What is an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm? The aorta is the main blood vessel that leaves the heart and supplies the body with blood. The abdominal aorta is the aorta that starts below the chest and goes down to the hip area. Abdominal aortic aneurysm describes a disease process whereby the abdominal aorta dilates and becomes…
Robotic Assisted PCI Heart Stent Placement – Explained By A Cardiologist
What is Robotic Assisted PCI Heart Stent Placement? Robotic Assisted PCI Heart Stent placement is commonly known as robotic PCI. PCI stands for percutaneous coronary intervention that basically means fixing blockages in heart arteries without the need for open surgery using small tubes known as catheters inserted through the blood vessels. Robotic assisted PCI is…
Heart Valve Surgery – Mechanical Vs. Bioprosthetic – Which Is Better?
There are almost 100 000 heart valve replacement surgeries in the United States every year. This includes the most common which are mitral valve replacement and aortic valve replacement. In general there are 2 choices for type of surgical heart valve replacement, mechanical valves or bioprosthetic valves. When choosing the valve type its important to…
Fast Heart Rate – Symptoms, Causes and Treatments
A fast heart rate is known as tachycardia and commonly defined as a heart rate greater than 100 beats per minute. Although a fast heart rate is commonly defined as a heart rate greater than 100 beats per minute, there is no specific cut off for what defines a significantly fast heart rate or a…
My Child Passes Out
Do you have a child who passes out? Passing out/falling out/fainting, or what is medically termed syncope, commonly occurs in older children and adolescents. It is estimated that 1 in 3 people will have an episode of syncope during their lifetime and accounts for 3-5% of emergency room visits. It is more frequent in females…
Stem cells in the treatment of a heart attack: a Non-STEMI
What is the role of stem cell treatment of a heart attack: non-STEMI? Non-STEMI or Non-ST elevation Myocardial Infarction is the dominant presentation of acute coronary syndrome. This occurs when the blood supplied to the heart muscle is suddenly blocked. Other presentations include unstable angina and STEMI or ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction. Patients presenting…
What Does An Echocardiogram Show?
What Does An Echocardiogram Show? An echocardiogram is used to show possible abnormalities of the heart structure and function that may be the cause for symptoms thought to be related to heart disease. An echocardiogram shows us the structure and function of the heart. It provides information on the heart pumping function and heart size.…
High Blood Pressure and Headache – Is There A Relationship?
High Blood Pressure and Headache – Is There A Relationship? Does high blood pressure cause headache? This has been the subject of much debate over the years and the subject of scientific investigation. In this article we will examine the evidence and see if there is an association between high blood pressure and headache. An…
Diet And High Blood Pressure
Does diet play a role in high blood pressure? Are there certain foods that increase blood pressure or are there certain foods that can lower blood pressure or make it easier to control? In this article we will look at some of the studies that have looked at association between diet and blood pressure, and…
Surviving a Heart Attack: the Big One!
The widow maker heart attack, also known as "the big one", is an acute occlusion of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery that can lead to severe heart muscle damage and/or death. If not treated in a timely matter, surviving a heart attack of this magnitude is very difficult. While visiting Austin, Texas, my wife and I…
Cholesterol treatment and atherosclerosis: a new frontier
The problem with cholesterol treament and atherosclerosis: Over the last decade, cholesterol treatment and atherosclerosis has evolved significantly. Atherosclerosis is a general term for hardening and thickening of the arteries. In its most common form, atherosclerosis is a slow progressive disease that usually starts in early adulthood and becomes dangerous later in life. Atherosclerosis is a…
Treatment of High Blood Pressure: When Medicines Don’t Work
The treatment of high blood pressure can be very challenging, especially when medicines don't work. Normal blood pressure is when the systolic blood pressure is less than 120 mm Hg and the diastolic blood pressure is less than 80 mm Hg. Hypertension is defined as a consistent elevation of blood pressure. Blood pressure is considered elevated when…
Stem Cells in the Treatment of Heart Failure
Can stem cells help improve heart muscle in patients with congestive heart failure? The use of stem cells in the treatment of heart failure cases is currently being investigated. Cardiovascular disease is the # 1 killer in the United States accounting for one third of all deaths. Heart disease kills more people than cancer, HIV, diabetes or trauma. Many advances in…
Chest Pain in Kids: Explained by a Pediatric Cardiologist
Chest Pain in Kids: A Common Complaint Chest pain in kids is a very common complaint that is often heard from young children to teenagers. More often than not it is not a symptom of heart disease in children. In fact, over 95% of children referred to see a pediatric cardiologist for chest pain, do…
CT Coronary Artery Calcium Heart Scan – The Facts
What is a CT Coronary Artery Calcium Heart Scan? The coronary artery calcium heart scan is a CT scan of the heart that looks for areas of calcium in the arteries that supply the heart with blood. The amount of calcium detected is then added together to give a score. The more calcium there is,…
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