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Preventive Services & Counseling

Preventative Heart Care in Patchogue, New Hyde Park & Hicksville

Our preventive services are offered to patients at risk of having heart or vascular disease and to educate ones already affected.

High Blood Pressure

Preventative Heart CareIf you do not carry a diagnosis of hypertension, your blood pressure needs to be checked every two years. A high BP is 130/90 or higher. It can lead to strokes, heart attacks, heart failure, and kidney and eye problems.

High Cholesterol

High cholesterol increases your risk of heart disease, stroke, and poor circulation. Have your cholesterol checked regularly.

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

If you are a male between the ages of 65 and 75 and have ever been a smoker, you have to be screened for abdominal aortic aneurysm. This is a bulging in your abdominal aorta, the largest artery in your body, which may burst if large enough and may lead to death. An ultrasound, a safe, painless test, can be done to identify an aneurysm if present.

Aspirin Use

Recommendations for aspirin use for prevention of heart attack or stroke in people who have never been affected by it varies.

  • Women who are 55 to 79 years old can consider taking aspirin to prevent a stroke
  • Men who are 45 to 79 years old can consider taking aspirin to prevent a heart attack

Talk to your cardiologist who will assess the risk and benefit and make a recommendation.

Natural Ways to Prevent Heart Disease

Heart disease is one of several cardiovascular diseases that affect the overall function of the heart. The main types of heart disease include coronary artery heart disease (the most common), cardiomyopathy, heart rhythm disturbances, valvular heart disease (affects the function of the valves), and infections that develop before birth causing structural problems.

Living a healthy lifestyle can help you to prevent heart disease. High blood pressure and high cholesterol increase your risk, therefore keeping an eye on these things before there’s a problem is a good idea. There are numerous things you can do in your everyday life to help prevent heart disease, from exercise to diet and more.

Your everyday diet plays a huge role in your health, and there are plenty of foods that can help prevent heart disease, as well as foods you should avoid. The following methods of eating have been found to greatly help in preventing heart disease:

  • Do eat saturated fats. 5% to 6% of calories should come from saturated fat. Once thought to be something one should avoid in order to prevent heart disease, saturated fats actually protect against oxidative damage – one of the primary causes of heart disease. Foods that contain saturated fats include pork, lamb, poultry (with skin), butter, cheese, and fatty beef.
  • Eat fermented foods, like yogurt or kombucha.
  • Eat nutrient dense foods, including eggs (with the yolks), salmon, kale, and liver.
  • Avoid too much sugar or simple carbohydrates such as potatoes, pasta, rice and bread.
  • Avoid industrial vegetable oils, found in processed/packaged foods.

In addition to getting your heart pumping, exercise helps you avoid heart disease through helping you maintain your weight, and keeping both your cholesterol and stress levels low… all things that contribute to optimal heart health.

In addition to diet and exercise, there are some other things one should keep in mind to maintain heart health.

  • Receive regular dental cleanings. Although it is still being researched as to particularly why, periodontal disease has been linked with heart disease and stroke. Those with healthier mouths have been found to have a lower risk of heart disease.
  • Avoid toxins and cigarette smoke.
  • Maintain stress by enjoying life. Now that sounds like a win – win! Exercising, staying positive, and enjoying hobbies have helped people to keep their stress level low.

Be sure to talk to your doctor about screenings, tests, and how to incorporate the above lifestyle changes into your daily routine, especially if you have a history heart problems, are over the age of 55, and/or have had problems incorporating heart healthy habits like those mentioned into your routine. It’s never too early or too late to start living a healthy life, and there’s no time like the present to start!

Welcome to Brookhaven Heart

  • ➤ Use online appointment booking for non-emergent medical conditions only. 
  • ➤ If your insurance requires a referral to see a specialist, you should obtain it from your PCP prior to your visit, failing which you shall be responsible for full payment for the visit.
  • ➤ Please bring your medications, results of recent labs, and tests if any on the day of your visit 
  • ➤ Please bring your updated insurance card and a valid form of ID such as a driver’s license.
  • ➤ Co-payments are due on the day of the visit. We accept credit cards, cash, or check.
  • ➤ When you arrive at our facility, please ask our staff to register you for the patient portal, which enables you to access your medical record, view lab results, request refills, and send e-messages to our office. 

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