What Does My Heart Rate Say About My Health?

Updated on Feb 21, 2025 | Cardiology, Your Health

Mary Ann McLaughlin, MD

Your heart rate is the number of times your heart beats per minute. You may pay little to no attention to your heart rate, but it can give you vital insight into your health—and may even save your life.

In this Q&A, Mary Ann McLaughlin, MD, MPH, FACC, Medical Director of Cardiovascular Health and Wellness, Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital, and Associate Professor of Medicine, Population Health Science and Policy at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, discusses the importance of heart rate, as well as how to monitor it.

What is a normal heart rate range?
The normal heart rate for an adult is between 60 and 100 beats per minute. The average is 72 beats per minute.

How can I measure my heart rate?
The easiest way to detect your heart rate (without a device) is to feel your pulse in your wrist or neck for 60 seconds. For a more accurate heart rate, you can purchase a device, such as a wearable fitness tracker (e.g., smart watch), which can monitor your heart rate during sleep (resting heart rate) and exercise.

What affects my heart rate?
Heart rate increases to deliver more oxygen to your muscles. With any physical activity, your heart rate will go up. In addition, anxiety or emotional stress can cause an increase in adrenaline leading to high heart rates, often called the “fight or flight” response.

Can I improve my heart rate, and how?
You can improve your resting heart rate with regular exercise, adequate sleep, a healthy diet, and avoiding too much caffeine.

When is it time to see a doctor?
If you notice a very strong thumping sensation in your chest, feel dizzy or light-headed or faint, you need to talk to a doctor. If you are sitting or relaxing, and your heart rate is more than 100 beats per minute, you should talk to your doctor. If you have a family member who is diagnosed with an arrhythmia or irregular heart rate, you should notify your doctor. One particular arrhythmia, which can run in families, is called atrial fibrillation, and it can lead to stroke.

What is atrial fibrillation, and how is it related to heart rate?
Atrial fibrillation is an irregular heart rhythm. Symptoms are palpitations or thumping in the chest. If a family member has a history of atrial fibrillation, your risk for it is higher, which is why you should speak to a doctor.

My heart rate is below 60 beats per minute. Is that bad?
Having a low heart rate is generally a good thing, and is common among athletes. In most cases, it means the heart and cardiovascular system are working efficiently. However, in rare cases, a low resting heart rate can be a sign that something is wrong, especially if it is unusual for you. If you feel dizzy, fatigued, out of breath, or feel pain in your chest, you should see a doctor.

Schedule an appointment with a primary care doctor.

When Should Adolescent Congenital Heart Patients Transition to Adult Care?

Updated on Feb 28, 2025 | Adolescent Health, Heart Health, Your Health

Decades of advances in pediatric cardiology has allowed for children with congenital heart conditions to thrive, growing into adolescents and then adults capable of starting families of their own. Adult congenital heart disease patients should seek specialized care throughout their lifetime.

In this Q&A, Kali Hopkins, MD, Director for the Adult Congenital Heart Disease Transition Program at Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital and Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, discusses the importance of transitioning to an adult congenital cardiologist and continuing care to ensure that patients can lead long, healthy lives.

Kali Hopkins, MD

What are the different types of congenital heart disease?

Congenital heart disease is a condition that children are born with and can range from the very simple to very complex. Sometimes children need interventions or operations shortly after birth, and for others, we may simply monitor their condition.

On the simple side, there are atrial or ventricular septal defects, often termed “a hole in the heart,” which is a defect in the wall between the right and left chambers of the heart. These are very common defects and may or may not warrant treatment. More complex congenital heart conditions, include diagnoses like tetralogy of Fallot or transposition of the great arteries, which usually do require that the infant or child undergo surgery. Other more complex conditions include single ventricle heart disease, a condition that requires a series of operations to reroute the child’s bloodflow.

What treatments are available?

Sometimes infants or children born with congenital heart disease need interventions that are minimally invasive. An example would be a catheterization in which a tube is guided into the heart through the blood vessels for diagnosis or treatment. If there is a major problem, a child may need open-heart surgery.

Most patients with congenital heart disease will need to receive lifelong evaluation and treatment. More than 90 percent of children who are born with congenital heart disease survive into adulthood. It’s very important to understand that the treatments we now have are tremendously successful—and these children can grow up and lead typical adult lives. It is estimated that there are more adults with congenital heart disease than children living with the condition in the United States.

When should an adolescent with a congenital heart condition transition from their pediatric cardiologist to an adult congenital cardiologist?

It is very important that children and adolescents who are born with congenital heart disease continue to seek appropriate specialized care. Transition of care is an educational process which often should begin in the teenage years with the goal of the patient gradually taking over the responsibility of their care rather with the support of their caregiver. Sometimes, it takes multiple visits to have an adolescent patient appropriately prepared to transition to adult-based health care. Transfer of care, however, is the event of changing providers from a patient’s pediatric cardiologist to an adult congenital heart specialist. This should happen when they are older. There is no hard and fast rule, but by the time a patient is about 21 years old, they should be receiving care from an adult congenital cardiologist.

What kind of care should an adult congenital heart patient expect?

Often, patients go for many years without the need for any intervention. But adult congenital heart disease patients often require interdisciplinary care. There may be kidney, liver, or lung issues that come up as a result of the patient’s underlying condition or as they get older, patients tend to acquire adult-based health conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, or coronary artery disease. It is also possible that there may never be a problem, but it is best to follow patients with congenital heart disease on a regular basis so that issues can be identified early.

We also have to think about the social fabric of their lives. Patients grow up and get jobs. They often move to another city or country; they get married and often want to have kids of their own. In doing so, they may pass the condition down to their own children. Young women with congenital heart disease may need to consult with a maternal fetal medicine specialist since some of these patients are considered higher-risk pregnancies. At the Mount Sinai Adult Congenital Heart Disease Center, we bring in a multi-disciplinary approach to meet the ongoing needs of patients as their lives change, including women with congenital heart disease who are pregnant or are considering pregnancy.

Are there lifestyle considerations that these patients should be aware of?

We always encourage our patients with congenital heart disease to try to have as normal a life as they can. When I see patients who are in their 20s and 30s, and they are doing well, I encourage them to enjoy life and have fun—within measure and with regular follow-ups. Exercise is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle, and we review any precautions that these patients should take. We want these young patients to go out there and live full lives, have careers and, when desired, their own families. We will be there throughout their journey.

What services does Mount Sinai provide for adult congenital heart patients?

Our adult congenital heart disease program at Mount Sinai is one of the few programs in New York that has been accredited through the Adult Congenital Heart Association. This accreditation confirms that we are providing comprehensive, multidisciplinary care to adolescent and adult patients with all forms of the condition.

What does accreditation mean?

It means that we offer all facets of care when it comes to adult congenital heart disease. At Mount Sinai Heart, we provide state-of-the-art care for all forms of congenial heart disease from adolescents to older adults. We can enlist the Mount Sinai Health System’s world-class physicians to provide multi-disciplinary care be it for pregnant women with the condition, evaluations for transplantation, or cardiac interventions in the catheterization lab or operating room. We also provide pulmonary hypertension evaluation and treatment, which is an important part of adult congenital heart disease care. We have a specialized cardiac imaging team here at Mount Sinai exclusively for congenital heart disease providing exceptional multi-modality imaging for our patients. We provide 360-degree care—complete and comprehensive with excellent outcomes.

Is there anything else that patients should know?

I urge adult congenital heart patients to find the right provider and stay in care—that is very important. We see many patients in their 20s and 30s and often they feel fine. At that stage, it is easy to fall out of care and not seek appropriate long-term care with an adult congenital cardiologist. But congenital heart disease is a condition that needs to be followed throughout their life. Find the right adult congenital heart disease program and make sure to follow your physician’s instructions. You’ve got a full life ahead of you and our job is to take you all the way.

Learn more about the Adult Congenital Heart Disease program at Mount Sinai
Read more from Mount Sinai about Your Health

Here’s What New Yorkers Need to Know About the Bird Flu

Updated on Feb 20, 2025 | Featured, Your Health

You’ve probably heard about it on the news: The bird flu is causing concern.

While the current public health risk is low, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is working with local health experts and watching the situation carefully.

Nicholas R. Sells, MD, FACP, FIDSA

“The key message is that people should not be worried. We believe the risk to the population is low,” says Nicholas R. Sells, MD, FACP, FIDSA, Medical Director of Infection Prevention, Mount Sinai Morningside, and Associate Professor of Medicine (Infectious Diseases) at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul delivered the same message—that there was no public health threat—when she recently ordered the temporary closure of bird poultry markets in New York City to allow for special cleaning and inspections.

Here are five key takeaways to keep you updated on the bird flu, also known as avian influenza.

Why the risk to the public is low: Bird flu, which has circulated for decades, is now widespread in wild birds worldwide and is causing outbreaks in poultry and dairy cows in the United States. There have been several recent human cases among dairy and poultry workers. The risk to the general public is low because the current strain of this virus cannot easily spread from person to person, experts say.

Eggs, chicken, and milk: News about the bird flu has prompted some questions among the general public, and experts like Dr. Sells are emphasizing that it is safe to eat eggs and chicken, and drink pasteurized milk that you buy in the store. That’s because the bird flu is not transmissible by eating properly prepared and cooked poultry and eggs. Proper cooking and pasteurization kills the bird flu virus and other dangerous microbes. Milk and infant formula you buy in the store are also safe for infants and children, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

What the experts are doing: The CDC is using its flu surveillance systems to monitor for bird flu activity in people. According to the CDC, flu viruses change over time, so there is a risk the virus could be become more easily spread among people. At Mount Sinai, epidemiologists have been in touch with the CDC and the New York State and New York City health departments and have alerted health care providers through the Health System to be on the lookout for patients who may show signs of infection and to review their protocols for testing if needed. The reported signs and symptoms of bird flu virus infections in humans have ranged from no symptoms or mild to severe and include eye redness, fever, cough, and sore throat.

Here’s what you can do: Avoid contact with sick or dead wild birds, poultry and other animals, including dairy cows. Do not touch or consume raw milk or raw milk products or feed them to pets. Cook poultry, eggs and beef to the appropriate internal temperatures.

What about my pets? Bird flu viruses mainly infect wild migratory water birds and domestic poultry. Some bird flu viruses can spread to other animals. Cats and dogs could potentially eat or be exposed to sick or dead birds infected with bird flu viruses, and they could become infected. If your pet is showing signs of illness of a bird flu infection and has been exposed to infected (sick or dead) wild birds/poultry, you should monitor your health for signs of fever or infection.  According to the CDC, it is unlikely you can get sick with bird flu from your infected pet, but it is possible.

Get the latest information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Read the Q&A from the American Medical Association
Download a set of FAQs from the Infectious Diseases Society of America

Is it the Flu or Maybe Something Else? Symptoms of Common Respiratory Illnesses Can Also Be Signs of Potential Heart Complications.

Updated on Feb 9, 2025 | Featured, Your Health

Did you know that some of the symptoms of the common respiratory illnesses that typically spread during the winter months mimic the symptoms of cardiovascular disease?

For example, if you are feeling short of breath or having chest pain, you may think it’s the flu. But it may be something else, especially if you have heart disease or are at risk for it.

That’s why the experts at Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital are warning about the risk of heart problems during the time that respiratory illnesses typically surge, which also coincides with American Heart Month in February.

With a recent surge in influenza, COVID-19, norovirus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and other respiratory viruses, it’s critical to pay close attention to your heart and symptoms—especially if you have heart disease or the risk factors for it, according to the experts. The combination of these four viruses has been termed a “quad-demic” as they are circulating at elevated levels this winter, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Symptoms of respiratory illness can mimic those of cardiovascular disease or cardiac events in high-risk groups. Some patients may think that symptoms such as being short of breath, weak, cold, or feverish, or having dizziness or chest pain may be solely a result of these winter viruses, but these symptoms could also be associated with, and masking, dangerous cardiovascular complications such as heart attack, pulmonary embolism, viral myocarditis, pericarditis, or even heart failure.

“We have seen people mistaking virus symptoms for serious heart complications. For example, some patients have shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, swelling, and palpitations, and assume their symptoms are linked to a cold, when in fact they were actually in heart failure. Other patients who have had persistent chest pain and palpitations after acute viral illness may need to consider that, in fact, this could be myocarditis,” says Johanna Contreras, MD, a cardiologist at Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital.

“Don’t ignore these symptoms thinking they are just a long-lasting viral infection, especially if you’re at high risk of heart disease, as this disease can be treated promptly and avoid long-term complications,” says Dr. Contreras. “Make sure to consult your doctor or call 911 if you have worsening chest pain, dizziness, or shortness of breath—a serious cardiac condition can progress quickly and it’s key to catch complications early, before they become life-threatening.”

The recent surge in viruses can also trigger cardiovascular complications among those with established heart conditions, including fever, dehydration, and increased inflammation, and Mount Sinai cardiologists are seeing a rise in these cases across all age groups.

Patients with underlying cardiovascular disease and the associated risk factors are at increased risk. Inflammation can trigger heart attacks in people with coronary artery disease. It can also exacerbate heart failure symptoms and irregular or rapid heartbeats, leading to hospitalization. Doctors have also seen post-viral myocarditis—inflammation around the heart that can progress to complications such as heart failure and cardiogenic shock—in otherwise healthy patients.

“In fact, anyone is susceptible, even health care providers themselves are susceptible, and anyone who is not paying attention to their symptoms may get sick with potentially life threatening complications,” says Icilma Fergus, MD, Director of Cardiovascular Disparities for the Mount Sinai Health System. “A recent patient had severe shortness of breath, weakness, palpitations and fatigue, fearing they had heart failure. After they had bloodwork taken, there was a frantic moment when we could not reach the patient to share results that revealed a significantly elevated troponin level which can be linked to a heart attack. Although we suspected the worst, we eventually reached the patient and they were hospitalized with Influenza A and severe viral myocarditis. They were treated appropriately and luckily there was a good outcome.”

“If you get sick and have chest pain or are out of breath, or have swelling of the legs, and it’s getting worse—especially if you have an underlying heart condition or risk factors such as obesity, diabetes, or a family history of heart disease—your symptoms of a viral infection may in fact represent cardiac symptoms,” says Anuradha Lala, MD, a cardiologist at Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital. “While the immune system’s primary job is to eliminate the virus, the inflammatory response can inadvertently harm cardiac tissue. Thus, if you have a known heart condition, viral infections can bring on exacerbations—or a worsening of the underlying issue—whether it is atrial fibrillation, coronary heart disease, or heart failure.”

Heart Disease Statistics

Heart disease is the leading cause of death among men and women in the United States. Nearly half of adults—more than 121 million people—have some type of cardiovascular disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 700,000 people die of heart disease annually, and 80 percent of these cases are preventable.

High-Risk Groups

Anyone can get heart disease, but people are more susceptible if they have cardiovascular risk factors such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, being overweight, or using tobacco. Age is also a factor, specifically for menopausal women (between 45 and 55) and men older than 55, and men with a family history also are at higher risk. Getting less than six hours of sleep a night may also contribute to poor outcomes.

Certain groups, including African American and Hispanic/Latino people as well as new immigrants, may also be at higher risk of complications from untreated viral illnesses. However, risk for cardiovascular disease in any population can be decreased by taking simple steps toward a healthier lifestyle.

Tips for Lowering Risk of Heart Disease

  • Know your family history
  • Be aware of five key numbers cited by the American Heart Association: blood pressure, total cholesterol, HDL (or “good”) cholesterol, body mass index, and fasting glucose levels
  • Maintain a healthy diet, eating nutrient-rich food and eliminating sweets
  • Limit alcohol consumption to no more than one drink per day for women and men
  • Quit using tobacco or other inhaled substances, including both smoking and electronic cigarettes/vapes
  • Watch your weight and exercise regularly
  • Learn the warning signs of heart attack and stroke, including chest discomfort; shortness of breath; pain in the arms, back, neck, or jaw; breaking out in a cold sweat; and lightheadedness
  • Find practical ways to eliminate stress and focus on mental health
Learn more about the Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital

How Pain Management Specialists Can Help Your Neck or Low Back Pain

Updated on Feb 4, 2025 | Your Health

Almost everyone at some point deals with pain in the lower back and neck. Many people heal with time, while others may try to live with it. If left untreated, this pain can interfere with your quality of life.

In this Q&A, Gary Esses, MD, Assistant Professor, Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and leader of the Pain Management Service at Mount Sinai Brooklyn, explains how to manage low back, neck, and sciatic pain, and when to seek help from a pain management specialist.

To make an appointment with Gary Esses, MD, call 718-758-7072 or click here to book online.

“If you have seen a regular doctor and your pain isn’t healing, it may be time to see a pain management specialist,” he says.

Why does my lower back hurt, and how can it be treated?

Low back pain is frequently caused by arthritic joints in the back or nerves being pinched by discs, and can send shooting pain down the legs. A pain management specialist can help alleviate the pain through a variety of methods, including prescribing oral medications, an injection using numbing medication, or steroids to reduce inflammation. In addition, the pain specialist might use radio frequency ablation, which employs radio waves to heat an area of nerve tissue to silence those nerves and stops them from sending pain signals to your brain. In addition, they will advise you to strengthen your back muscles through home exercise or physical therapy, which can lessen and even eliminate spine pain over time.

What is sciatica, and can it be treated?

Sciatica is a type of low back pain with shooting pain down the leg, often in the back of the leg. Initial treatment for sciatica could include oral steroids, muscle relaxers, and physical therapy. Patients suffering from sciatica for more than a month without relief from initial therapy may need an epidural steroid injection to help decrease the inflammation in that area. Specialists may use X-rays to pinpoint the nerves and area causing the pain.

Can sciatica go away on its own?

Yes, if the swelling due to the inflammation subsides, then the pain will also diminish. However, if the pain persists for more than a month, you should visit a pain management specialist.

What is causing my neck pain, and how can it be treated?

Commonly, the joints in the neck or a slipped disc in the spine will cause neck pain, which sometimes will send shooting pain into the arms. Pain management specialist will perform a physical exam to determine the location and root cause of your neck pain, and may also perform X-rays.

Initial treatments often include the use of oral medications that decrease inflammation and relax tense muscles to see if they can help. If a slipped disc is the cause of the pain, your pain management doctor might prescribe an epidural steroid injection, which would silence the nerve activity in the area of the injection. If the joints in the neck are the source of your pain, the pain specialist might use radiofrequency ablation, a procedure that uses electricity to treat pain. This treatment heats up the nerves to silence those causing the pain.

Is my neck pain causing my headaches?
Often, neck pain triggers headaches. If oral medication does not alleviate the headache, the specialist might recommend treating your neck pain with an injection to silence the nerves. The decrease in neck pain is typically accompanied by a decrease in headaches. If headaches persist after treating neck pain, you may be referred to another specialist.

How can I tell if my neck pain is from trauma or injury, such as whiplash?

Pain caused by trauma or injury requires imaging and possible evaluation by a neurosurgeon. Because there might be physical damage to muscle tissue, typical pain management treatments would include muscle relaxants or anti-inflammatory medications.

Will I be prescribed pain medications? Should I be concerned about addictive medications?

Your pain management team will prescribe pain medications only if they think they will be beneficial. At Mount Sinai Brooklyn, our doctors are very conservative about the medications prescribed to help alleviate pain. The team will rarely, if ever, prescribe opioids, which are more addictive than typical pain medications.

When should I see a pain management specialist?

There are board certified medical specialists dedicated to diagnosing and treating pain-related disorders. Your pain management specialist will consider multidisciplinary approaches to treating your pain, and will discuss possible therapies and help coordinate your care with other health care professionals. If needed, they will perform interventional therapies, such as administering an epidural injection in the spine.

Learn more about Pain Management Services at Mount Sinai

How Does Caffeine Affect My Heart?

Feb 3, 2025 | Cardiology, Your Health

Mary Ann McLaughlin, MD

Caffeine is a naturally occurring stimulant found in many products, including soda, coffee, tea, energy drinks, chocolate, and even some ice creams. While caffeine is safe to consume in moderation, excessive caffeine can be harmful, especially to your heart.

In this Q&A, Mary Ann McLaughlin, MD, MPH, FACC, Medical Director of Cardiovascular Health and Wellness, Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital, and Associate Professor of Medicine, Population Health Science and Policy at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, discusses the effects of caffeine on heart health and how much is safe to have.

How does caffeine affect my heart and blood pressure?
Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant that makes your arteries squeeze more robustly, increasing blood pressure and heart rate.

What are the main health risks of caffeine?
When caffeine speeds up your heart rate, it increases your risk for developing an abnormal heart rate, known as arrhythmia, which in severe cases can lead to stroke. Additionally, too much caffeine increases nervousness, anxiety, and insomnia—and in rarer cases it can cause hallucinations, confusion, and some memory issues. It also speeds digestion, potentially causing gastrointestinal problems, including heartburn and loose stools. Caffeine is also addictive.

What are the health benefits of caffeine?
In addition to reducing drowsiness and making you more alert, caffeine can be useful for treating migraines and other headaches. There is also evidence that it can improve aerobic capacity. Many athletes take some amount of caffeine to improve performance.

How much caffeine is safe to have?
According to the CDC, 400 milligrams a day is considered safe for most adults. One eight ounce cup of coffee contains around 95 mg of caffeine, but can have anywhere from 25 to 500 mg, depending on how the coffee is processed, what beans are used in the coffee, etc. Generally, more than four cups of coffee a day could be harmful. Energy drinks can contain excessive amounts of caffeine and should be consumed in moderation, if at all.

Drinking coffee and other caffeinated drinks can become a habit. I recommend treating caffeine as a medication and paying attention to your intake. Low amounts are safe, but as you increase caffeine, your risk for developing heart problems and other health issues becomes more likely.

Schedule an appointment with a primary care doctor.

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