Q&A with a Cardiologist
Featuring Paul Leis, DO
Our medical expert, Dr. Paul Leis, is a cardiologist and an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. He specializes in clinical cardiology, cardiac imaging, and preventive cardiology. We asked him five quick questions about heart health.
Paul Leis, DO
Cardiologist at the Mount Sinai Health System
“Dr. Leis, in addition to practicing a healthy lifestyle—nutrition, sleep, exercise, mental wellness—we have a few questions for you about heart health.”
There are so many health apps out there, it’s hard to pick, and stick with, a good one. Which one(s) do you recommend to your family and friends?
Dr. Leis: I recommend the Health app on iOS or its equivalent for Android. It is a simple and free app to track your daily activity, sleep, and medical information and can be combined with wearables to track other metrics, like step count, heart rate, and glucose. Having more information about your health is empowering and helps you have informed discussions with your care team.
What are the most common reasons that patients see you? Should you see a cardiologist if you don’t have symptoms? At what age?
Dr. Leis: Some of the most common reasons are hypertension (high blood pressure), hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol), chest pain, and palpitations. You should see a cardiologist even if you do not have symptoms for a preventive cardiology visit which is important to create a baseline for your overall cardiovascular wellness. The recommended age is dependent on other cardiac risk factors and family history. The American Heart Association recommends that adults age 20 and above should have their cholesterol and other risk factors checked.
We know that smoking is horrible for the heart. What about nicotine patches or pouches that are used as an alternative to smoking?
Dr. Leis: It is recommended that patients avoid smoking as a whole, including nicotine pouches and patches.
What’s one habit you do every day for a healthy heart?
Dr. Leis: Exercise daily, even if it is a 30-minute walk. It is the one thing that patients can do to improve their overall cardiovascular health.
Is heart disease reversible? What are the biomarkers/indicators for improving your heart health?
Dr. Leis: Yes, heart disease is reversible. We screen for physical markers including checking your blood pressure, and cholesterol, and making sure you are not diabetic. A cardiologist will work with patients and their primary care providers to help them make lasting lifestyle changes or get the right treatment to improve their heart health.