Cardiology

The hidden flaws of traditional CPR: Why we need a new approach to save lives

Conditions

September 23, 2024

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]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

September 11, 2024

Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes!

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

Jeremy Bock, MD

Conditions

August 22, 2024

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]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

August 20, 2024

Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes!

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

Veronica Bonales, MD

Physician

August 4, 2024

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

Mandar R. Jagtap, DO

Conditions

July 31, 2024

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

Charles Dinerstein, MD, MBA

Conditions

July 29, 2024

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

John C. Hagan III, MD

Conditions

July 14, 2024

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

Jonathan Fisher, MD

Physician

July 12, 2024

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 …

Read more…

Timeless wisdom for our aching hearts

Catch peripheral artery disease early and prevent amputation [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

June 14, 2024

Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes!

Join us on the podcast as we delve into the hidden epidemic affecting Black and brown communities: peripheral artery disease (PAD). Our guest, Anahita Dua, a vascular surgeon, sheds light on the alarming …

Don’t wait until you’re old: Diseases hitting younger generations now

Toni Brayer, MD

Conditions

May 31, 2024

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

Daniel J. Waters, DO

Physician

May 24, 2024

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

Aseem Desai, MD

Physician

May 15, 2024

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.

Nancie Wiseman Attwater

Conditions

May 13, 2024

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

Anahita Dua, MD, MBA

Conditions

April 18, 2024

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

Neha Pidatala, MD

Conditions

April 5, 2024

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, …

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How microplastics harm your health

Did you know that colder weather can complicate blood pressure control rates and treatment?

American Medical Association

Conditions

March 4, 2024

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 …

A people-first approach to cardiac rehabilitation

Melissa Tracy, MD

Conditions

February 7, 2024

How do you change the paradigm in a rigid system? When the COVID-19 pandemic emerged in 2020, my team and I didn’t have a choice. We had built our hospital’s in-person cardiac rehabilitation program from the ground up, but this was a moment of reckoning. Our program would need to incorporate virtual care.

Completing cardiac rehabilitation can increase a patient’s life expectancy by up to five years, Read more…

A people-first approach to cardiac rehabilitation

My battle with atrial fibrillation

Martin C. Young, MD

Conditions

December 31, 2023

A while ago, I wrote about my experience during an attack of atrial fibrillation (afib), lamenting the fact that my management never included a proper physical exam. Nevertheless, chemical cardioversion was successful, and my hospital stay was brief.

The episode was precipitated by a small pulmonary embolus acquired during sinus surgery the day before. I had experienced an episode of afib some 15 years previously and had remained free, I think …

Read more…

My battle with atrial fibrillation

ECMO spotlight: Expanding access for improved survival rates

John R. Mehall, MD, MBA

Conditions

November 14, 2023

The recent coverage of ECMO by the Wall Street Journal has shone a spotlight on a therapy that, despite its decades-long existence, remains relatively obscure and underutilized. While the article thoughtfully delved into the ethical considerations surrounding the extended use of this life-saving therapy, it’s important to recognize that many hospitals have yet to offer ECMO as an available treatment option. The priority focus should be on expanding access to …

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