Dr. Gregory R Giugliano, MD
Specialty: Cardiology
Baystate Medical Associates3300 Main
Springfield, MA 01199
Hospital Affiliation:
- Baystate Medical Center
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How common is coronary artery disease?
Mehmet Oz, MD, Cardiology, answered
Many people, especially when they're young, worry more about hangnails than they do about the health of their arteries. But consider this: Coronary artery disease is the leading cause of death in every developed country. Every American, Asian, and European has a 40 percent chance of dying of heart disease and a 50 percent chance that his or her quality of life will be damaged by arterial aging disease.
When you realize that arterial aging affects a lot more than the arteries going to your heart, the importance of arterial health becomes clearer. Damaged arteries slow down your memory, your other organs' ability to function, and your sex life. In other words, they slow you down. -
Can I get coronary artery disease after a cardiac transplant?
Sharecare Ad Target User, answered
Following a cardiac transplant, some individuals will develop a type of chronic rejection called coronary artery disease. This is different from the narrowed arteries often seen in individuals who have not had heart transplants. It can happen at any time after a heart transplant, but usually is seen a few years after the surgery. Another complication is called cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV). CAV makes the walls of the heart's arteries thick and hard making blood circulation more difficult. It can result in a heart attack, failure of the heart, cardiac death, or abnormal heart rhythms.
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Is mitral valve disease a critical care problem?
Linda Martinez, Cardiac Care Nursing, answered on behalf of Honor Society of Nursing (STTI)
Having disease of the mitral valve does not necessarily mean a critical care problem. Many people live with a condition called prolapsed mitral valve that don't need any special treatment, while others with this same problem may need surgery to replace the valve. Rheumatic fever can cause damage the mitral valve and the heart can compensate for many years. People with valve problems should be evaluated by a cardiologist to determine the severity or if heart valve replacement is necessary. People who need heart valve surgery are usually cared for in an intensive care unit.
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