Heart Health

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• QWhy should women monitor their heart health?

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  A Dr. Michael W. Gen, MD , Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease), answered on behalf of Saint Agnes Medical Center

  Everybody should monitor their heart health, regardless of gender. In the US (heart disease) is the number one cause of death. If you ask women what the number one cause of death is, many women still believe they’re going to die of breast cancer.

  Heart disease symptoms in women can be different than symptoms in men, so they aren’t looking for the kind of symptoms that can represent heart disease. The number one symptom for heart disease in women is shortness of breath—not pain. Having low energy is also a common symptom. However, more than half of people—men and women—simply don’t have symptoms that alert them to a heart attack or heart disease.

  Trinity Health is a Catholic health care organization that acts in accordance with the Catholic tradition and does not condone or support all practices covered in this site. In case of emergency call 911. This site is educational and not a substitute for professional medical advice, always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare provider.

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• QWhat are the risks of cardiac catheterization?

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  A Brigham and Women's Hospital answered

  Possible risks associated with cardiac catheterization, a procedure performed to further diagnose coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease, congestive heart failure and/or certain congenital (present at birth) heart conditions, include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • bleeding at the catheter insertion site (usually the groin, but the arm may be used in certain circumstances)
  • blood clot or damage to the blood vessel at the insertion site
  • infection at the catheter insertion site
  • problems with heart rhythm (usually temporary)
  • ischemia (decreased blood flow to the heart tissue), chest pain or angina
  • stroke (rare)

  You may want to ask your physician about the amount of radiation used during the procedure and the risks related to your particular situation. It is a good idea to keep a record of your past history of radiation exposure, such as previous scans and other types of x-rays, so that you can inform your physician. Risks associated with radiation exposure may be related to the cumulative number of x-ray examinations and/or treatments over a long period of time.

  If you are pregnant or suspect that you may be pregnant, you should notify your physician due to risk of injury to the fetus from a cardiac catheterization. Radiation exposure during pregnancy may lead to birth defects. If you are lactating or breastfeeding you should notify your physician.

  There is a risk for allergic reaction to the cath dye. Patients who are allergic to or sensitive to medications, contrast dye, iodine or latex should notify their physician. Also, patients with kidney failure or other kidney problems should notify their physician.

  For some patients, having to lie still on the cardiac catheterization table for the length of the procedure may cause some discomfort or pain.

  There may be other risks depending upon your specific medical condition. Be sure to discuss any concerns with your physician prior to the procedure.

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• QWhat is aortic valve narrowing?

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  A Dr. Keshav R. Ramireddy, MD , Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease), answered on behalf of Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point

  

  In this video, Dr. Keshav Ramireddy from West Florida Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point discusses aortic valve narrowing and the seriousness of the condition, especially in older patients.
• QHow do doctors increase my heart rate for a stress test?

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  A UCLA Health answered

  There are two types of stress tests: the treadmill stress test and the chemical stress test. Doctors stress your heart by either having you walk on a treadmill to increase your heart rate or by giving you a medicine that causes your heart rate to go up. The medicine is similar to adrenaline in that it raises your heart rate very quickly.
   
• QWhy should I take two baby aspirin for heart protection?

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  A UCLA Health answered

  The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is the governing body that makes recommendations on who should take aspirin, who should take cholesterol medicine, who should get a colonoscopy and who should get screening for prostate cancer or breast cancer and so on. In 2010, the USPSTF came out with a new position on aspirin to control or prevent cardiovascular disease. The Task Force basically said that an individual's overall risk profile for heart disease needs to be considered before recommending daily aspirin. A daily baby aspirin is recommended for men between the ages of 45 and 79 to decrease one’s risk of a heart attack and women between the ages of 55 and 79 to decrease one’s risk of a stroke if there are risk factors for heart disease. Someone who has zero to one risk factor may want to reconsider taking a daily baby aspirin. The reason for this is the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding, stomach ulcers and bleeding complications may occur with regular use of aspirin.

  Before, the Task Force recommended that everyone should take a baby aspirin, but now they’re cautioning doctors to reconsider and look at the person's risk factor profile. After the age of 79 it becomes a bit murkier, since people tend to fall more and bruise more easily. Also if someone is taking a blood thinner, such as Coumadin or Pradaxa for other indications, such as arrhythmia, a daily aspirin might not be recommended.

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• QWhat is Lexiscan?

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  A UCLA Health answered

  Lexiscan is a medicine that is used during a nuclear heart stress test to dilate, or open up, the arteries. All normal arteries are able to do that. But if you have a blocked artery, it cannot dilate. When doctors order cardiac imaging tests, they are looking for the relative lack of blood flow. They compare normal to abnormal. If all the arteries are normal, that’s good. But if there’s one artery that’s blocked, Lexiscan allows them to see a difference between that artery and the normal arteries.

• QWhat can I do for heart health at New Year’s and into the following year?

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  A SecondsCount.org answered

  The first New Year’s resolution you can make is to protect your heart over the New Year’s holiday itself. Alongside Christmas, New Year’s is one of the most hazardous days of the year in terms of heart health. Researchers aren’t sure why, but more fatal heart attacks occur at Christmas and New Year’s than at any other time of year in the United States. One theory is that people’s routines, including diet and exercise, change dramatically during this period and may contribute to heart attack. So on New Year’s, celebrate, but do so in moderation. Make heart-healthy food choices and limit alcohol consumption.

  But what about once you are past the holiday? What heart-health resolutions should you carry forward? Consider the benefits to your heart when you resolve to make changes to your diet or to exercise more. Even modest weight loss (if you are overweight or obese) can reduce your risk of heart disease or slow the progress of existing disease. If you smoke, think about the benefits to your heart when you make that resolution to quit. Tobacco use damages your arteries and can contribute to heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular events. Quitting smoking is one of the most important things you can do for your heart health.

  A resolution you may be less likely to consider is to make a doctor’s appointment for yourself or for a loved one. When was the last time you discussed your heart health with your doctor? And do you know a loved one who would be more likely to go to the doctor if you scheduled the appointment or drove him or her to the office?

  Don’t forget your heart health when you are making New Year’s resolutions. Heart attack is the number one killer of both men and women in the United States, so making a resolution to take care of your heart can be one of the most important things you do to have the highest possible quality of life into the coming year.
  

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• QDoes grape juice have the same heart health benefits as drinking red wine?

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  A SCAI answered

  Studies have thus far been inconclusive, but there may be a link between moderate red wine consumption and a reduced risk of heart disease. But what about people who do not drink red wine? Could grape juice have the same effects?
  Interest in red wine for heart health has focused in part on the possible beneficial effects of substances called antioxidants in the wine, resveratrol in particular. These antioxidants are thought to have roles in protecting arteries, reducing the likelihood of blood clots and raising levels of the “good” form of cholesterol (HDL, or high-density lipoprotein).
  These antioxidants originate in the skins of the grapes from which the wine is made. These same antioxidants are in grape juice. So the good news is that if red wine is proven to help heart health because of antioxidants, then a glass of purple grape juice a day may have the same effects. However, one theory is also that the benefits of red wine come not from the antioxidants, but from the alcohol in the wine. If that proves true, then grape juice is not an effective preventive measure for heart health. So for now, stay tuned. If you already enjoy grape juice and drink it, you might be helping your heart health.

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• QWhen should men and women begin to track their heart health?

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  A Dr. Donato A. Sisto, MD , Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular), answered on behalf of Portsmouth Regional Hospital

  

  Establishing a relationship with a doctor early in life is essential. Donato Sisto, MD from Portsmouth Regional Hospital explains why this is so important for both men and women, with and without serious health risk factors in this video.
• QWhy would I need to see a cardiologist?

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  A Dr. Omid Hajiseyed Javadi, MD , Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular), answered on behalf of Good Samaritan Hospital

  

  If you haven't had a heart check-up lately, you may want to see your cardiologist. In this video, Omid Javadi, MD, a thoracic surgeon at Good Samaritan Hospital, explains how a cardiologist can help boost your health in more ways than one. 

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