Latest news with #DariusFarzad
Daily Record
03-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
'I'm a cardiologist and everyone needs to be aware of this one symptom'
Dr Darius Farzad, a cardiologist at Jefferson Health, said chest pain was the most common complaint seen in the hospital, and warned people should always get it checked Heart and circulatory diseases affect millions of people in the UK, with the British Heart Foundation estimating that more than half of us will develop one of these conditions in our lifetime. Therefore, monitoring our heart health and being aware of potential symptoms is essential. According to Dr Darius Farzad, a cardiologist at Jefferson Health, chest pain is the most common complaint seen in hospitals. If you are experiencing chest pain, even if it seems minor, you should inform a healthcare provider, as he advised on the Living Well podcast. Many people who are later diagnosed with heart problems often try to "ride out" chest pain for several days, attributing it to heartburn. However, Dr Farzad cautioned against self-diagnosing symptoms using online information, as it is not always reliable. Instead, if you experience new symptoms, you should consult a doctor. Dr Farzad emphasized that some forms of heart disease can manifest in various ways and affect multiple organ systems, making it crucial to seek medical attention if you suspect any symptoms, reports Surrey Live. "The thing about some forms of heart disease is that they can manifest in a lot of different ways," Dr Farzad said. "And I think the other important thing about heart disease is that it's something that can be sort of systemic, meaning a lot of different organ systems can be implicated, and tied to what's sort of more centrally a cardiac diagnosis." The British Heart Foundation (BHF) has reported that over 7.6 million people in the UK are living with heart and circulatory diseases, a figure that's roughly double the number of those affected by cancer and Alzheimer's disease combined. Regrettably, these figures are expected to climb, with the charity predicting an increase of one million individuals with heart and circulatory diseases by 2030, and two million more by 2040. Approximately 80% of sufferers also contend with at least one additional health condition. Dr Farzad advises that anyone with a history of cardiac issues such as heart disease, heart attack, congestive heart failure, or arrhythmia should consult a cardiologist. This is also recommended for those with standard risk factors like high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, or a smoking history. If you're experiencing any symptoms that could be heart-related, it's crucial to see a doctor. To improve heart health and diminish the risk of heart disease, Dr Farzad emphasises the importance of regular exercise and giving up smoking. Indeed, quitting smoking is possibly the "most important, biggest thing" one can do for their health. Cardiologists advise adopting a Mediterranean-style diet, focusing on consuming an abundance of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and lean meats while minimising fried foods, sweets, and processed foods. However, Dr. Farzad caveats this advice by saying: "We have to be really realistic about these things when we talk to patients and find a balance that's going to work for them and be practical."
Irish Daily Mirror
03-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Daily Mirror
Cardiologist shares symptom no one should never ignore with heart health
Millions of people are living with heart and circulatory diseases, and more than half of us will get one of these conditions in our lifetime, the British Heart Foundation estimates. This means that keeping an eye on our heart health and paying attention to possible symptoms of disease is vital. Dr Darius Farzad, a cardiologist at Jefferson Health, stated that chest pain is the most common complaint seen in the hospital. He advised that if you are experiencing chest pain, even if it seems unconvincing, you should let a healthcare provider know about it. He added that many people later diagnosed with heart problems will try to "ride out" chest pain for several days while chalking it up to heartburn. Dr Farzad warned against Googling symptoms and using online information as a health guide because "it's not always reliable". If you experience new symptoms, you should be talking to a doctor, he said. "The thing about some forms of heart disease is that they can manifest in a lot of different ways," Dr Farzad said. "And I think the other important thing about heart disease is that it's something that can be sort of systemic, meaning a lot of different organ systems can be implicated, and tied to what's sort of more centrally a cardiac diagnosis.", reports Surrey Live. More than 7.6 million people across the UK are battling with heart and circulatory diseases, the British Heart Foundation (BHF) reveals. These numbers soar above those dealing with cancer and Alzheimer's combined. Alarmingly, this figure is set to swell even further, with predictions showing an additional million individuals could be affected by 2030, rising to two million more by 2040. A whopping 80% of sufferers also grapple with another health ailment. If you've had any kind of heart trouble in the past, like heart attacks, congestive heart failure or arrhythmia, then a trip to the cardiologist is a must – especially if you're clocking high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, or have been puffing away on cigarettes. If your heart's setting off alarm bells with worrisome symptoms, Dr Farzad advises promptly getting checked out by a doc. But what can you do to sidestep heart disease and become heart-healthy? According to Dr Farzad, it's all about the right exercise and kissing smoking goodbye. Ditching the fags could, quite frankly, be the "most important, biggest thing" for your wellbeing. A heart expert has highlighted the importance of diet in maintaining cardiac health, giving a nod to the Mediterranean lifestyle that shuns fried items, sugary treats, processed nibbles, and hollow carbs, while favouring fruit, vegetables, nuts, and lean meat. Yet, Dr Farzad cautioned: "We have to be really realistic about these things when we talk to patients and find a balance that's going to work for them and be practical."
Irish Daily Mirror
30-04-2025
- Health
- Irish Daily Mirror
Cardiologist reveals five foods to avoid for a healthy heart
Millions of people are currently living with a heart or circulatory disease, and there are roughly 100,000 hospital admissions each year due to heart attacks. Heart health is a significant concern, but thankfully, simple lifestyle changes can help reduce your risk of disease. Dr Darius Farzad, a cardiologist at Jefferson Health, highlighted diet as a "huge piece of the puzzle" in terms of cardiovascular health. He said: "From a dietary perspective we've adopted talking to patients about the Mediterranean lifestyle. So really avoiding things like fried foods, a lot of sweets, soda, processed foods, a ton of empty carbohydrates, things like pasta, rice. He suggested incorporating more foods like fruits and vegetables, nuts, olive oil and lean meats into your diet, and using less butter and red meat. Dr Farzad added that exercise is also a key component of a heart-healthy lifestyle. He recommended adding more fruits and vegetables, nuts, olive oil and lean meats to your diet, and reducing butter and red meat consumption. Dr Farzad also emphasised that exercise is a crucial part of a heart-healthy lifestyle, advising: "I tell people to get at least five days a week where you're getting 30 to 60 minutes of exercise where you're getting your heart rate up." Tracy Parker, senior dietitian at the British Heart Foundation, remarked: "Whether you are at risk or not, a healthy lifestyle which includes a balanced diet like the Mediterranean-style diet can help you to lower your risk of developing heart and circulatory diseases." She pointed out that adopting a Mediterranean diet also helps reduce risk factors for cardiovascular disease such as type 2 diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol, reports Surrey Live. Parker continued: "It's easy to do – make sure you are eating plenty of fruit and vegetables, beans, lentils, wholegrains, fish, nuts and seeds, along with some low-fat dairy and fat from unsaturated sources like olive oil. It's also important to eat less processed meat, salt and sweet treats." Heart UK, the cholesterol charity, noted that although the Mediterranean diet isn't low in fat, it contains less saturated fat. The diet is praised for being a good source of omega-3 fatty acids and rich in potassium, fibre, and antioxidants. The charity recommends cutting down on foods such as lard, white bread, cornflakes, sweet biscuits and cakes, chocolate, crisps, pastry, sausages, high-fat cheese and milk, and takeaways. Instead, they suggest increasing intake of wholegrains, olive oil, porridge, unsalted nuts, lentils and beans, lean meat, and reduced-fat dairy. Dr Farzad also emphasised the detrimental effects of smoking on heart health, stating that quitting smoking is the "most important, biggest thing" a person can do for their health. The British Heart Foundation (BHF) has explained that the chemicals in cigarettes cause the walls of your arteries to become sticky. This results in fatty material adhering to the walls and blocking your arteries, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke. Additionally, smoking can heighten your risk of blood clots, trigger an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, and diminish the amount of oxygen delivered to the rest of your body.
Irish Daily Mirror
29-04-2025
- Health
- Irish Daily Mirror
Cardiologist explains change to improve your heart health
Coronary heart disease, also known as coronary artery disease, is a severe health issue that arises when the blood supply to the heart is obstructed. This happens when fatty substances accumulate in the coronary arteries, preventing blood from reaching the heart, which can have deadly outcomes. Fortunately, there are several measures you can take to lower your risk of heart disease and enhance your heart health. These include altering your diet, exercise regimen, and quitting harmful habits. Dr Darius Farzad, a cardiologist at Jefferson Health, said diet is "a huge piece of the puzzle" for maintaining a healthy heart. Speaking on the Living Well podcast, he revealed that many doctors are now recommending a Mediterranean-style lifestyle. "So really avoiding things like fried foods, a lot of sweets, soda, processed foods, a ton of empty carbohydrates, things like pasta, rice, and really incorporating more things like fruits and vegetables and nuts and cooking with olive oil instead of butter," he advised. Dr Farzad also suggested consuming more lean meats such as fish, chicken, and turkey instead of red meat. Exercise is another crucial factor in heart health, according to Dr Farzad. "I tell people to get at least five days a week where you're getting 30 to 60 minutes of exercise where you're getting your heart rate up," he said, reports Surrey Live. He cautioned that you've got to consider your own "limitations and circumstances", since not every tip will suit everyone. "We have to be really realistic about these things when we talk to patients and find a balance that's going to work for them and be practical," he said. There are certain lifestyle tweaks recommended, but there are also nasty habits to kick - one of the worst being smoking. Quitting cigarettes is probably the "most important, biggest thing" you can do health-wise, Dr Farzad said. Stress emerges as another heavy hitter when it comes to wellbeing. "I think there are pretty clear physical correlations with how stress can impact your hormone levels, how that interplay can definitely have implications for things like cardiovascular disease," Dr Farzad explained. "I think it absolutely plays into someone's physical health, cardiovascular health and so I think it's a big part of what we have to address with our patients as well." If you're wondering whether it's time to consult a heart specialist, Dr Farzad says anyone with a history of cardiac disease should go for routine check-ups. People dealing with high blood pressure, raised cholesterol, diabetes, or a smoking past — all red flags for heart problems — should also ensure a cardiologist appointment is on their calendar. If you're worried about your heart health or experiencing symptoms that could be related to heart issues, it might be beneficial to consult a cardiologist.
