Heart and cardiology

1,642 articles · Since 2004

Articles, page 11

Saying goodbye: the tragic impact of COVID-19 on families

January 17, 2023Jan 17, 2023

"No, no, no! I'm having a nightmare!" She shrieked through the phone. I couldn't bear to hear it as words fell clumsily out of my mouth. "Your husband couldn't breathe on his own. We had to put him on a…

“No, no, no! I’m having a nightmare!” She shrieked through the phone. I couldn’t bear to hear it as words fell clumsily out of my mouth. “Your husband couldn’t breathe on his own. We had to put him on a ventilator. I’m so sorry.”

I was apologizing already. I’m sure she knew that it wasn’t a good sign when a physician opened with an apology. “What does that mean?” she stuttered. …

Conditions and diseases

The urgent need for widespread CPR and AED access

January 9, 2023Jan 9, 2023

Damar Hamlin, Buffalo Bills safety, collapsed on the field during the Monday Night NFL game against the Cincinnati Bengals with nearly six minutes left in the first quarter. The incident rattled sports fans and left everyone emotionally distraught. The game was postponed and subsequently canceled. CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and AED (automated external defibrillator) were used as part of resuscitation efforts. It is gratifying to hear the good news that Hamlin …

Conditions and diseases

The reality of CPR: a powerful tool with serious consequences

Carolyn Boscia, MD

January 8, 2023Jan 8, 2023

The shocking scene that unfolded during the Bills-Bengals game Monday evening was a play that I've seen countless times on a very different stage. Yet as a hospital physician, watching Damar Hamlin's on-field cardiac arrest was unexpectedly jarring. Seeing the…

The shocking scene that unfolded during the Bills-Bengals game Monday evening was a play that I’ve seen countless times on a very different stage. Yet as a hospital physician, watching Damar Hamlin’s on-field cardiac arrest was unexpectedly jarring. Seeing the coordinated and professional medical response on the field was inspiring. No doubt, timely and effective CPR and defibrillation saved his life. As I reflect on the events of that evening, …

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Conditions and diseases

The emotional side of CPR: Reflecting on the challenges of resuscitation in the wake of Damar Hamlin’s collapse

Mick Connors, MD

January 5, 2023Jan 5, 2023

First, I want to extend my thoughts, wishes, and prayers to Damar Hamlin, his family, and his teammates. Seeing his collapse on television stirred many emotions in me; I can't imagine what those who were on the field or in…

First, I want to extend my thoughts, wishes, and prayers to Damar Hamlin, his family, and his teammates. Seeing his collapse on television stirred many emotions in me; I can’t imagine what those who were on the field or in the stadium experienced.

As a pediatric emergency physician, I can tell you that anything related to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is difficult. America got a real glimpse of the horrors of CPR …

Conditions and diseases

Tragedy strikes Monday Night Football as Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffers cardiac arrest. Is commotio cordis to blame?

Kevin Pho, MD

January 3, 2023Jan 3, 20233

A shocking scene during the Monday night football game between the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals. According to the New York Times: During a Monday Night Football game, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin tackled Cincinnati Bengals receiver Tee Higgins. After…

A shocking scene during the Monday night football game between the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals. According to the New York Times:

During a Monday Night Football game, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin tackled Cincinnati Bengals receiver Tee Higgins. After the tackle, Hamlin quickly stood up and took a few steps before collapsing and becoming unconscious. Medical personnel administered CPR and attended to Hamlin for 10 minutes before

…

Physician voices

The duality of being a female physician

Noel Dasgupta, MD

December 10, 2022Dec 10, 2022

I am a female cardiologist that graduated from medical school almost 20 years ago. Although my core personality has remained constant, I have been viewed through multiple different optics. What I find most interesting is that while most of my patients would unanimously agree that I am a smart, talented, and dedicated professional, I have never achieved this level of validation from other professionals in medicine.

I stay the same, but …

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The duality of being a female physician

Conditions and diseases

Much more than simple white coat syndrome

Murray Keith Wadsworth

December 2, 2022Dec 2, 2022

Ongoing consultations with a new-to-me internist have raised attention to my in-office blood pressure measurements. In preparation for my next appointment, I regularly record my BP, sometimes several times a day. In other office visits, for cancer talks and such, I simply explain I regularly home and grocery store measure my BP, which always seems to be in the established normal range. I am confident that these in-office rises are …

Physician voices

A doctor’s grief

Humeira Badsha, MD

November 30, 2022Nov 30, 20222

Last evening I crumbled in the arms of my patient and wept. This was unknown territory to me, an unexpected role reversal. For three weeks after my Mom's death, I maintained a stoic distance as patients offered their condolences, as…

Last evening I crumbled in the arms of my patient and wept. This was unknown territory to me, an unexpected role reversal. For three weeks after my Mom’s death, I maintained a stoic distance as patients offered their condolences, as they asked about my mother, and empathized. We doctors have been trained to do this, to face death, to keep our emotions at arm’s length. But this patient, who has …

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A doctor’s grief

Conditions and diseases

Technology disparities during cardiopulmonary cerebral resuscitation (CPCR)

Deepak Gupta, MD

October 27, 2022Oct 27, 2022

When we talk about health disparities, we talk about socially disadvantaged populations. The disadvantages can be defined locally if we are talking about local communities, regionally if we are talking about regional populations, nationally if we are talking about national residents, and globally if we are talking about global humans. Local, regional, national, and global economic disparities may define corresponding health disparities.

One among economic disparities can be technology disparities during …

Physician voices

Falling in love with the heart

David Alfery, MD

October 26, 2022Oct 26, 2022

An excerpt from Saving Grace: What Patients Teach Their Doctors about Life, Death, and the Balance in Between. In my third year at LSU Medical School, we dove headfirst into full-time patient care, taking required nine-week rotations on internal medicine,…

An excerpt from Saving Grace: What Patients Teach Their Doctors about Life, Death, and the Balance in Between.

In my third year at LSU Medical School, we dove headfirst into full-time patient care, taking required nine-week rotations on internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, and general surgery. In the fourth year there were additional mandated subjects, but for several months we were able to take elective courses as well. Students …

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Falling in love with the heart

The Podcast by KevinMD

My postpartum blood pressure spike [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

September 30, 2022Sep 30, 2022

"I think about my preeclampsia-specific and general knowledge gaps. I could not recall learning about postpartum preeclampsia in my prenatal classes. I wasn’t given any written instructions on what symptoms to expect with my blood pressure returning to normal. My…

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“I think about my preeclampsia-specific and general knowledge gaps. I could not recall learning about postpartum preeclampsia in my prenatal classes. I wasn’t given any written instructions on what symptoms to expect with my blood pressure returning to normal. My husband and I also would have benefitted from a pumping tutorial …

The Podcast by KevinMD

Think about genetics in heart disease [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

September 29, 2022Sep 29, 2022

"Despite these high numbers, we cardiologists often look to genetic screening last in our diagnostic workup. But without genetic screening, we can’t always see the whole picture in our cardiomyopathy patients. Once we’ve excluded coronary disease as an etiology, available…

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“Despite these high numbers, we cardiologists often look to genetic screening last in our diagnostic workup. But without genetic screening, we can’t always see the whole picture in our cardiomyopathy patients. Once we’ve excluded coronary disease as an etiology, available diagnostic tools such as echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging provide great …

Conditions and diseases

My patient with an aortic dissection almost died

Ton La, Jr., MD, JD

September 25, 2022Sep 25, 20224

"I just moved here from Portland two weeks ago," said Ms. Shelly in a weak voice. When I walked into the room, I immediately noticed her blood pressure was 224/108. The patient was mostly sleeping, but when I started speaking…

“I just moved here from Portland two weeks ago,” said Ms. Shelly in a weak voice.

When I walked into the room, I immediately noticed her blood pressure was 224/108. The patient was mostly sleeping, but when I started speaking with her, it was apparent to me something was wrong.

“Do you have a history of any heart problems?” I asked Ms. Shelly.

“I had aorta surgery two times…” she murmured before falling …

Conditions and diseases

How to stay off my operating table

Philip Ovadia, MD

September 9, 2022Sep 9, 2022

Health isn't about luck — it's about intentionality. But even if you're doing and saying all the right things, you might not be any closer to your goals. I know because I was there. As a heart surgeon, I was…

Health isn’t about luck — it’s about intentionality. But even if you’re doing and saying all the right things, you might not be any closer to your goals.

I know because I was there.

As a heart surgeon, I was very good at following the rules.

But I was still morbidly obese.

I followed the food pyramid to a T.

I exercised for the recommended amount of time each day.

I thought I was doing everything …

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How to stay off my operating table

Conditions and diseases

When the cardiac arrest algorithm comes into focus

Larry Atlas, NP

August 20, 2022Aug 20, 2022

An excerpt from South Eight. There is little similarity between the stillness of the archer, or of Arkin's former self on the rifle range, with the organized chaos of a dozen nurses and respiratory therapists and lab technicians pouring into…

An excerpt from South Eight.

There is little similarity between the stillness of the archer, or of Arkin’s former self on the rifle range, with the organized chaos of a dozen nurses and respiratory therapists and lab technicians pouring into Room 326 of the PCU. And yet there is something of it within him, a stillness descending within the cloud of voices, a fold within the rush of time and …

Physician voices

An experience of shame in training

Brett Linzer, MD

August 17, 2022Aug 17, 2022

Early one morning in 1996, after a sleepless night on call, I stood with my team in the VA hospital, outside room 102. I was a 28-year-old intern in the general medicine service. We were making rounds on twelve patients that my intern partner, myself, and our supervising resident had admitted overnight. We would walk room to room, and the intern would present the information regarding the patient by gathering …

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An experience of shame in training

The Podcast by KevinMD

Robotic interventional cardiology [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

July 29, 2022Jul 29, 2022

"In the majority of robotic-assisted cases I perform, automated movements are particularly helpful in delivering gear – I can easily get balloons and stents around the C-shaped curve in the right coronary artery from the cockpit just like I would…

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“In the majority of robotic-assisted cases I perform, automated movements are particularly helpful in delivering gear – I can easily get balloons and stents around the C-shaped curve in the right coronary artery from the cockpit just like I would be able to if I were at the table. In addition …

Conditions and diseases

My blood pressure spike on postpartum day 3

Maria Petty, NP

July 25, 2022Jul 25, 2022

The headache wasn't that bad. The fatigue was worse. I had slept about six hours total in the past three days. I was fortunate to have dutiful help from my husband and both grandmas, but I was still exhausted. Between…

The headache wasn’t that bad. The fatigue was worse. I had slept about six hours total in the past three days. I was fortunate to have dutiful help from my husband and both grandmas, but I was still exhausted. Between breastfeeding, diaper changes, snuggling, trying to eat and maybe shower, adjusting to being thrust into the most important role in my life, feeling the joy and anxiety as only someone …

Conditions and diseases

Nothing is sacred: Changing CPR algorithms can be a rude awakening

David A. Goodkin, MD

July 21, 2022Jul 21, 20225

It always makes my heart sink when the CPR guidelines change. In 1980 I became a provider of advanced cardiovascular life support (ACLS) as certified by the American Heart Association. This was a great move. Through my internship and the…

It always makes my heart sink when the CPR guidelines change.

In 1980 I became a provider of advanced cardiovascular life support (ACLS) as certified by the American Heart Association. This was a great move. Through my internship and the many years that followed, it proved comforting to know that I would act decisively and with confidence in the setting of a cardiorespiratory arrest. The ACLS course dictated dogmatic protocols – …

Conditions and diseases

These wounds will never heal

Anonymous

May 28, 2022May 28, 2022

May is National Stroke Awareness Month, and I want to share my story of my dad’s journey after his strokes. Doors open and shut during the early morning hours. I hear the drip dispensing the next dose and some muffled…

May is National Stroke Awareness Month, and I want to share my story of my dad’s journey after his strokes.

Doors open and shut during the early morning hours. I hear the drip dispensing the next dose and some muffled chatter outside the room. Several phones are ringing in all directions, and I listen to alarms going off next door. This means the heart rate is too high.

Snoring beside me, I …

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These wounds will never heal

Heart and cardiology

Articles, page 11

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