Cardiology
How to beat the 5 devils of modern medicine and live a longer, happier life
As a fellow cardiology practitioner, I am compelled to share some critical insights on the importance of preventive care and holistic approaches to longevity and happiness. Our profession constantly reminds us of these aspects, and it is time we take a more comprehensive approach to our patients’ well-being.
Throughout my career, spanning several decades and continents—from Hong Kong to New York, Singapore, and Shanghai—I have encountered a myriad of health challenges. …
How in-home care gave this couple a new lease on life
An excerpt from Get What’s Yours for Medicare: Maximize Your Coverage, Minimize Your Costs.
Carmella Mason has been a caregiver since her husband, Frank, had a heart attack fifty years ago. They were in their 80s when we spoke. Frank likely owes his survival to her efforts. When he developed diabetes, circulatory complications necessitated the amputation of a big toe in 2022. Things did not go well. He underwent more …
The hidden flaws of traditional CPR: Why we need a new approach to save lives
Since its inception in the 1960s, traditional CPR has been heralded as a revolutionary life-saving technique. However, the limitations of CPR are becoming increasingly apparent, particularly in cases of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Currently, the survival rate for OHCA patients with good neurological function at discharge stands at a mere 7.5 percent. This raises important questions about the efficacy …
Heal your heart from the inside out [PODCAST]
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In this episode, we sit down with Jonathan Fisher, a cardiologist, mindfulness teacher, and expert in holistic heart health. Drawing from his personal journey through anxiety and burnout, Jonathan shares insights from his …
Renal denervation: a solution for hypertension patients worldwide
Hypertension, known as high blood pressure (HBP), is a global epidemic. It impacts a staggering 1.28 billion people, more than a third of the adult population, and is the leading cause of death globally.
The most frightening part?
More than 75 percent of people with HBP don’t have it under control – current treatments, like lifestyle changes and medications, aren’t working for many patients. Millions of Americans, including many of …
From marathoner to heart health advocate [PODCAST]
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We dive into the intriguing world of endurance exercise and cardiovascular health with our guest, John C. Hagan III, an ophthalmologist and veteran endurance athlete. John shares his personal journey with long-distance running …
Against medical advice: Patient leaves hospital despite heart attack diagnosis
Interior hospital: (Patient screaming and crying out as they are wheeled in through the ambulance bay and brought into a room …)
Doctor: What brings you in today?
Patient: You gotta help me, Doc … My chest hurts. I think I’m having a heart attack!
Doctor: OK, sir. We’re going to do a series of tests, including an EKG and chest X-ray, and give you aspirin.
Patient: Whatever you’ve got to do, I don’t …
In-office cardiac CT scanners transform heart care in rural Mississippi
Mississippi holds a troubling distinction when it comes to heart health: Over a third of all deaths in the state are attributed to cardiovascular disease (CVD), making it the leading cause of death. The state also grapples with one of the highest adult obesity rates in the United States, with nearly 40 percent of adults considered to be obese. The alarming statistics highlight the urgent …
Diverse data redefines heart disease prevention strategies
In 2013, the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American College of Cardiology (ACC) created a “risk calculator” to estimate the 10-year risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and guide patient-centered medical therapy for prevention strategies, like starting statins. However, concerns arose that the pooled cohort equations (PCEs) overestimate risk and do not reflect the current diverse U.S. population, particularly underrepresenting Asian and Hispanic adults.
In 2023, AHA’s Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Scientific Advisory …
From marathons to moderation: Rethinking endurance exercise
When it comes to exercise, it is possible to get too much of a good thing. Regular participation in appropriate mild to moderate exercise is one of the most important habits for optimal health. The kind of detrimental excess endurance exercise I’m going to implicate includes marathon distance running, 100-mile bike rides, Iron Man/Half Iron Man triathlons, and other flat-out, pedal-to-the-metal exertions for more than an hour. Regrettably, I confess: …
Timeless wisdom for our aching hearts
An excerpt from Just One Heart: A Cardiologist’s Guide to Healing, Health, and Happiness.
“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart.”
— Helen Keller
In my journey of the heart, two atlases, seemingly worlds apart, converged to illuminate the interconnected dimensions of the heart. They helped me …
Catch peripheral artery disease early and prevent amputation [PODCAST]
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Don’t wait until you’re old: Diseases hitting younger generations now
The news is rife with articles about younger people getting cancer, heart attacks, high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation, and arthritis. We used to think of these as diseases of aging, but now we are finding high blood pressure and atherosclerosis in people as young as 20. The guidelines for colon cancer screening have been lowered to age 45 for people at normal risk. Experts can’t explain why this is happening. …
The “doctor” treatment: How to vet physicians for ourselves and those we love
There’s an old Dutch Proverb that goes: “We grow too soon old and too late smart.”
I’m not so sure about the “too late” part. In the almost five years since I walked off the mound for the last time, i.e., I retired from practicing medicine, I’ve learned a lot and maybe even gotten a tad smarter (about some things). I can change my refrigerator water filters with my eyes closed, …
Shifting gears: Navigating identity and role changes throughout a physician’s career
Physicians dedicate their lives to healing others, often at the expense of their own well-being. This intense focus on professional success can, over time, become a kind of addiction. As physicians progress through different stages of their careers, it becomes crucial to adapt and redefine their professional identity beyond the confines of clinical practice.
The evolving roles of physicians
The concept of a physician’s role is dynamic and ever-evolving. Early career stages …
Autoimmune disease? You’re more likely to get heart disease. Here’s why.
The prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) and stroke is increased in patients with chronic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). These are also known as IMID: immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. Rheumatic IMIDs, including rheumatoid and osteoarthritis, are associated with multiple cardiovascular issues with an enhanced cardiovascular risk, including premature coronary artery disease. Lupus can also increase coronary artery disease because of the elevated chronic …
Preventing amputations and saving lives starts with bringing PAD into the 21st century
There’s a condition that is crippling Black and brown communities at a disproportionate rate and causing 400 amputations each day in the U.S. That may sound scary, but the most frightening part? A new consumer survey found that 70 percent of Americans have never heard of the most common vascular disease, peripheral artery disease (PAD) – PAD kills more people than three of the top cancers (breast cancer, …
How microplastics harm your health
The New England Journal of Medicine recently published a paper titled “Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Atheromas and Cardiovascular Events,” which detected the presence of microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) in carotid artery plaque, with a higher risk of a composite of myocardial infarction, stroke, or death from any cause at 34 months follow-up than those in whom MNPs were not detected. Although this study did not establish a causal effect, …
Did you know that colder weather can complicate blood pressure control rates and treatment?
Next time you hear “cuffing season,” think of blood pressure cuffs. As winter has properly set in with shorter, darker, colder days, you might see the impact on blood pressure control rates.
A new study examined the health records of more than 68,000 adults being treated for hypertension and found that on a population level, BP control rates decreased by up to 5 percent during the winter months …
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Past Week
-
Who gets to be well in America: Immigrant health is on the line
-
Why specialist pain clinics and addiction treatment services require strong primary care
-
Harassment and overreach are driving physicians to quit
-
Why peer support can save lives in high-pressure medical careers
-
When a medical office sublease turns into a legal nightmare
-
Addressing menstrual health inequities in adolescents
-
Past 6 Months
-
Forced voicemail and diagnosis codes are endangering patient access to medications
-
How President Biden’s cognitive health shapes political and legal trust
-
Why are medical students turning away from primary care? [PODCAST]
-
The One Big Beautiful Bill and the fragile heart of rural health care
-
Who gets to be well in America: Immigrant health is on the line
-
Why “do no harm” might be harming modern medicine
-
Recent Posts
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The shocking risk every smart student faces when applying to medical school
-
Clinical ghosts and why they haunt our exam rooms
-
High blood pressure’s hidden impact on kidney health in older adults
-
Deep transcranial magnetic stimulation for depression [PODCAST]
-
How declining MMR vaccination rates put future generations at risk
-
The physician who turned burnout into a mission for change
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