Heart Disease

February is National Heart Month Contrary to popular belief it is heart disease that kills most of us, not cancer. The pain associated with a heart attack is called angina. In men it is manifested as a heaviness or pressure in the chest, neck and jaw or left arm.  Women many times experience only fatigue, shortness of breath, or a sense of doom.  Men experience heart attacks at a younger age but are more likely to survive a heart attack because of their larger coronary arteries.  We now have the tools and medications to largely prevent coronary artery disease. Risk […]

Your friend just turned 50 and after seeing his doctor was told his physical exam was fine and he appeared to be in good health.  Two days later he was in the hospital with a heart attack.  This is a nightmare scenario for doctors as well as the patient with the heart attack.  So how do we do better in predicting and preventing heart attacks and stroke? Causes of Heart Attacks Heart attacks and strokes are caused by blockages in coronary arteries (heart) or cerebral arteries (stroke).  These are caused by a build up of cholesterol plaque that eventually deprives […]