Do you feel like you need a good excuse to get to bed at a reasonable hour tonight? How about preventing elevated blood pressure, high cholesterol, and clogged coronary arteries? Check these facts about quality sleep and your heart health.
The fluttery feeling in your chest could be related to that extra cup of coffee this morning, your cold medication, or something more serious. Our team discusses the causes of heart palpitations and when it’s time to seek medical attention.
Does your heart feel like it’s beating too fast? Feeling dizzy on and off? Having more palpitations than usual? You might need a Holter monitoring test. Find out what that is and what it reveals about your heart.
Genes do play a role in many heart problems. However, if you’re paying attention, your family history can serve as an early warning system for preventing severe illness. Check out the facts about how DNA affects heart health.
Atrial flutter is related to a short circuit in your heart’s electrical system that causes your heart to beat too quickly. Learn more about this potentially dangerous disorder that increases your stroke and heart failure risk.
Your diet plays a significant role in preventing heart disease, but a heart-healthy diet doesn’t mean you have to avoid tasty foods. Our specialty team provides tips on developing menus that please your taste buds as well as your heart.
Defibrillators are common in hospital emergency rooms and ambulances. Many workplaces and community gathering sites also have a portable version in their first aid kit. Find out what these life-saving medical devices can and can’t do.
Varicose veins do tend to run in families. You can’t change your ancestry. You can, however, help lower your risk of developing these problematic veins by incorporating a few healthy habits into your daily routine.
Whether it’s a sharp twinge, a dull ache, or something more, chest pain tends to get attention. And it should. Our team talks about various types of chest pain and why you shouldn’t ignore them.
Confused about what your “good” and “bad” cholesterol levels mean and why your doctor keeps mentioning your triglycerides? Our team highlights the importance of all three and discusses what you can do to change your numbers.
Have you been told you might have valvular heart disease? Wondering what that is and how it’s treated? Our experts explain more about this potentially less familiar but relatively common heart condition that may be tied to longevity.
If you’ve ever watched a television series that’s a medical drama, odds are you’ve seen at least one victim “shocked” back to life with an external defibrillator. Learn the truth about how defibrillators work.
Wondering what happens once your cardiologist sends you home with stents in place? Here’s what our specialty team wants you to know about living your life after stent placement.
Are you confused about how a condition that keeps you up at night causes problems with your blood pressure? Learn more about the health effects of sleep apnea and why effective treatment is so important.
You may be familiar with an ultrasound that’s used to monitor the health and wellbeing of a baby during pregnancy. Did you know, though, that physicians also use ultrasound to gauge the health of your veins? Find out more.
You’ve likely heard that stress can cause anxiety, heartburn, and even wrinkles. But what does it do to your heart? Read what the specialists say about that.
You’ve been hearing about heart healthy diets for years, but do they really make a difference? Our experts break down the facts about how what you eat affects your heart.
For most of us, it’s not so much the chest pain itself but what’s causing the discomfort that worries us. Our experts share insight regarding chest pain and when it might be time to worry.
Once in place and functioning as programmed, a pacemaker can greatly improve your quality of life. Like all things new, however, there’s an adjustment period. Read our expert guidelines about living with a pacemaker.
Are you wondering about that strange fluttering you feel in your chest occasionally? Does it seem like your heart is beating faster than normal? Should you be worried? Read what our cardiologists say about palpitations and what they might mean.
Experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that about half of all Americans have high blood pressure (hypertension). So? Learn what your blood pressure may reveal about your health and why it matters.
Your heart works differently at rest than it does when you’re under physical stress. Find out why your cardiologist may want to see how your heart handles a workout and what the results might say about your health.
It’s understandable if you feel anxious about needing a pacemaker. But the lifesaving benefits of these small medical devices far outweigh their very minimal risks and relatively minor inconvenience. Learn more about pacemakers and how they work.
Wondering how well your heart is functioning? Learn what a MUGA scan is and why a cardiologist might recommend it to check your heart health.
To effectively treat the condition causing your irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia), your doctor must know which type of arrhythmia you’re experiencing. Find out how a cardiologist uses an implantable loop recorder to do just that.
Are you experiencing pain, swelling, or skin discoloration in your ankles, feet, or legs? Minimally invasive atherectomy may be the solution for relieving your symptoms and restoring blood flow to your extremities. Read on to learn more.
Arrhythmia occurs when your heart beats too quickly, too slowly, or with an uneven rhythm. Find out more about the different arrhythmia types and their possible impact on your health.
Angina, a general term for cardiac-related chest pain, is not a disease but a symptom that may signal problems with blood flow to your heart. It doesn’t always indicate, however, that you’re having a heart attack. What? Read on to learn more.
A pacemaker can keep your heart beating as it should and, in the process, help restore the physical energy and health often lost with many cardiac conditions. Find out more about pacemakers and the symptoms that suggest you might need one.
If you have atrial fibrillation and are at risk for stroke, you may have to take blood thinners for the rest of your life. Alternatively, the WATCHMAN™ implant may reduce the need for blood thinners and reduce your risk of stroke. Here’s how.
If you need a stent to unblock a clogged artery, you may be wondering what happens during the procedure. Here’s what to expect during and after your stent placement.
Do you struggle with heart problems or high blood pressure? Start the new year off the healthy way with a stress test, which can diagnose problems that can’t be seen when your heart is at rest. Read on to learn why you should schedule one today!
It's easy to confuse a heart attack with cardiac arrest. Both are serious problems relating to your heart, but causes and treatments for each are different. Read on to learn which is which and what you can do if you experience heart problems.
Are you at increased risk for stroke? Are you currently on blood thinners, yet suffer in silence with the side effects? With the only FDA-approved device, the WATCHMAN, it is now possible to prevent stroke without medication.
Do you suffer from heart palpitations that leave you dizzy, short of breath, and feeling pressure in your chest? You could be experiencing atrial fibrillation. Read on to learn what causes it and how you can treat it.
Those enlarged, twisted veins on your legs may be more than a mere cosmetic concern. In some cases, varicose veins signal a greater, underlying health problem. Read on to learn more.
According to statistics, there are just as many reasons to be mindful about heart health during the twenties and thirties as there are in mid-life.
SVT is a type of arrhythmia or irregular heartbeat. It results from an abnormality in the electrical impulses that cause the chambers of the heart muscle to contract.
Statistics indicate that over 2 million Americans are affected by atrial fibrillation (AFib). This cardiac condition is one of the most common types of arrhythmia.
Studies do suggest that a person’s family history does, in fact, have some connection to the risk of potentially serious conditions like heart disease.
Research suggests that approximately 80 percent of the strokes that occur could have been prevented. Here we discuss what a stroke is, the two kinds of strokes, and how you can reduce your risk.
Many men and women are affected by some type of heart disease without even a clue. Here, we propose 4 specific tests that can help you become more familiar with your heart as it is now as well as how it may be in the future.
From Springtime on into the summer months, millions of people struggle with allergies related to pollen and other environmental factors.
Because anxiety can coincide with rapid heart rate, abnormal heartbeats, lightheadedness, and chest pain, many people wonder if they are having anxiety, a heart attack, or if symptoms indicate an underlying heart problem.
Whether you feel its effects or not, the fact is that caffeine does affect the heart. When caffeine is consumed in substantial amounts (and that can be a single energy drink), the level of epinephrine rises in the blood.
In a recent article, we discussed the issue of heart disease and the subtle ways it presents in women, offering Susan Lucci’s recent health scare as an example.
The sensation that she was feeling that day, one of an elephant pressing on her chest, was the same described in that interview of a woman describing her symptoms before a heart attack. Listening to her intuition, Lucci immediately went to the hospital.
If you have been diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat, your primary course of action may be to develop strategies that prevent episodes of heart fluttering. Here, we offer four easy suggestions.
As a person gets older, they may experience a decline in their heart rate.
Many people know that obesity, high cholesterol, diabetes, and high blood pressure put them at risk for heart disease. However, the bigger picture has recently expanded to include potentially sneaky factors that could pose a threat to heart health.
Anyone who has a family history of heart attack, heart failure, coronary artery bypass surgery, or other incidents related to coronary artery disease may have one question: will I have it, too?
Increased awareness regarding diabetes is important to our patients due to the direct relationship between this chronic health condition and cardiovascular disease.
Blood pressure can be managed with prescription medication. However, many people ask how they can either avoid medication, limit their time on it, or support their prescribed treatment plan. We have strategies and will share them with you here.
PET stands for positron emission tomography. The scan is a type of imaging test that is performed with a special dye, called contrast media.
Here, we discuss the findings of a recent study that indicate a potentially profound chain of events that occurs with coffee consumption.
People who quit smoking gain both health and financial benefits. These are obviously things to cheer about.
When you hear the term “hike,” do you imagine huffing it up a steep mountain or scrambling over rocky surfaces?
The hotter it gets outside, the more we need to focus on hydration and sun protection. We also need to take precautions with exercise and overall heat safety. Good habits are especially important for those with a cardiovascular condition.
There’s one more thing about June that makes it notable: it’s National Men’s Health Month.
Here, we want to discuss a few of the cardiac details that can be observed with cardiac CT, or Computerized Tomography.
There are several reasons a person may need to see a cardiologist aside from what we have listed here.
If your doctor recommends that you have a cardiac stress test, know that there is nothing to fear. Here, we discuss what a cardiac stress test is and why it is beneficial.
As you may know, there is “good” cholesterol and “bad” cholesterol. Working with your healthcare provider, your important job is to manage the two.
Two common diagnostic tests performed include the echocardiogram and the stress echo (also an echocardiogram). Here, we want to discuss the details of each.
Here, we take a look at recent research from a study at UCL Cancer Institute at University College in London.
For many years, experts have extolled the use of low-dose aspirin to achieve this goal. Recent research further supports this recommendation and goes beyond the general guideline to demonstrate what happens if this protocol is stopped.
We often hear about the value of healthy eating and exercise for heart health (and weight management, and much more). However, what may be questionable about such suggestions is the range of exercise that is most beneficial.
The body can tell you a lot when you listen. The problem is, when “interesting” signs and symptoms appear, what we really want to do is turn away.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, up to approximately 6 million Americans may have atrial fibrillation. Many of them don’t know it.
Obvious warning: going vegetarian does nothing for your health if your diet is filled with sugar and processed foods loaded with carbs and sodium.
Here, we discuss a recent study that suggests a correlation between heart-healthy habits and cognitive health in the aging process.
It may be the mountain of data that creates confusion related to body weight, body fat, and general health. We want to break it down into simpler terms.
According to the chair of the department of epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Dr. Albert Hofman, approximately 30% of a dementia diagnosis can be attributed to some vascular disorder.
How can we tell when blood pressure is too low? This is a great question!
It used to be thought that the time after a woman stopped menstruating were some of her higher-risk years. Now, we are learning that risk may begin as a woman approaches menopause, not after.
Here’s what we want you do know...
The love that a human and pet share is not what we want to discuss here. What we want to look at is the data that suggests a dog owner also benefits physically from this bond.
Statistics tell us that the symptoms of PAD may be mistaken for something other than a heart condition.
Here, we want to suggest a few ways that you can show your heart some love. In so doing, you can reduce your risk of heart disease and cardiac events.
A heart attack may feel more like muscle pain, or like indigestion. What may really throw a person off is if their pain occurs away from the heart altogether. We expect a heart attack to hurt the heart, not another area such as the jaw or the earlobe.
Hopping aboard the yoga train isn’t just about getting toned and penned out. According to research, there are some pretty important benefits for the heart.
Ultimately, heart function decreases due to this. And, if a complete blockage of an artery occurs, a heart attack will follow.
Whether due to insufficient insulin production or an inability for the body to properly use this hormone, diabetes is a serious condition because it sets the stage for numerous secondary concerns, including cardiovascular disease.
Here, we will break down the nature of moderate and vigorous exercise to shed some light on your path of physical wellness.
On the flip side of these frightening emotions, there is hope. The objective is to navigate this journey skillfully, and that may mean getting proper assistance.
The truth is, heart disease took some time to develop. Much of the cause may lie in lifestyle habits, including smoking and food choices. Still, other factors lie beyond your control.
The experience of a cardiac event is not one that we think of and say “Boy! I hope I get to do that!” No. As much as possible, most people would love to avoid any unpleasant symptoms or conditions affecting their hearts.
Science suggests that a little chocolate here and there is good for the heart!
Aortic stenosis is a diagnosis that may sound frightening due to its relation to the blood flow coming from the heart. As you can imagine, the aortic valve is integral to a fully-operational heart.
Here, we will discuss what it takes to have a trusting relationship with your cardiologist.
Well, couple that bit of good news with the rich, bold flavors of red wine and all bets could very well be off! According to recent studies, there may be a good reason to rethink your drink.
The idea that you may have a heart condition can be frightening. We understand. Here are 7 questions you will want to ask for a better understanding of your heart health.
Whether you bounce right through the holidays or you would describe your journey as more of a trudge, there is immense value in creating a plan to get you through the season in optimal health.
If we look at existing research, we can see the significance of readily available tools for the prevention and treatment of this concerning the disease.
What could be causing such sensations? More importantly, is the cause something to feel alarmed about?
You may have even intended to take some of the suggested steps to manage your heart health, only to fall back into your normal routine. Here’s why...
Once a woman enters into the stage of perimenopause and menopause, she may face concerns that she never imagined. One of those concerns is an increased risk of heart disease after menopause.
Research is showing an increase in the number of strokes, especially among relatively young women. Because one cannot predict the onset of this event, there is ample reason to look to prevention.
In a more recent study, the correlation between the event and the chronic state of depression was studied in reverse, and the findings were quite interesting.
The more we are learning about stress, the more we encourage our patients to find ways to reduce their physiological response to daily stressors.
