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Heart Health

Does dietary cholesterol matter? A cardiologist’s perspective on diet and heart health

Health Topics

Dec 15, 2022

Most people know that too much cholesterol is bad for the heart. But that’s where understanding stops, and confusion about food sets in—the relationship between dietary cholesterol intake and heart health isn’t as simple as it may seem.Logic may tell...

Triglycerides: What your levels mean and how to lower them

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Sep 8, 2022

You already know you need to have your cholesterol checked regularly—that’s common knowledge. But you may need to know your triglyceride numbers, too.According to Catherine McNeal, MD, an internist on the medical staff at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center...

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Chest pain? You might need a cardiac CT scan

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Aug 8, 2022

Nearly 6.5 million people visit America’s emergency rooms each year for chest pain. Additional millions of people seek out cardiologists to evaluate their chest pain, concerned they may be at risk for heart disease.If that’s you, it’s important to know...

My smartwatch EKG says I have an irregular heartbeat. Now what?

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Aug 1, 2022

Every day, I’m amazed at how many of my patients own smartwatches or wearable devices. In fact, a recent study by Pew Research found approximately one in five Americans owns and wears a smartwatch. That translates to 66.5 million people.Young...

LAAO procedure for AFib: An alternative to blood thinners

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Jul 25, 2022

If you’ve been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (AFib), your doctor may have mentioned the Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion (LAAO) procedure. An alternative to blood thinners, this minimally invasive treatment option is helping many people get back to living a happy,...

Living with heart failure: When to consider advanced care

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Jun 6, 2022

Your home has many systems that keep it running smoothly, such as electrical, mechanical, structural, chemical and plumbing—and the same holds true for your heart. When all your heart’s systems are running as they should, it functions normally.But when one...

Why is hypertension (aka high blood pressure) dangerous?

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Jun 4, 2022

You’ve heard of hypertension and you get your blood pressure checked regularly at your doctor’s visits, but what is high blood pressure, and why is it worrisome? Here’s what you need to know, especially if you have a history of...

What to know before getting a heart stent

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May 25, 2022

Heart stents are a potentially lifesaving treatment in preventing heart damage during and after a heart attack. The procedure opens arteries that are causing the heart attack and can relieve other blockages that may be causing chest discomfort called “angina.”But before getting stents...

7 healthy habits to help you thrive with heart disease

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May 24, 2022

Life changes quickly with a diagnosis of heart disease. Whether the doctor says your coronary artery is filled with plaque or your heart muscle isn’t pumping as well as it should, your survival will require treatment. And it’s more than just taking a...

Understanding your heart valve disease diagnosis

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May 18, 2022

Your heart’s ability to pump oxygen-rich blood throughout the body depends on a number of complex functions. The heart’s four valves allow blood to flow through your heart in the right direction. When they don’t open or close properly, the flow of...

So, you were diagnosed with a heart condition. Now what?

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May 17, 2022

If you’ve received a diagnosis related to the heart or blood vessels, it’s normal to be frightened and a little confused. The information out there on heart conditions can be overwhelming.“Heart disease can be confusing at first,” said Michael Mack,...

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How to know when it’s time to see a cardiologist

Health Topics

May 13, 2022

There are many people whose first trip to see a cardiologist is taken in the back of an ambulance. That is unfortunate because today, cardiologists can help those at risk prevent serious heart and vascular events—like heart attack, stroke or...

7 simple healthy habits to lower your blood pressure

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May 12, 2022

Did you know that nearly half of all adults in the US have high blood pressure? As a practicing interventional cardiologist, I see patients with high blood pressure, or hypertension, every day and can verify this statistic. The good news...

What to expect during a cardiac ablation procedure

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May 4, 2022

Cardiac ablation is a preferred treatment option for many arrhythmias—or abnormal heart rhythms—and is particularly effective for the most common type of arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation (AFib). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 12 million people...

How doctors test for heart disease

How doctors test for and diagnose heart disease

Health Topics

Apr 27, 2022

Heart disease is the #1 cause of death in both men and women in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, every 36 seconds, an American dies from cardiovascular disease. But there’s good news—lifestyle modifications, like...

Early signs and symptoms of heart failure

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Apr 5, 2022

The symptoms of heart failure, also referred to as congestive heart failure (CHF), can be subtle and easy to dismiss. Feeling tired? Well, you’ve been staying up later than normal this week… Weight gain? It has been a few weeks...

Blood pressure basics: What do systolic and diastolic mean?

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Mar 3, 2022

Every time you go to the clinic, you get your blood pressure checked. Someone tells you the result—ideally a higher number over a lower number—and that’s noted in your medical record. But what do those numbers mean and why are...

From heart attack to half-marathon in only six months

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Feb 22, 2022

At 53, Thom Harris didn’t see it coming. Not the heart attack. And not the half-marathon that would follow only six months later.On May 1, Thom, in good physical shape and healthy according to his bloodwork, was cleaning his boat...

4 healthy habits to help you thrive with atrial fibrillation (AFib)

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Feb 2, 2022

As an electrophysiologist, I see people with heart rhythm problems or irregular heartbeats, also known as arrhythmias. The most common type of arrhythmia I treat is atrial fibrillation, also referred to AFib.If you’ve been diagnosed with AFib, first, know that...

What to know about COVID-19 and your risk of myocarditis

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Jan 27, 2022

The thought of having COVID-19 strikes fear into the hearts of many—understandably so, given the deaths and long-term health problems that it has caused for some. But COVID-19 may inflict more than just fear upon hearts. It may also cause...