Sleeping Heart
Where cardiology and sleep medicine meet — and how they impact each other Fact checked by Jim Lacy Dana Huelat’s husband and kids noticed something about her sleep last summer: Her snoring and breathing pauses seemed worse. She made an appointment with her primary care physician, who suggested testing for sleep apnea, which causes repeated […]
At the Heart of It All
Chicago Health Cardiology Roundtable Our hearts are the engines that propel us, circulating blood to the farthest reaches of our bodies. But just like any engine, time and usage take their toll. For more than 100 years, heart disease has been the no. 1 cause of death in the U.S. Yet, within that same time […]
Hands-on Hearts
3D printing provides physicians a crucial tool for cardiac care Maybe you already know that nearly half of all U.S. adults have cardiovascular disease. This includes people with coronary heart disease, heart failure, stroke, and high blood pressure. But would you have guessed that one of the latest weapons to help fight this battle is […]
The First Black-Owned Hospital in the United States
Fact checked by Shannon Sparks Daniel Hale Williams, born in 1850s Pennsylvania, faced challenges from an early age. His father died when he was young. His mother abandoned him. And, in post-Civil War America, he faced racism as an African American. But Williams’ ambition exceeded his challenges. And, today, despite so many odds, he’s known […]
As the Heart Beats
Chicago’s Rich History of Cardiology Pioneers Fact checked by Shannon Sparks Chicago has a rich and fascinating history of heart-related firsts, from the first open-heart surgery to the invention of gel electrodes used in electrocardiograms. How did these groundbreaking developments come to reality, and where might they lead us next? Whatever the future holds […]
Take Heart
How your legs’ health affects your heart — and vice versa Count to 40. In the time it took you to do that, someone in the U.S. had a heart attack. It happens every 40 seconds, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And while most people recognize arm pain as a common […]
Mayo Clinic Q&A: Most Aortic Aneurysms Are Small, Develop Slowly
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: What causes a thoracic aortic aneurysm? Does it always grow slowly, or do some develop more quickly? ANSWER: A thoracic aortic aneurysm occurs when one or more areas along the wall of the aorta — the body’s largest blood vessel — becomes weak or damaged. The aorta carries oxygen-filled blood from the […]
4 Ways to Improve Your Cholesterol
Every cell in your body contains cholesterol — it’s an important building block for tissues that make up your organs — but if your levels are out of whack, it can spell all kinds of health trouble. Too much LDL cholesterol gloms up the walls of your blood vessels and can lead to heart disease. […]
Mayo Clinic Q&A: Treatment for Patent Foramen Ovale Usually Isn’t Necessary
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: After a recent echocardiogram, I was told I have a patent foramen ovale. I’m 36, and I don’t have any other medical concerns. My cardiologist said I don’t need treatment for it, but I’m still worried. Does this heart defect put me at risk for health problems? When is treatment for a […]
Mayo Clinic Q&A: Congenital Heart Defect Can Affect Health of Mother and Baby
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: My husband and I are hoping to start a family soon, but I have a congenital heart defect — a bicuspid aortic valve. I’m concerned how that will affect my pregnancy. What do I need to consider before getting pregnant? What are the risks? ANSWER: A congenital heart defect can affect your […]
NSAIDs: How Dangerous Are They for Your Heart?
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, commonly referred to as NSAIDs, are one of the most common medications used to treat pain and inflammation. Ibuprofen, naproxen, indomethacin and other NSAIDs are effective across a variety of common conditions, from acute musculoskeletal pain to chronic arthritis. They work by blocking specific proteins, called COX enzymes. This results in the […]
The Cardiac-Sleep Connection
Why a good night’s rest is crucial for your heart We constantly hear about the benefits of getting a good night’s sleep. Well here’s a new one: It can reduce the risk of heart disease. Researchers in Hong Kong and Taiwan recently published the results of an 18-year study into the connection between sleep and […]
Hope for Hearts
Major innovations in cardiac treatment happening right here in Chicago There are some fields of medicine where advancement is happening at such an astounding pace that it’s unfathomable to think how different treatments were 10 years ago — and how different they’ll be 10 years from now. In the world of cardiology, progress in treatment […]
Like a Balloon That Bursts
Aneurysms often show no symptoms, but a rupture can be deadly Above image: Sapan Desai, MD, PhD, MBA, a vascular surgeon at Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights, repairs an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Computer-assisted imaging and intraoperative visualization systems are increasingly used to train the next generation of surgeons on uncommon or especially complex procedures. Photo […]
Feeding Your Heart
Changing gears on cholesterol guidelines Cardiovascular disease still tops the charts among chronic diseases in the United States. Recent statistics show that 117 million American adults—about half of the U.S. adult population—have one or more chronic health conditions like heart disease, hypertension and type 2 diabetes. Plus, two-thirds of adults and one-third of children in the […]
Decoding your risk for heart disease: Geneticists can now screen for defects
Source: Cleveland Clinic whatdoctorsknow.com Pinpointing genetic causes for heart disease is a complex and dynamic process that changes rapidly as new discoveries are made. But there are some simple things you can do to get come idea about your risk for certain heart disorders. Family history While the genetics of many common cardiovascular disorders are […]
Sauna time linked to longer life, fewer fatal heart problems
By Beverly Merz Harvard Health Blog After such a long, frigid winter, I wouldn’t mind sitting in a sauna for a while. A new report in JAMA Internal Medicine makes this pastime even more appealing: Regularly spending time in a sauna may help keep the heart healthy and extend life. Researchers from the University of […]
Learn how to stay in the sodium safe zone
Harvard Health Letters How’s your sodium intake? Most health-conscious adults already know that sodium raises blood pressure–and that high blood pressure, in turn, boosts the risk of heart disease and stroke. As for how much sodium an individual ingests from all sources, it’s hard to say. There’s no simple test you can take–like having your […]
Listen To Your Heart
What to know about your risks of an attack and what to do when having one By Mary Lorenz Last October, Jeff Espina was playing volleyball when he started to feel symptoms of what he thought was heartburn. Then, on his way home, he noticed his arms and limbs were starting to feel weak. “For a second, I thought, ‘Something’s going on,’” Espina […]
