Heart Health

This is a good question. In people who are professional athletes, it is quite normal to have heart rate in the upper 30s. However, in this case, the low heart rate is a result of a well-trained, efficient heart... continue reading  about  What can cause dizziness and light-headedness? I have low blood pressure and sometimes a heart rate in the high 30s. Is this normal?

You are wise to be concerned about your cholesterol numbers. This constellation of lipid results commonly occurs with diabetes or in people with a tendency toward diabetes (insulin resistance). It is associated... continue reading  about  I have high cholesterol, low HDL, high LDL and high triglycerides. I cannot take statins. What is the best course of action for me?

There are several things that a patient can do to prevent another stroke or TIA. First and foremost, the patient should make sure that they are following up with their primary doctor or neurologist, to ensure t... continue reading  about  My dad had a stroke about a year ago and is doing better now, but it made me wonder - is there any way to prevent another one from happening (like a better diet, exercise)?

A stroke results from lack of blood flow to the brain. This means that a region of cells is not able to work properly and can generate a variety of symptoms, depending on the brain area that has been affected. ... continue reading  about  How do I know if I have had a stroke?

When we have problems with our thyroid function - whether hypothyroidism (low) or hyperthyroidism (high)– it can affect our heart function, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels. The thyroid is considere... continue reading  about  Thyroid disease and heart disease have a high correlation. Why don't heart patients routinely get an endocrine work up?

Palpitations can feel different to different people. Sometimes they are described as a skipping sensation of the heart. Sometimes an irregularity in the heart beat is likened to a bird fluttering around inside ... continue reading  about  How do I know if I'm having a heart palpitation? What do they feel like?

The American Heart Association lists 120/80 and lower as normal blood pressure. The numbers you list would qualify as hypertension requiring treatment. It looks like your physician has appropiately started you ... continue reading  about  I take medication for high blood pressure. My current numbers are 138/87 to 140/94. Is that okay or should my medication be changed? It's been over a year since I started taking the medication.

The position of the pacemaker can shift over time. After about a year, however, a strong capsule has formed around the device and it should not move any further. Because the device and the leads are very secure... continue reading  about  I had a pacemaker inserted a year ago. It keeps dropping down and looks like the wires are about to pop out. I've asked my cardiologist about it several times and he said it's fine and should not drop anymore. I exercise 5x/week. Is that too much?

In a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, investigators were suprised to find an association between the presence of kidney stones and coronary heart disease, heart attack or hear... continue reading  about  I'm a woman who gets frequent kidney stones. I was concerned to hear that this raises the risk of heart disease. Why would this be? Is it also true for men? Is there anything I can do to reduce my risk?