Uncontrolled hypertension and hypertension emergencies are a powerful risk factor for future cardiac and non-cardiac events. Hypertension affects almost 1/3 of adults and over 1 billion people globally. Hypertension prevalence increases with aging of the population affecting over 50% of people over 60-years old. The new guidelines identified ideal blood pressure, even among the…
What is a murmur?
As a pediatric cardiologist, I often get asked, “What is a murmur?” Simply put, a murmur is only a heart sound occurring between the “lub and dub” sounds of the heart. More importantly, a murmur is not a hole or a heart defect. The bigger question to me is if there is something abnormal…
What is the best coronary stent for our patients?
Whenever we start a clinical trial to test a new coronary stent we always ask ourself; “what is the best stent for our patients”? Coronary artery disease is a progressive pathological condition that results from atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries. As atherosclerosis progresses from damage of the inner layer of the artery, fat or…
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…
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…
Open Heart Surgery – Incredible Picture Guide!
What is Open Heart Surgery? Traditionally, open heart surgery meant the breastbone being cracked open, providing direct access to the heart, allowing heart surgeons to fix heart problems while the patient is placed on a heart lung machine. Open heart surgery is probably the most widely known and feared of all operations, but in the…
Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension and Pulmonary Endarterectomy
Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is an uncommon disease but an important one for several reasons – it is substantially under recognized, it may result in progressive and disabling symptoms, the natural history is progression to death, but there is a highly effective operation (Pulmonary Endarterectomy) that may abolish symptoms and reverse the unfavorable natural…
Heart Attacks In Women
Why single out heart attacks in women? Dealing with the societal “requirements” and to “keep up with the Jones,” all of the women in my life hardly have time to themselves. When they do get time to relax, 9 times of 10 they are already exhausted and feel fatigued. Heart disease is the predominate killer…
How to do the MitraClip Procedure – A Complete Guide
The MitraClip procedure represents a cutting edge way to fix a leaky mitral valve. For a broad overview of the procedure and the type of patients who need it, see our article The MitraClip – Treatment for a Leaky Heart Valve. The following article is meant for all levels of those wishing to learn about the…
Heart Flutter
Heart flutter is a nonspecific term often used by people when describing an abnormal sensation in their chest that may refer to one of several conditions which may be benign or may be concerning, including premature ventricular contractions (PVCs), premature atrial contractions (PACs), heart block, atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, ventricular tachycardia, POTS, or muscle spasms in…
