cause of death in the U.S. in both men and women. CAD occurs when the arteries that supply blood to the heart narrow and harden due to the buildup of cholesterol and other material (plaque) on their inner walls. As this plaque gets worse (atherosclerosis), less blood can flow through the arteries. As a result, the heart muscle does not get the blood or oxygen it needs, which can lead to a heart attack, heart failure and/or arrhythmias. Lifestyle changes, including diet, exercise and quitting smoking, can make a big difference.
Hypertension
High blood pressure (hypertension) is the most common cardiovascular disease, increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke and death. Blood pressure is the force exerted by the blood against the walls of the blood vessels. The more blood your heart pumps and the narrower your arteries, the higher your blood pressure. A reading of 140/90 or higher signals high blood pressure. You can have high blood pressure for years without any symptoms. You can control high blood pressure through healthy lifestyle habits such as exercise, a healthy diet, quitting smoking and taking medicines, if needed.
Cardiovascular Disease
Heart disease is the #1 killer in the U.S. today. It is also a major cause of disability. The most common cause of heart (or cardiovascular) disease is coronary artery disease, which results from the narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries, the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart. This can lead to a heart attack, chest pain (angina) or stroke. You can help reduce your risk of heart disease by controlling your blood pressure, lowering your cholesterol, quitting smoking and getting enough exercise.
Congestive Heart Failure
Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a chronic progressive heart condition that affects the pumping power of your heart muscles. Potentially life-threatening, CHF develops when the ventricles do not pump blood in sufficient volume to the body. It specifically refers to the stage in which fluid builds up around the heart and causes it to pump inefficiently. Eventually, blood and other fluids can back up inside your lungs, abdomen, liver and lower body. Symptoms include sweating; a rapid, strong, or irregular heartbeat; and shortness of breath.
Lipid and Cholesterol Disorders
If you have a lipid disorder, that means that you have high blood levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, triglycerides or both. High levels of any of these signal that you're at increased risk for developing heart disease. Foods high in certain types of fats, certain medical conditions, and other factors can cause high blood cholesterol and high triglycerides.
Valvular and Structural Heart Disease
Without today’s latest advances, we are now able to assess the severity of a heart valve problem and appropriately repair or replace it, either through a non-surgical procedure or traditional open heart surgery. Advanced imaging techniques enable us to diagnose structural heart problems more clearly and give us the ability to repair them either noninvasively or with surgery. In addition, we have access to cardiac assist devices to aid the heart when surgery is not an option.
We offer the following treatment and services for cardiovascular diseases:
Cardiac Prevention Care
You can avoid many heart problems in the future by adopting a heart-healthy lifestyle today. Heart disease prevention guidelines include: stopping (or not starting) smoking, exercising regularly, eating a heart-healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight, getting enough sleep, managing stress and getting regular health screenings.
Cardiac Catheterization
Cardiac catheterization is a way to examine how well your heart is working and to diagnose and treat cardiovascular conditions. During the procedure, a long thin tube called a catheter is inserted in an artery or vein in your groin, neck or arm and threaded through your blood vessels to your heart. As well as measuring the pressure and blood flow in your heart, this procedure can identify if you have disease of the heart muscle, valves or coronary (heart) arteries.
Defibrillator Monitoring
A defibrillator delivers an electric shock to the heart which causes depolarization of the heart muscles and re-establishes normal conduction of the heart’s electrical impulse (defibrillation). This therapeutic shock is used to treat life-threatening conditions that affect the heart’s rhythm, such as cardiac arrhythmia and ventricular fibrillation. Defibrillator monitors provide critical information regarding blood circulation, CPR feedback, ventilation and fluid resuscitation.
Echocardiogram
An echocardiogram is a diagnostic test that uses sound waves to create pictures of your heart. Also called diagnostic cardiac ultrasound, this test gives your doctors information about the size and shape of your heart and how well its chambers and valves are working. It also reveals if blood is leaking backwards through the heart valves (regurgitation), if there are problems with the outer lining of your heart, and if there are blood clots or holes in the chambers of your heart.
Electrocardiogram
An electrocardiogram (EKG) is a diagnostic test that measures the electrical activity of the heart in order to detect signs of heart disease. An ECG shows how fast the heart is beating, the rhythm of the heart beats (steady or irregular), and the strength and timing of the electrical impulses as they move through the different parts of the heart. For this procedure, electrodes (small, plastic patches that stick to the skin) are placed on the chest, arms and legs, and are connected to an ECG machine.
Stress Echocardiogram
A stress echocardiography is a diagnostic test that measures how well your heart and blood vessels are working. During this procedure, you are asked to exercise on a treadmill or stationary bike while a doctor closely monitors your blood pressure and heart activity. You might have this test if you are experiencing chest pain resulting from coronary artery disease or a heart attack. It is also used to determine how much exercise you can safely tolerate if you’re in cardiac rehabilitation.
Holter Monitoring
A Holter monitor is a battery-operated portable device that measures and records heart activity (ECG) continuously for several days. This type of monitor allows a doctor to observe how a person’s heart is functioning over an extended period of time in order to diagnose conditions related to irregular cardiac rhythms or a suspected stroke.
Pacemaker Monitoring
Cardiologists monitor patients’ pacemakers to make sure they are working correctly, to get information about a patient’s heart rate and heart rhythm, and to determine if the device’s battery needs to be replaced. This helps doctors evaluate how a patient’s heart is doing and if any changes need to be made to their treatment. Monitoring can be done in several ways, including in-person office visits or remotely by telephone or the internet.
Wired/Wireless Event Monitoring
An event monitor, also called an ambulatory electrocardiographic monitor, is a battery powered, portable medical device that monitors cardiovascular activity over a period of a few weeks. The main purpose of this monitor is to determine the cause of a cardiac event by recording a patient’s heart rate and rhythm during an extended period of time. Event monitors now consist of wired and wireless sensors that record symptoms of a cardiac irregularity.
Nuclear Cardiac Testing
A nuclear cardiac stress test uses radioactive tracers (radiopharmaceuticals) and an imaging machine to measure blood flow to your heart, both while you are at rest and while exerting yourself. The purpose of this test is to determine your risk of a heart attack or other cardiac event by revealing areas of the heart that have poor blood flow or damage.