“You bring your car for an inspection annually. How come you don’t treat yourself as well?”
This is the question Dr. Angelo Magno, internist, (207 Prospect Park West, 718-832-3200 and 383 Ocean Parkway, 718-693-1692) poses to his patients.
After all, your car runs better after its annual exam. Image how your own performance can improve with yearly visits that make sure all your parts are running at peak condition.
The oil — the lifeblood of your vehicle — needs to be maintained. So does the fluid that keeps every organ in your body running properly — your blood. Dr. Magno will take some blood tests to screen for ailments such as diabetes, coronary artery disease, hypertension, thyroid and cholesterol levels. He will take a family history and make sure that your vaccinations are up-to-date.
You know that when it comes to your motor vehicle, should you let some conditions go unchecked, they could lead to more serious complications. It’s the same with your body. For example, diabetes can lead to blindness, kidney failure, and vascular disease.
Coronary artery disease is a condition in which plaque builds up inside the coronary arteries. These are the arteries that supply blood to the heart. When these arteries build up with plaque, the arteries become narrow, and this reduces the flow of blood to your heart. Blood clots can form in your arteries, preventing oxygen from reaching your heart. The goal is to get cholesterol levels under control, long before they reach this point.
Hypertension is dangerous because it makes the heart work hard as it carries blood throughout the body. Sometimes, people have symptoms of hypertension. These may include headaches, vision problems, chest pain, difficulty breathing, fatigue, confusion, chest pain, irregular heart beat, and vision problems. But many people have none of these signs. This is why getting your blood pressure checked with the doctor is so important. You could have hypertension and not even know it. Hypertension, left untreated, can lead to stroke, heart failure, heart attack, and kidney failure.
The good news is that Dr. Magno believes that diet and exercise can control many of these ailments. This is usually the first course of action he suggests. “We try to avoid medication at first,” he says.
“We try to get people to alter their lifestyles. This is healthier all around.” It’s healthier because there are often side effects to prescribed medications.
Reducing your weight can help a number of conditions, including diabetes, cholesterol, and even hypertension, the doctor says. Eating the right food is also important.
When you make an appointment to see the doctor, you’ll be treated with dignity and respect, as Dr. Magno takes time to address his patients’ varied needs. The staff is also warm and friendly. The office is organized so that patients are seen promptly.
The Brooklyn-born doctor, who still resides in the borough, does volunteer work with community organization and local health care facilities. He participates in community health fairs.
When he’s not at the office tending to patients, he’s making the rounds at Maimonides Medical Center, the hospital with which he is affiliated. It’s also the hospital at which he received his medical training.
The doctor also spends many hours working at Crown Nursing and Rehabilitation where he’s responsible for addressing the needs of new admits as well as existing patients. His duties include such tasks as reviewing patient medications, and evaluating patients for physical therapy. This work is important to him because, “it gives back to the community,” says Dr. Magno.
Don’t let your parts get rusty. Make an appointment to make sure all are in working order, and running as well as they should be. Visit Dr. Magno at the Park Slope office Fridays, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. See Dr. Magno at the Ocean Parkway location Wednesdays, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
