What is a stroke? A stroke is a medical emergency. It is similar to a heart attack for the brain. It occurs when the flow of blood to the brain is interrupted, resulting in oxygen starvation to the brain cells which can no longer perform their task whether it is memory, vision or muscle control.…
WHAT DOES CARDIAC CT SHOW?
Noninvasive cardiac imaging has evolved significantly over the last several years. Advances in technology has led to development of newer CT (Computed Tomography) systems with improved spatial and temporal resolution, shorter imaging time, and with ECG gating, allows for the imaging of the beating heart. Cardiac CT is the fastest growing imaging modality in the field…
UNCONTROLLED HYPERTENSION INCLUDING HYPERTENSION EMERGENCIES
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…
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm – Symptoms and Treatment
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…
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…
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…
Aortic Aneurysm – What You Need To Know
What Is An Aortic Aneurysm? Aortic aneurysm describes an aorta that is enlarged in size. If it becomes significantly large it can lead to catastrophic complications. The aorta is the large blood vessel that the heart pumps into via the aortic valve every time it beats. Incredibly the aorta pumps around 200,000,000 liters of blood around…
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…
Varicose Veins: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Varicose Veins are incredibly common and affect around 20% of the US population. In many people they are not just a cosmetic nuisance, but can lead to pain, ulcers and swelling and severely affect quality of life. Why Do Varicose Veins Happen? High Pressure In the Veins – This is known as venous hypertension, a…
Symptoms of Blood Clot in Leg
A blood clot in the leg is commonly known as a DVT, short for a deep venous thrombosis. In this article we will discuss symptoms of blood clot in leg. Common symptoms of a blood clot in your leg include leg pain, leg swelling, tenderness in the leg and leg cramping, although it is not…
