Before reading this, if you haven’t read the first few posts, go ahead and read them so you have a good understanding of what mitral valve prolapse is, and how the valve is affected. Mitral valve prolapse has had several names over the years, including floppy valve syndrome, click syndrome, and click murmur syndrome. Up…
High Cholesterol – Part 1 – Should I Take A Statin?
By Julian Booker, MD Should I take a statin? Statistics tell a story about groups of patients, not a single patient (you). What statistics can do is provide your physician with information about what therapies will probably be helpful for you. These statistics help your doctor identify therapies that may help you live longer and…
How often should I have an Echocardiogram?
By Julian Booker MD How often should I have an Echocardiogram? The first thing that must be stated about the echocardiography appropriate use guidelines is that they are just that...guidelines. They are designed to provide direction but still be vague enough to allow flexibility in their interpretation if needed. This flexibility is needed so as…
How Much Exercise Should I Do?
One of the big hurdles people wanting to get started with exercise face is not knowing what, or how much to do. Everyone agrees that exercise is beneficial to health but sadly after this things seem to fall apart. The problem is that everyone seems to disagree on what the right amount of exercise to…
Heart Failure – How Much Salt Can I Eat?
By Jason L. Guichard MD, PhD Even though the term “heart failure” sounds incurable and fatal, most patients with heart failure are still able to live long and healthy lives. The key to heart failure management is early diagnosis and treatment, including lifestyle changes. The treatment of heart failure is complex and individualized to each…
The Benefits Of Exercise
By Murtaza Ahmed MD When it comes to our health, exercise is one of the most powerful tools we have at our disposal, yet so many of us choose not to utilize it and aren’t gaining the benefits of exercise. In the modern day world we have begun to see exercise as a chore, something…
Ten Tips For Weight Loss
By Murtaza Ahmed MD So you’ve made the decision to lose weight and get healthy, you have an idea what you should and shouldn’t be eating and you can’t wait to start seeing the results. This is great and you are well on your way, so the last thing you want to do is make…
Is it safe to take Viagra with my heart medications?
Sexual activity plays a crucial role in the psychological health and quality of life scores in patients with cardiovascular disease. Unfortunately, intimacy is frequently an issue in patient with cardiovascular disease. The causes of sexual dysfunction following myocardial infarction are multiple and include anxiety, depression, medication effect and vascular insufficiency. Regardless of the cause, the…
Weight Loss Secrets – Why Do We Put On Weight?
By Murtaza Ahmed MD A lot of the information you read out there on random websites is based on nothing more than people’s opinions or experiences. Although this can sometimes carry some merit it should be taken very carefully as there is often no basis behind the claims. It is often very misleading as people…
High Triglycerides and My Heart
By Julian Booker MD Triglycerides are a type of fat found in your blood. Excess triglycerides are then stored in fat cells throughout your body. If you eat too many calories, it is a good bet that those extra calories will be triglycerides at some point. A normal triglyceride level is less than 150 mg/dl and…
How Often Should I Have a Stress Test?
By Julian Booker MD As is my usual practice with blog entries, I try to give disclaimers. These disclaimers are designed to protect YOU!! Your doctor has your best interest at heart (pun intended). Trust your doctor. If you have any reservations about your care, talk to him/her. Your clinical situation is unique. This blog…
Mitral Valve Prolapse – Part 4 – Mitral Regurgitation
By Mustafa Ahmed MD So far we have discussed what mitral valve prolapse is, and what causes it. If you have not read the previous sections yet, then I suggest you go read those first to have a basic understanding of the mitral valve. Now we will discuss one of the complications of mitral valve…
Weight Loss Secrets – How To Start A Diet
By Murtaza Ahmed MD Knowing how to start a diet is something that often troubles people and getting it wrong can lead to poor results. When aiming for weight loss, I cannot overstress the importance of taking a new diet regime or healthy eating plan one step at a time. Again and again I see…
Weight Loss – What Should I Eat For Breakfast?
By Murtaza Ahmed MD One of the most commonly asked questions I get regarding weight loss is "what should I eat for breakfast?" There are many different ideas, misconceptions and somewhat plain untruths out there about breakfast. You’ve probably heard it being referred to as ‘the most important meal of the day’ or been told…
Weight Loss Secrets – Step One To Rapid Weight Loss
By Murtaza Ahmed MD After reading my previous article you should now understand that dieting isn’t about following some dictated, pre-formed set of rules and you know what food is made up of, I think you’re ready to take the first steps to improving your own diet and start your journey to safe and sustainable…
