Jeremiah M. Gelles MD
Cardiologist | Interventional Cardiology
8714 5th Avenue Brooklyn New York, 11209Rating
3/5
About
Dr. Jeremiah Gelles is a cardiologist practicing in Brooklyn, New York. Dr. Gelles specializes in diagnosing, monitoring, and treating diseases or conditions of the heart and blood vessels and the cardiovascular system. These conditions include heart attacks, heart murmurs, coronary heart disease, and hypertension. Dr. Gelles also practices preventative medicine, helping patients maintain a heart-healthy life.
Education and Training
New York University School of Medicine
New York University School of Medicine 1966
Board Certification
Internal Medicine
Cardiovascular Disease
Internal MedicineAmerican Board of Internal MedicineABIM
Provider Details
Jeremiah M. Gelles MD's Expert Contributions
What does the blue and red mean on an echocardiogram?
The blue means the blood is going away from the probe. The red means the blood is coming towards the probe. The colors are imposed on the blood flow by the computer program. What the probe is actually recording are doppler signals, ultrasound pulses bouncing off the cells that are in the blood. You really need to sit down with a cardiologist reading echo's and see the actual pictures to understand this fully. You are probably looking at still images from the echo video. READ MORE
Is chest pain normal after stent placement?
No. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI. I am assuming you mean an arterial stent in the artery or arteries supplying the heart with blood.) should not cause chest pain. However, if a person still had blockages in other heart arteries or if the stent had clotted (thombosed) right after the stent implant or some time after the implant, chest pain (angina) might occur. READ MORE
What causes chest pain after stent placement?
Chest pain after stent placement may be due to acute or subacute thrombosis of the stent. It is also possible for stents to thrombose anywhere from six months to over a year after placement. These events have become relatively rare with the newer stents and the increasing expertise of the interventionalists implanting the stents. Another reason and probably a more likely reason for chest pain after a stent implant is that there are one or more blockages in the arteries supplying the heart with blood that have become critically blocked since the stent placement or maybe were blocked at the time of the stent placement and should have been stented as well. If thr chest pain is unrelated to coronary artery disease then there are many possible causes. READ MORE
How do you manage chest pain/panic attacks while flying?
There are probably psychological ways to manage such as meditation which it wouldn't hurt to try. Some of my patients take a valium/diazepam tablet 5mg when they fly. That seems to help. If this problem is really disabling, I would suggest you see a psychologist or psychiatrist. READ MORE
Do heart stents show up on x-ray?
Stents do not show up on x-rays. They may sometimes be seen during fluoroscopy when you are getting a stent and stents can reliably be seen on computed tomographic imaging of the heart, CTA. READ MORE
How does your pulse feel during a heart attack?
There is no particular way your pulse feels during a heart attack. Depending on the nature of the attack it could be slow, fast, regular, irregular, weak or normal. I am assuming you mean by a heart attack a coronary artery thrombosis and/or occlusion. READ MORE
What drugs prevent heart attacks?
This is a very interesting question. First and foremost the best way to prevent heart attacks is to lead a healthy lifestyle. That means do not smoke! There are drugs to help stop smoking. That means eat properly, a Mediterranean or DASH diet and not adding salt to your food and avoiding food that you know has a lot of sodium. No junk food. Avoid altogether or at least limit food that is high in saturated fat and refined carbohydrates. That means exercise regularly, at least 3-4 times per week. That means minimize stress in your life. Understandably very difficult during these times. At least try to have relationships with family and friends that are constructive, helpful, and relatively conflict-free. That requires work but hopefully not stressful work if everyone is on board. That means getting enough sleep, also not always possible. At least 7 hours a night. That means avoid excessive screen time. It frequently is not relaxing. Find books to read and shows to watch that do not add more stress to your life, that serve to some extent as an escape from the stresses of everyday that we all inevitably face. That means get enough vacation time. Get away from it all! That means finding activities that relax you whether it is a sport with friends or fishing or gardening or stamp collecting, dancing, star-gazing, bird watching, whatever. I am well aware that for too many of us these recommendations are not possible, now more than ever. The goal of drug therapy is to minimize the risk factors that remain even after the life-style changes (I hate that expression!) I have recommended. One risk is your weight. We have no drug that will safely and over the long run help with that but you should attempt by following the life-style recommendations above to optimize your weight. Another risk is your lipid profile. That is something you will have to go to a doctor to check. If, after doing the best you can with achieving a healthy life-style, your lipids are still not optimal, there are drugs that help optimize lipids like the statins, ezetimibe, PCSK9 inhibitors, bempedoic acid, and icosapent ethyl, a fish oil derivative. Some of these are not generic and very expensive. There are others but they are not as well tolerated as these. They would have to be prescribed by a doctor. I believe that, in general, a cardiologist should manage the more complicated lipid problems. Blood pressure must be kept under control. There are many drugs that are used to accomplish that, too many to list them all. Your doctor would have to prescribe them. A good internist should be able to manage all but the most complicated hypertension problems. If you have diabetes, it must be well-controlled. That is done by the life-style recommendations and drugs. Once again, a doctor would have to prescribe. There are many drugs. If you have a bad family history of vascular disease, you cannot change your parents so all other modifiable risk factors must be aggressively addressed. You cannot change your sex and men have more risk of coronary disease than premenopausal women. Your risk profile should be assessed by your doctor and if after everything is done you still have a significant risk of a coronary event, I would recommend a low dose aspirin every day but that would be most unusual in someone 37yo. READ MORE
Do blood tests show heart problems?
There are a number of blood tests which can indicate heart problems or increased risk of heart problems. A lipid profile at your age should be done. Make sure you don't have diabetes. There are other tests, but they would only be indicated if there was already a strong suspicion that you have a heart problem. A troponin might suggest damage to your heart. NT Pro-BNP would be indicated if it was thought you might have heart failure. Abnormal kidney function would suggest further investigation including cardiac issues. However, what is most important is getting a thorough annual exam from a competent physician who will know what tests to order. Dr. Gelles READ MORE
When should I get my heart checked?
Hopefully you have a competent family doctor/general internist who can evaluate you and decide whether you need to see a cardiologist. If you do not have a primary care practitioner, then you need to find one. Ask a friend who has good judgement for a recommendation. Ask one or both of your parents if they are available or a reliable family member if you trust their judgement. Absent those alternatives, call the department of medicine at your local hospital and ask them for a recommendation. If there is a local university or teaching hospital, even better. READ MORE
What does a person feel during cardiac arrest?
I don't know. There are many reports from many people who have survived cardiac arrests and they have had different experiences. Sudden death due to cardiac arrest is not a "one shoe fits all" event. The first thing that happens is people become unconscious. They only report what they experienced after they regain consciousness. Whether those reports are accurate or just something they imagined after waking up is impossible to say. I would advise against questioning this "experience." It will not endear you to someone who is a survivor of cardiac arrest. Becoming unconscious from cardiac arrest is much different from becoming unconscious from anesthesia or trauma. Cardiac arrest causes oxygen deprivation to the brain. It may affect different parts of the brain at different times, what is called spatial and temporal distribution of oxygen deprivation. That is probably what causes people to have different experiences along with the fact that no one's life experiences and memories are exactly the same as another person's. READ MORE
Can you work with Ischaemic heart disease?
Depending on what you do for a living, you can work with ischemic heart disease. If you are doing physical labor or you are in a psychologically stressful occupation then you have to be careful. There are also factors such as how you get to and from work and what the hours are. It also depends on whether your IHD is stable. If you have unstable IHD, that must be taken care of before you can have any discussion about returning to work. The best judge of whether it is safe for you to return to work is your cardiologist. You have to discuss the issue and all its ramifications with him/her. READ MORE
How do I know if my chest pain is heart related?
You can't know without seeing a doctor if you have heart-related chest pain and I would be concerned about giving you what might be definite signs of a heart condition because if you did not have the classic signs it might give you a false sense of security (like a negative Covid-19 test, for example, gives people a false sense of security). There are many types of atypical chest pain that reflect a heart condition. You must see a doctor if you have chest pain. There are a couple of points I will make for you. At your age if you are not a smoker and don't have a hereditary lipid/cholesterol abnormality and don't take contraceptive medication, it would be highly unlikely that you have a heart condition involving blockage of the arteries to your heart. But notice I said "very unlikely." I did not say impossible. I would have to qualify almost everything I say like that. That's why you should go to a doctor and have your chest pain evaluated. READ MORE
Can you survive cardiac arrest?
Yes, if it occurs in a venue where you can be promptly resuscitated. The key issue is the time it takes between the onset of the arrest and the initiation of CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). That's why AED's (automatic external defibrillators) need to be strategically placed. That's why the more people who are able to do bystander-initiated cardiac arrest and know what to do the more likely it is that someone will survive with minimal brain damage. Calling 911 as quickly as possible is crucial. There are many courses one can take online that teach bystander CPR. You should review them. READ MORE
How to manage high blood pressure after being laid off?
Try to stay calm if at all possible. Try to work out a plan to address your situation. If you have lost your insurance, check with the local public health authorities regarding other options for obtaining coverage. These are very difficult times for many working people who cannot just pick up and work from home and who have fixed expenses that must be paid. Make sure you are taking advantage of whatever help the government is offering. You have been contributing to society and society has a debt to you. See if you can find groups that are working to address in a constructive way the problems in this society that this pandemic has revealed. This will help with whatever anger you are feeling about this. Try to restrict the salt in your diet. That is the least expensive way to control your blood pressure from a strictly medical point of view. If you can combine that with a generally healthy plant based diet that will help you lose weight if you need to, that too will help keep your pressure down. Exercise every day even if it is just going out for a walk and don't forget to wear your mask and maintain social distance. If your state has prescription help, make sure you take advantage of it and make sure your doctor is treating your hypertension with generic medications. Good luck and stay safe. READ MORE
Is profuse sweating a sign of a heart attack?
Profuse perspiration, hyperhidrosis, in the absence of an obvious cause may be one of the signs of a heart attack but rarely alone. When associated with a heart attack, or myocardial infarction, it is usually accompanied by other vagal symptoms such as pallor, a sense of coldness, a sense of weakness, impending doom, and nausea. Of course, tightness and a constricting feeling in the chest is the classic symptom of a heart attack but one have all of the symptoms or just a few or even none, a silent heart attack. READ MORE
How long do you stay on blood thinners after stents?
You should ask the interventionist who puts the stent in. I am quite certain he/she will tell you very specifically. Furthermore, strictly speaking, unless you are in atrial fibrillation, you will not be on "blood thinners," an expression that is generally applied to anticoagulation with warfarin or one of the newer anticoagulants that do not work through a vitamin K dependent mechanism. You will be on anti-platelet drugs such as low dose aspirin plus clopidogrel, prasugrel, or ticagrelor. Generally you will be on two of these, aspirin and one other, for at least 6 months if you get a drug-eluting, medicated, stent. If you get a bare metal stent, the time of dual anti-platelet therapy will be less. I cannot be more specific than this since it entirely depends on the factors I mentioned above. However, one thing is for sure. Once you stop the two anti-platelet drugs, you will have to be on one, usually aspirin, for as long as possible. The risk of bleeding with anti-platelet drug(s) is less than that with "blood thinners." Jeremiah M. Gelles MD FACP FACC READ MORE
Can ECG detect heart disease?
An ECG can certainly detect an abnormality of the electrical activity of the heart which may reflect an enlarged heart or a heart not getting enough oxygen or a heart with an abnormal rhythm and many other pathologies. It is the first diagnostic test in assessing a person's heart. The limitation of the ECG is that it is not specific enough in general to make an accurate diagnosis and it is not sensitive enough to pick up many cardiac conditions. Based on your symptoms and physical findings and the ECG, your doctor may advise additional tests that are more likely to indicate what the problem, if any, is. READ MORE
Is fish oil good for heart health?
Fish oil doesn't hurt but it's not the best way to go about taking care of your heart. First you should get a thorough check-up by your physician and see if you have any risk factors for heart disease. This includes a thorough physical exam with any additional tests as indicated. The major risk factors for coronary heart disease, that is hardening of the arteries or atherosclerosis, are diabetes, smoking, family history of coronary artery disease at a young age (less than 60 or so), hypertension, and cholesterol level. The first steps to take better care of your heart are eating properly and exercising regularly. Rest and adequate sleep and avoiding unnecessary stress are important ways to improve your heart's well-being. A good internist should be able to address all these issues with you. READ MORE
What is angina?
Are you a woman or a man? That makes a difference in terms of your risk at age 30. Premenopausal women are protected to some degree against angina. Angina means that some part of your heart muscle is not receiving enough blood. When your level of activity or anything that increases the oxygen needs of your heart exceeds the supply of oxygen-carrying blood, angina occurs. The lack of blood could be from a blockage in an artery or even diseased smaller blood vessels supplying blood to your heart. There are a number of risk factors for these blockages including cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, hypertension, and family history. Having coronary artery disease significant enough to cause angina at the age of 30 is unusual. Your doctor should have done a stress test. If the stress test was positive, he/she should have referred you for computed tomographic angiography with a coronary calcium score. If your symptoms truly represent angina, then an angiogram should be performed. A specific diagnosis must be made. You are too young to rely on probabilities. A diagnosis of angina at your age affects your life expectancy and your ability to get insurance. Intensive therapy is mandatory. READ MORE
Can you die from an irregular heartbeat?
Depending on what the nature of the irregular rhythm (arrhythmia; dysrhytjmia) is it can be quite serious. It might cause a stroke if it is atrial fibrillation or worse. If it reflects some more serious underlying heart disease it might result in death. You need to see a cardiologist and get evaluated. Hopefully it is benign but we don’t know that yet. READ MORE
Expert Publications
Data provided by the National Library of Medicine- Effect of transmembrane potential on the manifestations of ouabain toxicity in sheep cardiac Purkinje fibres.
- Use of calcium ionophores to determine the effects of intracellular calcium on the action potential of canine cardiac Purkinje fibers.
- Use of calcium ionophores to determine the effects of intracellular calcium on the action potential of canine cardiac Purkinje fibers.
- Electrophysiologic effects of dopamine on sheep cardiac Purkinje fibers.
- Effect of ouabain on the current underlying spontaneous diastolic depolarization in cardiac Purkinje fibers.
- A new method for producing short cardiac Purkinje fibers suitable for voltage clamp.
- Electrogenic hyperpolarization in canine cardiac Purkinje fibres exposed to calcium ionophores.
- Electrogenic hyperpolarization in canine cardiac Purkinje fibres exposed to calcium ionophores.
- Medicine and the Holocaust.
- The effect of ouabain, dinitrophenol, and lithium on the pacemaker current in sheep cardiac Purkinje fibers.
- Voltage clamp analysis of the effects of dopamine on the transmembrane ionic currents underlying the action potential of sheep cardiac Purkinje fibers.
- The electrophysiological effects of ionophore X-537A on cardiac purkinje fibres.
Areas of expertise and specialization
Treatments
- High Cholesterol
- Heart Disease
- Cardiomyopathy
- High Blood Pressure (hypertension)
- Coronary Artery Disease (cad)
- Vascular Disease
Internships
- Mount Sinai Hospital, New York
Fellowships
- Mount Sinai Hospital, New York
Professional Society Memberships
- American Heart Association, Kings County Medical Society
Articles and Publications
- Dr. Gelles has contributed to several articles on cardiac electrophysiology.
Jeremiah M. Gelles MD's Practice location
Jeremiah M. Gelles MD's reviews
Write ReviewPatient Experience with Dr. Gelles
Recommended Articles
![]()
What Are Antihypertensive Drugs?IntroductionMedications that help treat hypertension are called antihypertensive drugs, which are divided into different categories. These medications work differently with different side effects. Because there are many antihypertensive drugs available, finding the best medication and treatment plan...
![]()
Anxiety Increases the Risk of Heart AttackAs men age, their risk of heart attack rises, especially if they are prone to anxiety. In a 12-year study, anxiety was found to increase the risk of heart attack by 30% to 40% in men who are anxious when compared to men who are calmer, irrespective of other personality and risk factors. In this...
![]()
What to Know Before Taking Triamterene-HydrochlorothiazideWhat is triamterene-hydrochlorothiazide?Triamterene-hydrochlorothiazide is a water pill or diuretic used for the treatment of edema (fluid retention) and high blood pressure. This medication is usually prescribed to patients who have low amounts of potassium in the body or individuals who are at an...
![]()
What is Left-Sided Congestive Heart Failure?What Is Left-Sided Congestive Heart Failure?Heart failure means your heart is not able to work as well as it once did.Left-sided congestive failure is a critical condition in which the left side of the heart doesn’t pump blood efficiently. It is unable to meet the body’s metabolic needs,...
![]()
How Do High Cholesterol Levels Affect the Heart?How Do High Cholesterol Levels Affect the Heart?Cholesterol is not that bad for our body – it has several important functions and is needed in moderate amounts. This compound is required to make new cells in the body, protect neurons, and also produce hormones. But when the amount of cholesterol...
![]()
What Causes Sudden Cardiac Arrest?Sudden cardiac arrest is one of the most common causes of death due to cardiac diseases. Sudden cardiac arrest refers to the sudden loss of heart function, resulting in death. It is different from a heart attack in that the latter is caused by a blockage in one of the vessels that supplies the walls...
Nearby Providers
![]()
Yoshiaki Omura800 Riverside Drive New York New York 10032![]()
Yoshifumi Naka M.D.177 Fort Washington Ave New York NY 10032![]()
Carl Dietrich Reimers MD130 E 77th St New York NY 10075![]()
Ravinder M Narang M.D.721 Clifton Ave Clifton NJ 07013![]()
Nino D. Marino M.D110 East 59th Street New York City New York 10022![]()
Bijoy K. Mehta MD140-15 Stanford Avenue Flushing New York 11355
Nearest Hospitals
STATEN ISLAND UNIVERSITY HOSPITALl
475 SEAVIEW AVENUE STATEN ISLAND NY 10305CONEY ISLAND HOSPITALl
2601 OCEAN PARKWAY BROOKLYN NY 11235KINGS COUNTY HOSPITAL CENTERl
451 CLARKSON AVENUE BROOKLYN NY 11203