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The human heart can suffer from a multitude of diseases that leads to a plethora of complications. One such complication for an individual to suffer is a heart attack.

What is a Heart Attack?

A heart attack is a medical phenomenon that occurs when a clogged artery in the body of an individual completely blocks blood flow to a certain area of the individual’s heart.

Causes of Heart Attacks

Due to a clogged artery, the process of nutrient/energy delivery, toxin removal, Oxygen delivery, comes to a halt thus causing sections of the heart tissue to die. The longer a patient takes to seek medical attention, the further the damage will be. Even if the clogged artery or arteries are treated, the damage sustained by cardiac muscles stays the same since the stated damage is irreversible.

Primary heart attack causes are a plethora of heart-related medical conditions that are collectively termed as Coronary Heart Disease.

Symptoms of Heart Attacks

One of the most worrisome facts about medical issues pertaining to the human heart is that the signs of a heart attack can vary from one individual to the other. Symptoms include:

• One may or may not experience a sudden episode of having cold sweats.

• One may or may not experience that their head is spinning out of control.

• One may or may not feel a sudden pain in their lower jaw or that their lower jaw is getting tighter on both sides. This uncomfortable feeling can originate from the person’s chest and make its way to their lower jaw.

• One may or may not feel pain in the region between their shoulder blades. The pain can spread from the person’s back to their chest.

• One may or may not feel a sudden uncomfortable feeling in their neck.

• One may or may not feel a sudden pressure in their shoulder regions.

• One may or may not have an episode of shortness of breath.

• One may or may not feel pain or a feeling of heaviness in their chest.

• One may or may not feel nausea.

• One may or may not feel that their arms are getting numb.

Treatment of Heart Attacks

Emergency heart attack treatment commences right away given the patient or people around them contacts EMT right away. In the ambulance, the patient will be given a series of medications to stop the formation of blood clots in their circulatory system. Then the patient will be given drugs that are collectively called ‘blood thinners’ in an attempt to make sure that blood flow resumes in the clogged artery. This prevents the heart tissues from sustaining further damage.

After the patient reaches the hospital, a doctor will examine the condition of the patient using:

• EKG
• Echocardiography
• Blood tests

After that, bypass surgery or cardiac catheterization may be suggested by the doctor to prevent future attacks and ensure the patient lives on.

One can keep all of these at bay by leading an active lifestyle and eating healthy. It is best to stay away from:

• Saturated fats
• Processed food products
• Alcohol
• Soft drinks
• Tobacco products
• Red meat.

Work out regularly, eat lots of vegetables and maintain a healthy BMI (Body Mass Index) factor.

If you would like to schedule an appointment with one of our cardiologists, please call: +1 (909) 881-7400

There would be almost no one who wouldn’t be knowing about what the heart is or about its basic function. Without this strong muscular pump, parts of the body wouldn’t be able to receive their share of oxygen and other nutrients that help them function. However, the heart also needs the same to operate and this is done by the coronary artery (arteries though, there are two of them, the left and the right). These arteries continuously supply blood to the heart to help the muscles operate at their best.

Coronary artery disease is the condition when the arteries supplying blood to the heart are narrowed or get blocked. This causes irregularity in the blood flow to the heart and subsequently causes the functions of the heart to become impaired.

What is Coronary Artery Disease

In medical and scientific terms, the narrowing, hardening and clogging of the arteries are called Atherosclerosis. This is caused by the buildup of cholesterol and fatty deposits on the walls of the arteries. These can impair the tone and function of the arteries as well as cause imperfections in the passageway of the blood flow. What does this result in? Because the blood flow is less than optimal, when the heart’s need for oxygen increases, it can cause a heart attack whereas the standard coronary artery disease symptoms might include chest pain or angina.

Click here to learn more about the “bad” cholesterol (LDL)

Causes of Coronary Artery Disease

A general unhealthy lifestyle with a fat-rich diet can often lead to clogged arteries. Even with a normal diet, some people might not be able to process fat as effectively as others. This can again lead to clogged arteries over time. Staying active and exercising regularly are good ways to make sure the risk of developing such conditions stays low.

However, other than the modifiable factors like diet, lifestyle and exercise, there are other non-modifiable factors that could be part of coronary artery disease causes. Some of these can include gender, advancing age, family history or inherited genes and race. Males tend to run a higher risk of getting affected by heart attacks due to atherosclerosis compared to females. If there have been people in your family who have suffered from this condition earlier, it is also likely that you could face the same. Getting counseled and having genetic testing done can let you know what your chances are of having the same kind of health condition.

Treatment of Coronary Artery Disease

The healthiest one is first to introduce lifestyle changes. Let go of smoking, eat more healthy foods, try to reduce stress, exercise regularly and bring your BMI (Body Mass Index) to the desired normal levels by losing weight.

Apart from that, through medication, cholesterol levels can be brought down, blood thinners could be prescribed to help improve blood flow, beta and calcium channel blockers could also be prescribed. In surgical methods, angioplasty and stent placement could be used to improve the blood flow and an artery bypass surgery can help reroute blood flow to the heart through another blood vessel in the body.

If you require assistance with your cardiovascular health, please schedule an appointment: +1 (909) 881-7400

Changing lifestyles, eating habits and work-related stress has led to an exponential increase of cardiovascular disease worldwide.

That stated thanks to medical advancements, there are a lot of ways a heart can bounce back and allow a person to lead a normal life. One such medical procedure is Cardiac Catheterization.

Click here if you want to learn more about Cholesterol and its affect on the heart

What is Cardiac Catheterization

Well, it is a medical procedure that is used both, to treat and diagnose a specific set of cardiovascular illnesses.

A doctor will insert a catheter (a long thin tube) in a vein or an artery located in the groin of a patient. The location of insertion can also consist of the arm or neck. The goal is to ensure the catheter reaches the heart cavity of the patient.

The reason – well, it is primarily used as a means to run diagnostic tests on a patient.

Risks Involved

Well, it is a medical procedure so it is evident it comes with a certain degree of risks. That stated Cardiac Catheterization risks consist of the following:

• The patient may or may not undergo an allergic reaction to either the medications used during the procedure or the catheter itself
• The site of insertion for the catheter may or may not get infected or bleed profusely. Severe bruising is also common
• There is a chance of the formation of blood clots
• The vein or artery that is being used to insert the catheter may or may not get damaged
• One can also suffer kidney damage
• The patient’s heart tissue may or may not suffer damage

Recovery After Procedure

Cardiac Catheterization recovery is a long process and can involve several hours of monitoring the patient from medical professionals.

As soon as the procedure concludes, the patient will be taken to a recovery room in order to let the person rest while the sedatives administered wears off. The patient will be observed closely. The site where the catheter was inserted will be sutured. The doctor may even use a plug made out of a material that is compatible with the human body enabling the latter to create a clot.

It is very important that the patient rests after the procedure. It is the only way one can keep profuse bleeding at bay. It is also essential in order to ensure that the blood vessel that serves as the route for the catheter to heal properly.

If everything goes well, a patient that went for this procedure can head home on the very same day of the procedure.

In the end, stay in touch with your doctor after you have had the procedure. This way you will be able to know the results as soon as it concludes. That stated, if you also had a biopsy then the results might take a little longer to process. Based on the results, the doctor will set up a treatment plan for you. Be sure to follow their suggestions for the best results.

Please call our office if you wish to schedule an appointment:

+1 (909) 881-7400

What is Cardiac Ablation

Cardiac Ablation is a surgical procedure that is performed on patients that are diagnosed with Heart Arrhythmia. Ablation destroys or scars targeted heart tissues of the patient that triggers abnormal heartbeats.

During the procedure, the doctor would use one or several flexible, long catheters (or tubes) and insert the same through an artery or vein present in your groin. The catheters will then be threaded towards the direction of your heart.

Risks Involved with Cardiac Ablation

Cardiac ablation does come with certain risks. They are as follows:

• The site on which the catheter is inserted may or may not get infected. Your doctor would prescribe you certain medications to keep infections at bay. Please take those on time and with due diligence. Furthermore, the site may or may not bleed. This is normal but if the bleeding goes on profusely, you should get in touch with your doctor right away!
• The catheter may or may not damage your blood vessels as it makes its way to the target site of your heart.
• The catheter may or may not puncture the membrane of your heart.
• The catheter may or may not damage the valves of your heart.
• The catheter could worsen your arrhythmia and to bounce back from this, your doctor may need to place a pacemaker on your heart.
• You may or may not suffer side effects like venous thromboembolism – or in simple words formation of blood clots in your lungs/legs.
• You may or may not undergo a stroke or suffer a heart attack.
• You may or may not come down with pulmonary vein stenosis – in simple words, the veins between your heart and lungs may or may not constrict.
• Your kidney may or may not get damaged from the dye that your doctor will be using during the procedure.

It is best to keep in mind that Cardiac Ablation comes with its fair share of risks. You should have a detailed discussion with your doctor and let the medical professional determine whether it is the right treatment for you.

Important Tips After Procedure

You would need to keep in mind that controlling your blood pressure is of utmost importance after you have had this procedure. To do that, keep the following things in mind:

• You would need to steer clear of using table salt. While preparing meals, use less salt as well. In this way, you will be able to control your BP seamlessly.
• Lead an active life – go for walks, jogs, Pilates, yoga or some light workout sessions at the gym.
• Please avoid taking puffs from your favorite cancer stick a.k.a. cigarettes/cigars.
• It is best that you steer clear from alcohol.
• Make changes in your diet plan. Include lots of fruits, salads, vegetables and lean meat in your diet. Avoid eating red meat.

It is best to keep in mind that Cardiac Ablation can be done again but this largely depends on your condition. You will need to consult your doctor for a detailed diagnosis.

Atrial fibrillation, better known as AFib, is a common medical condition found in nearly seventy percent of the global adult population who are above the age of sixty.

There are different forms of Atrial Fibrillation. Some are not-fatal and some are fatal. Patients with the fatal form of AFib need medical attention and extreme care in order to lead a long life.

AFib with RVR is one of the most dangerous forms of Arrhythmias since it can increase an individual’s chances of having a:

• Heart attack
• Stroke
• Decrease in the overall efficiency of the circulatory system due to inefficient blood flow that can result in irreversible organ damage

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Atrial Fibrillation with RVR

If the ventricles of the heart of a person who has arrhythmia beats faster than it should, then medically the person in question has Atrial fibrillation with RVR – otherwise known as Rapid Ventricular Rate.

Atrial Fibrillation with RVR Dangerous?

Yes it is! Atrial Fibrillation with RVR is something one should worry about and for the right reasons.

When ventricles in a person’s heart beat faster than they should be, the overall efficiency of the heart reduces by many folds. The reason is simple – the ventricles in a heart that has Afib with RVR is unable to properly fill themselves up with blood. This brings down the overall efficiency of the circulatory system as a whole, thus increasing the chances of the person in question to suffer a heart attack.

Afib with RVR Symptoms

Symptoms of AFib with RVR may experience the following:

• Fluttering heartbeat
• Unexplained bouts of chest pain
• You may feel always out of breath
• You may feel like your head is spinning

It is best to keep in mind that you can only tell if someone has AFib with RVR after that person has gone to the doctor and took an Electrocardiogram – otherwise known as EKG. Only a doctor can tell whether a person has AFib with RVR after examining their EKG results.

Afib with RVR Treatment

Arrhythmia is non-fatal, but in case a patient has RVR or some underlying heart conditions then one should seek AFib with RVR treatment right away. A doctor may or may not prescribe the following medications to begin the long process of treating AFib with RVR:

• Propranolol – a type of beta-blocker
• Diltiazem – a type of calcium blocker
• Digoxin

However, it is very important to consult a cardiologist before taking any kind of medication.

Even if one suffers from this condition, it is possible to lead a healthy life for decades given you avoid alcohol, smoking, junk food, and red meat. Furthermore, treatments are effective but bear this in mind, the condition can return. In order to be healthy and safe, it is vital to regularly visit your doctor and monitor your heart rate.

Changing lifestyle, work-related stress and bad eating habits could have detrimental effects on your health, especially your heart. There are several types of heart diseases and one that can pose a serious threat is Atrial Fibrillation.

What is Atrial Fibrillation?

Well, Atrial Fibrillation is just another medical term for a variation of irregular heartbeat. Irregular heartbeat itself is a medical condition that has a dedicated medical term – Heart Arrhythmia.

AFib affects the upper two chambers in your heart. It disrupts the normal flow of blood to the lower chambers of your heart.

Generally, people over the age of 60 are at risk of coming down with this medical condition.

Symptoms

Here is a list of a few Atrial Fibrillation symptoms:

• Heart palpitations – the feeling where you might notice that your heart is either skipping a beat or beating very fast
• Chronic chest pain
• Excessive fatigue – even when you have had a good night’s sleep
• You feel as if you are out of breath just after taking a brisk walk
• May feel weak all the time
• Can feel lightheaded
• You feel dizzy
• You faint every now and then

Atrial Fibrillation Causes

Doctors still cannot pinpoint the exact Atrial Fibrillation causes but they are convinced that the following could act as a catalyst:

• Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy – here the muscle of the heart becomes thick thus making it hard for the organ to function properly
• High blood pressure
• Congestive heart failure
• Congenital heart defects – in simple terms, in case the patient was born with certain defects in the heart
• Coronary Artery Disease
• Dysfunctional heart valves
• An overactive or dysfunctional thyroid gland
• Pericarditis – here the protective sac-like covering of the heart becomes infected and suffers inflammation
• AFib could also be the side effect of certain medications
• AFib is a common issue with people who abuse alcoholic drinks

Treatment

You doctor may or may not give you the following types of medications as a form of Atrial Fibrillation treatment:

• Beta-blockers – these will help your heart to bring down its beating rate if your heart beats way too fast
• Calcium channel blockers – these will help your heart muscles to relax thus bringing down the beating rate to normal levels
• Potassium or sodium channel – these do the same trick as mentioned above
• Digitalis glycosides – these help in strengthening the contractions of your heart
• Medications then thin out the blood in your body. This is just a precaution that is taken by doctors in order to ensure that a patient with AFib does not form clots in their heart and suffer a stroke

Like with any heart disease, a patient needs to make visible changes in their lifestyle and eating habits the moment they are diagnosed with one. Medical science has made significant advancements over the decades and if you follow your doctor’s advice with due diligence, you will be just fine – remember this!

LDL is often labeled as ‘bad cholesterol’ and for the right reasons. It can block arteries by depositing itself on the inner walls of your circulatory system. If this goes unchecked, you can come down with a stroke and even a fatal heart attack.

What is LDL cholesterol?

Still, confused about what is LDL or what is LDL cholesterol? Well, here is a simplified explanation. LDL has an outer rim that is made out of lipoprotein. It has a center made out of cholesterol molecules. LDL stands for Low Density Lipoprotein.

Effects of LDL on your heart

As mentioned earlier in this post, if you have an excessive amount of LDL in your blood, chances are really high that your arteries could get blocked. And if that happens, you could be looking at heart attacks and strokes.

High LDL levels are also the primary reason behind Coronary Artery Disease. Here the arteries of an individual will become constricted and hard. In such a situation, blood flow will be hindered and your heart will have to work really hard to supply blood all over your body.

Find out the difference between LDL and HDL Cholesterol

Symptoms

Here are a few signs of high LDL cholesterol levels in one’s blood:

• Chronic pain on the left side of an individual’s chest
• High blood pressure
• Unexplained bouts of dizziness
• Difficulty in walking properly
• Difficulty in speaking
• Chronic pain in the lower portion of limbs, especially legs

Treatment

The most effective way is to avoid the consumption of trans fats and saturated fats. It is a great idea to shed a few kilos of your weight and if you are overweight, seek help from a dietitian and a personal trainer.

More importantly, subject your body to at least half an hour’s physical activity on a regular basis. The said activity could be in the form of a walk, free-hand exercises, Pilates, Yoga or Rowing.

However, it is best to steer clear from alcohol, cigars, cigarettes, tobacco, and recreational drugs.

In recent years, the most common question health-conscious individuals have in their minds is, ‘What is HDL?’

Well, HDL is the abbreviated form for High Density Lipoprotein. It falls under the category of cholesterol. Cholesterol is an organic chemical compound that is the building block of animal cell membranes.

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What is HDL

High Density Lipoprotein or HDL is just one of the 5 known major groups of lipoproteins found in nature. HDL is known for its complex molecular structure since it contains multiple proteins. HDL is responsible for the efficient transportation of fat throughout the body of people and animals.

It is important to note that extreme levels of HDL in your blood can lead to death. When HDL levels are high in your blood, you can experience a mild stroke or even a heart attack. In case you are spared from these side effects, you can always feel chronic pain in your chest area.

Causes of HDL

HDL levels in your blood can increase to dangerous levels if you:

• Consume a lot of animal products that are rich in saturated fats such as beef, pork, ducks, steaks, bacon, eggs (from ducks), processed meat products rich in trans fats, processed food items like cookies, and instant noodles
• Do not lead an active lifestyle
• Do not go for walks after spending at least two hours sitting on a chair
• Using tobacco-based or tobacco products like cigarettes, snuff tobacco or cigars.
• Consuming alcoholic beverages excessively
• Abusing prescription and recreational drugs

Symptoms of HDL

Heart attack

This is bound to happen if your arteries are experiencing a blockage due to a blood clot.

Chronic pain felt in the chest area

If the coronary arteries of your circulatory system are affected by high levels of HDL cholesterol, you might feel pain in your chest area. This is known as angina and it is a definite sign of coronary artery disease.

Stroke

This is somewhat similar to a heart attack yet it occurs in your brain. Here your brain, if kept from receiving oxygenated blood, could experience a stroke.

Treatment

You can bring down the HDL levels in your body by:

• Consuming fewer amounts of salt in your food
• Eat lots of vegetables, fruits and grains like wheat, oats and the likes
• You should bid goodbye to animal fats of all sorts and remove them completely from your diet
• Lose some weight by joining the gym or going out for walks
• By staying away from recreational drugs, soft drinks, tobacco products, and alcoholic beverages
• Keep your anger and stress levels under control

To conclude, normal levels of HDL cholesterol is good for your heart but as you can see in the above sections, an excess of the same could prove fatal for you! The best step forward is to check the cholesterol levels in your blood at regular intervals, eat healthily and lead an active lifestyle.

If you would like to schedule an appointment with one of our highly qualified cardiologists, please click here.

One of the many ways you can stay healthy these days is by keeping tabs on your blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels.

You can also take a step further and make sure that your overall health condition is not on the nose dive by keeping an eye on your triglyceride levels. It is easy to do so. All you would need to do is to get your blood tested for triglycerides.

What is Triglycerides?

You might be wondering, ‘What is triglyceride?’ or ‘What is triglycerides in a blood test?’

Well, triglycerides are lipids that are found in the human and animal body. It resides within your body in your body fat and is released from the fat reserves in your blood by hormones, in between meals, for providing you energy to go on about your day-to-day activities.

Excess Triglycerides affects on your heart

If your blood has excess amounts of triglycerides, you may come down with issues like:

• Thickening of the interior walls of your arteries or hardening of your primary arteries. This will increase your chances of coming down with mild to major strokes, heart attacks, and cardiovascular diseases.

• In extreme cases, high triglyceride content in your blood can also result in pancreatitis or inflammation of the pancreas.

Recommended levels of Triglycerides

Whenever someone asks their doctors, ‘What is triglycerides normal range?’ they will be provided with the following data:

• Triglyceride normal level is > 150 mg/dL of your blood or > 1.7 mmol/L of your blood.

• You would worry a bit if your blood has 150 – 199 mg/dL or 1.8 – 2.2 mmol/L of triglyceride. This is borderline high and you should start making necessary changes in your lifestyle.

• If your blood has 200 – 499 mg/dL or 2.3 – 5.6 mmol of triglyceride then your condition is risky!

• In case you have 500 mg/dL or 5.7 mmol/L or triglyceride, your condition could be your grave!

How to control Triglycerides

It is best that you commit yourself to walk at least 5 kilometers or exercise for at least 30 minutes on a regular basis. If these are too much for you, then taking Yoga or Pilates class can also help you a lot. Here are a few basic recommendations:

• Take the lift or escalator. Your heart will thank you!

• Avoid taking sugar with your milk, tea or coffee.

• Minimize daily intake of sugary cereals, energy bars, energy drinks, soft drinks.

• Avoid food items that contain refined carbohydrates or that are made using white/all-purpose flour.

If you are overweight, you would need to lose those extra pounds in order to limit the triglyceride content in your blood. This is very important or you will suffer with health conditions for the rest of your life.

To avoid the buildup of triglyceride levels in your body you would need to minimize your consumption of saturated fats and hydrogenated fats. Saturated fats are found in red meat whereas hydrogenated fats are found in fried fast food items like burgers, steaks, fries and deep-fried chicken! It is best that you start eating chicken or turkey in case you cannot become a vegetarian! Furthermore, you can also start consuming salmon in huge amounts since seafood like salmon and tuna are packed with omega 3 fatty acids that are good for your heart and overall health.

If you would like to schedule an appointment with one of our highly qualified cardiologists, click here or call +1 (909) 881-7400

What is Cholesterol?

Often people search for the exact definition of cholesterol. This post will be addressing that only by summarizing what is cholesterol and what affects it can have on your heart. To begin with, Cholesterol helps the human body to insulate the nerves, produce necessary hormones, and build new cells.

An important organ in the human body is the liver, which is responsible for making all the cholesterol your body needs to function properly. This delicate balance is often broken when you are consuming an excess amount of animal-based food items like:

• Milk
• Eggs and
• Red-meat

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Types of Cholesterol

LDL or otherwise known as Low-density Lipoprotein. It is the bad cholesterol which, if present in an excess amount in your body, can cause artery blockages, strokes, and ultimately a fatal heart attack!

HDL cholesterol or otherwise known as High-density Lipoprotein. It is the good cholesterol that does not harm your body.

Causes of Cholesterol

The primary causes of cholesterol in the human body are as follows:

• A poor diet that consists of eating lots of bad fats in the form of mayonnaise, cheese, fried food items, red meat, bacon, baked items, chocolate, processed or unprocessed dairy products, processed meat products. Apart from these, if one is consuming an excess of food items containing trans-fats as one of their primary ingredients, they are increasing the amount of LDL in their body.

• Leading a sedentary lifestyle decreases the levels of HDL and increases the levels of LDL in your body.

• Alcohol abuse and excess smoking can also increase the level of bad cholesterol in your body.

Recommended levels of LDL cholesterol

Patients often ask their doctors, What is the normal level? Well, here it goes:

The recommended level of LDL levels in a patient’s blood should be lower than 100 mg/dL. If one has LDL levels in the amounts of 100 to 129 mg/dL, it is more or less acceptable given the person doesn’t have any underlying health issues. The case can take a turn for the worse if that same person has cardiovascular illnesses. If proper steps were not taken immediately, it can ultimately result in fatal heart disease.

On the other hand, if a person has 130 to 159 mg/dL of LDL then they should be on alert. Similarly, if a person has 160 to 189 mg/dL of LDL, they should seek medical attention immediately.

Effects of high LDL cholesterol

The primary and secondary arteries in your heart will become constricted.

LDL deposits itself on the inner walls of the arteries thereby hindering blood flow which will compel your heart to work harder to pump oxygenated blood to the different parts of your body. If this continues to be unnoticed, your arteries will get blocked, leading to a severe heart attack.

It is best to lead a healthy lifestyle by bidding goodbye to alcohol, smoking, and fried food items. Furthermore, one should subject their body to regular physical activities like exercise, Yoga or Pilates. Moreover, one should also keep tabs on their cholesterol levels by periodically visiting a heart specialist.

If you would like to schedule an appointment with one of our highly qualified cardiologists, please click here or call +1 (909) 881-7400.