You’ve probably heard the recommendation: If you’ve already had a heart attack, take a low-dose aspirin daily. But is that enough? Beyond its pain-relieving effects, aspirin blocks an enzyme pathway that helps platelets in the blood stick together. This lowers the risk that blood clots will form, which can lead to heart attack. But it … Continue reading How a simple test can help tailor aspirin doses for heart disease
If you have kids, hopefully you had a friend and ally in your OB/GYN. This is one friendship you want to keep. Many women consider their obstetrician-gynecologist (OB/GYN) to be their primary care provider, particularly during the childbearing years. You may wonder how important this relationship is as you move from childbirth to the busy … Continue reading Why you should continue seeing your OB/GYN after having children
Cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes are listed as some of the leading causes of death in women across the globe. But in the United States, the number one killer of women may come as a shock: heart disease. Heart disease has long been associated as a man’s condition, but this is one of many misconceptions … Continue reading Women and heart disease: It’s not just a man’s problem
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the U.S. Smoking, high blood pressure, a lack of exercise, high cholesterol, anger and stress are some of the key risk factors for developing heart disease. But studies have shown that regular yoga practice can help improve your health on many levels, … Continue reading Yoga and its heart-healthy benefits
Current estimates are that nearly 6.5 million Americans over the age of 20 have heart failure. Public perception is that heart failure occurs when one’s heart stops beating completely. It’s seen as a single point in time when the heart simply fails to operate. The truth is far more complicated. Heart failure is a chronic, … Continue reading 4 discoveries that are transforming heart failure care
Do you take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for pain relief or fever management? New research supports the claim that people who routinely take NSAIDs could face a higher risk of having a heart attack. The recent study, published in the British Medical Journal, found that all commonly used NSAIDs — including over-the-counter ibuprofen and naproxen … Continue reading NSAIDs may increase your risk for heart disease, new research suggests
Like many things we see in medicine, it just didn’t seem fair. Heart-wise, my patient seemed to have done everything right: good diet, plenty of exercise, ideal weight and no smoking. Yet, at a young age, he had hardening of the arteries, or atherosclerosis, which put him at risk of a heart attack or a … Continue reading Lipoprotein(a), genetic heart condition, increases risk of heart attack
The human body is composed of between 20,000 and 25,000 different genes that make us into who we are today. Some of the genes we inherit determine the color of our hair, while others are responsible for the development of the heart. Unfortunately, sometimes a faulty gene can be present, leading to a life-threatening genetic heart … Continue reading Genetic heart conditions could cause sudden death
What if a twice-a-year injectable medication could replace popping a pill every day to help fight high cholesterol? According to new research presented at the November 2016 American Heart Association Scientific Sessions in New Orleans, a clinical study suggests that a drug called inclisiran drastically reduces cholesterol by cutting the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) by half … Continue reading Could twice-a-year shots replace daily cholesterol medication?
What do you do when a heart disease diagnosis abruptly takes away the job you love and almost swallows your life? Florence Hawkins-Criss made art. Last November, Florence’s painting series, “Listen to Your Heart,” hung in a juried show at Janette Kennedy Gallery in Dallas, Texas. The display was a mixture of self-portraits, colorful heart monitors and … Continue reading Heart disease stopped Florence from teaching but led her to her calling
