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.
Apr 13th, 2021
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.
As we have discovered the various aspects involved in long-term heart health – and the lack thereof – more people are creating lifestyle habits that reduce their risk of heart disease and cardiac events.
The term “holiday heart syndrome” first appeared in 1987, when 24 patient cases were studied during the holiday season.
Heart disease is a prevalent health problem for men and women. It has been estimated that 1 in 3 men develop heart disease.
A recent study published in the American Heart Association journal Circulation investigated the factors behind the relatively short life expectancy in our country. Despite being one of the wealthiest nations, the United States ranked #31 in the world.
Here, we discuss the details that separate a heart attack from cardiac arrest, and what you need to know as you go about protecting your heart health.
Recently, researchers have discovered a correlation between poor sleep patterns and diminished heart function. This is an area of interest to us and should be to you, as well.
We all know that activity is important to a healthy heart. The problem is, if you are older or less physically-inclined, you may find it difficult to select forms of exercise that you find enjoyable enough to keep doing.
Sodium. It’s a substance that people are told to limit when they visit the doctor, especially if they have any type of heart problem or high blood pressure.