Heart failure is a very common disease and affects approximately 1-2 percent of the adult population in developed countries. The prevalence of congestive heart failure rises to about 10% among the population over 70 years of age. Projection in the United States shows that heart failure will increase by more than 40% by the year…
What is Cardiomegaly?
The term cardiomegaly usually refers to an enlarged heart as seen on imaging tests, usually the chest X-ray. The heart is composed of four chambers, and an enlargement of any of the chambers can result in cardiomegaly. A patient with an irregular heartbeat, such as atrial fibrillation, can have a severe enlargement of the heart's…
LVAD: Left Ventricular Assist Device
The LVAD (left ventricular assist device) has become something of a necessity for treating patients who are waiting on the transplant list - some of whom could deteriorate before receiving that life-saving operation. Dr. Alain Bouchard and Dr. Mustafa Ahmed are joined by Dr. Jason Guichard of South Carolina and Dr. David McGiffin of Australia…
Remote Patient Monitoring in Heart Failure
An exciting — and expensive — type of device allows doctors to monitor their heart failure patients from afar. Through Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM), medical professionals can keep tabs on their patients without requiring them to risk the dangers of a hospital visit and would, in fact, aid in early detection and treatment. But what's…
New Breakthrough in Treatment of Congestive Heart Failure
Experts are heralding the use of SGLT2 inhibitors as a breakthrough in the treatment of congestive heart failure. In this episode of the MyHeart.net podcast, Dr. Bouchard and Dr. Ahmed discuss the new approach with heart failure specialist Dr. Jason Guichard of Prisma Health in South Carolina, covering the incredible benefits of a class of…
Metoprolol Tartrate – Profiled By A Cardiologist
Has a doctor prescribed Metoprolol Tartrate to you or a loved one? Are you wondering what exactly this medication is, how it works, and if there are any side effects? All of these questions and more will be answered in this quick and simple profile. What is Metoprolol Tartrate? Metoprolol Tartrate is a commonly prescribed…
Amyloidosis: Treating a Rare Disease
What exactly is amyloidosis, and how do doctors treat it? Dr. Alain Bouchard and Dr. Mustafa Ahmed discuss this rare disease with Dr. Jason Guichard, a cardiologist with Prisma Health in South Carolina specializing in heart failure/transplant. Subscribe to the MyHeart.net Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Google Podcasts. Please comment below if you would like us to…
COVID-19 and Children
Previously recorded May 10, 2020 Dr. Alain Bouchard and Dr. Mustafa Ahmed are joined by Dr. Mark Law, a pediatric cardiologist at Children's of Alabama, and Dr. David Fieno of Shelby Baptist Medical Center to discuss the effect of COVID-19 on children's cardiological health as well as its relationship to Kawasaki disease. Transcript Dr. Philip…
Cardiac MRI Scans in Patients with Pacemaker Defibrillators
Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a completely noninvasive test that uses a magnetic field and radio frequency waves to create detailed pictures of the heart and blood vessels. It depicts the heart wall and valves structure and displays its function. It provides information on the regional and global heart function, valves and their function…
Women and Stress Cardiomyopathy or Takotsubo
Points to Remember:- Stress cardiomyopathy or Takotsubo was initially regarded as benign but can be associated with severe clinical complications including death.- Most common symptoms include chest pain and shortness of breath similar to a heart attack.- 5 - 6% of female present with suspected STEMI.- Women are frequently affected by emotional stress such as…
