Punta Gorda is the county seat of Charlotte County and one of the oldest cities in the United States by median age
Around 57% of residents are 65 or over, and the median age is nearly 68. The city rebuilt itself after Hurricane Charley in 2004, and what came back is a harbourfront town of people who have chosen to spend this part of their lives here.
We see patients from Punta Gorda regularly, and they usually arrive for one of three reasons.
Why people come down from Charlotte County
A valve that needs attention. Aortic stenosis is common at this age, and treating it is specialist work. Dr. Mazen Albaghdadi, MD is a structural cardiologist, which means valve disease is the core of the practice rather than something referred on elsewhere.
A second opinion. People come to us after being told they need a procedure, or told they do not, and want another look before deciding. That is a reasonable thing to want and we are happy to do it. Bring your reports and imaging if you have them.
Continuity, for people who split the year. A good number of Charlotte County residents are here for part of the year and somewhere north for the rest. That creates a real problem: results scattered across two systems, medication changes nobody has reconciled, and a six-month gap in the middle. Tell us if that is your situation and we will plan around it rather than pretend it is not happening.
What we do
Valve disease, coronary artery disease, chest pain, heart failure, rhythm problems, blood pressure, cholesterol and circulation in the legs. When a procedure is needed, it is performed by the same physician who assessed you, including transcatheter aortic valve replacement and angioplasty and stenting.
If you want to read up first, start with heart disease risk factors or the seven warning signs it may be time to see a heart doctor.
Getting to us
Punta Gorda is about 23 miles north of Fort Myers, and for once the drive is the easy part. I-75 south from Exit 164, then off at Daniels Parkway. We are at 13411 Parker Commons Blvd, on the north side of Daniels between the interstate and Six Mile Cypress, so you are barely off the highway.
US 41 works too if you would rather not take the interstate, though it takes longer.
FAQs
Questions we get from Punta Gorda
Is it worth driving to Fort Myers?
That is your call, and we would not pretend otherwise. What we would say is that structural heart work is the kind of thing worth travelling for, because experience with the specific procedure matters. For routine follow-up, we will happily coordinate with a doctor closer to home.
I'm here from October to April. Can you still be my cardiologist?
Yes, and it is common. The thing that makes it work is planning it deliberately: what gets checked while you are here, what gets checked up north, and who holds the full picture. Raise it at your first visit.
Can I bring my scans and reports from another practice?
Please do. Actual images on a disc are more useful than a report describing them, and having them saves repeating tests you have already had.
Book Your Next Appointment
Take the First Step Toward a Healthier Heart
Call (239) 415-4900 or use our contact page. We can usually see new patients within 1 to 2 days, pending insurance approval. Referring physicians will find what we need on our referral page.