Love Your Heart: A Cleveland Clinic Podcast

This two part program answers all your questions about Atrial Fibrillation. Part 1 covers types and progression of afib; causes and risk factors; symptoms; and diagnostic tests, including personal monitors or devices. The doctors then discuss how these factors are taken into account when deciding on ablation and the use of blood thinners.

When patients are scheduled for coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) they have many questions. Dr. Faisal Bakaeen, Director of the Coronary Artery Bypass Center answers: What is coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery? Who are best candidates for CABG?What are the types of grafts used and how do they differ? What type of incisions are used? Is there a difference between on pump and off pump b...

If you are at risk for losing a limb, learn how you can prevent amputation. If you have been told you need an amputation, there may be actions you can take to prevent limb loss. A team approach involving experts in care are needed to provide a tailored approach. Vascular surgeon Dr. Lee Kirksey provides an overview of what is involved in caring for a patient whose limb is at risk and the technique...

New guidelines on primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in women were released in 2020, highlighting new risk factors special to women. Dr. Leslie Cho, Director of the Women’s Cardiovascular Center and Co-Section Head, Preventive Cardiology, talks about how your pregnancy or having auto-immune disease may be related to future heart disease. She also talks about the treatment of traditional...

As part of Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) Awareness Month, learn the symptoms of PAD, risk factors, and special considerations for patients with diabetes. Vascular surgeon, Dr. Lee Kirksey talks about what you should ask your doctor and treatment for PAD – most patients do not need surgery but good medical care and lifestyle changes – but – diagnosis and treatment are important. #PADAwareness

The Cleveland Clinic Heart, Vascular and Thoracic Institute celebrates the 2000th transplant. Cleveland Clinic began innovative work on heart transplants in 1968, with the official beginning of the program in 1984. On average, Cleveland Clinic performs 50-60 transplants per year, including between five to eight pediatric transplants per year. The Cleveland Clinic’s program directors discuss the pr...

Thoracic surgery involves surgery from the Adam’s apple to the navel – including the esophagus, trachea and lungs. Now surgeons are able to use the robot to make the smallest incisions even in some of the more complex cases. This can improve recovery time and quality of life after surgery.

Vascular specialist Dr. Jay Bishop talks about peripheral artery disease or PAD. Dr. Bishop explains what is PAD, who is at risk, symptoms of PAD, what to do if you have diabetes, tests for PAD, who provides vascular testing, the relationship between PAD and heart disease, goals for treatment and treatment options for PAD.

During the COVID-19, pandemic, Broken Heart Syndrome, also called Stress Cardiomyopathy or Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy is on the rise. Dr. Nissen talks with Dr. Kalra about how stress cardiomyopathy feels like a heart attack but differs, it’s relationship to COVID-19, who is at risk, treatment, prognosis and what you should know about broken heart syndrome – or if you have the symptoms?

Dr. Steve Nissen talks with cardiologist Dr. Milind Desai and surgeon Dr. Nick Smedira, Directors of the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center, about current treatment options, such as medications and surgical therapy, what we have learned from years of experience with HCM at Cleveland Clinic, and a new innovative medication that is being researched that may reduce the need for – or delay surgery.

Erik Van Iterson, PhD, MS, Director of Cardiac Rehabilition at Cleveland Clinic talks about heart rate and exercise. What should it be when you are exercising? How does the doctor determine the best heart rate for you? Can you use a general predicted heart rate calculator if you are heart patient? How long should it take for your heart rate to recover after exercise?

When being treated for atrial fibrillation, being fit is best. Investigators found that those with the best cardiovascular fitness more likely to maintain long term sinus rhythm, come off antiarrhythmic medications and have improved mortality. This study reinforces the impact that cardiovascular risk factors such as weight, blood pressure, diabetes, sleep apnea - and now cardiovascular fitness has...

When people have thoracic aorta disease, they often ask can I have a stent instead of open chest surgery? Dr. Eric Roselli, Surgical Director of the Aorta Center talks about new advances in thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection repair using less invasive endovascular stent grafts.

New guidelines highlight the risk factors that increase risk for cardiovascular disease in women – and how best to treat them. Dr. Leslie Cho, Director of the Women’s explains what you need to know about pregnancy related risk factors, auto-immune disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol – as well as – hormone replacement and aspirin therapy.

COVID 19 has made an impact on exercise routines – where you exercise and when you exercise. Dr. Michael Emery and Dr. Tamanna Singh, Co-Directors of the Cleveland Clinic Sports Cardiology Center discuss how to exercise safely; benefits of exercise; and symptoms you should be aware of. If you have a COVID infection, they provide tips for when to return to exercise or sports, and how to return safe...

What can you do to lower your blood pressure without taking medications? Blood pressure specialist and preventive cardiologist Luke Laffin, MD, talks about alternative or complementary options that may help lower your blood pressure.

Michael Crawford, MS, Manager of Cardiac Rehabilitation at Cleveland Clinic and certified exercise physiologist answers questions about high intensity interval training (HIIT). Mike provided guidance on who should or should not participate in HIIT, what it involves, and things to keep in mind if you are considering this type of exercise.

Samir Kapadia, MD, Chairman, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine and Amar Krishnaswamy MD, Section Head, Interventional Cardiology talks about what is new in tricuspid valve treatment. They answer questions:What happens with tricuspid valve disease or a leaking tricuspid valve? What are the symptoms of tricuspid valve regurgitation (TR) and what causes it? How is TR diagnosed and when should it...

Erik Van Iterson, PhD, MS, Director of Cardiac Rehabilition at Cleveland Clinic answers common questions about Cardiac Rehabilitation:• Who should have cardiac rehabilitation?• What is cardiac rehabilitation?• What are the goals? • What type of education is involved? • Does insurance cover cardiac rehabilitation?

Part 2 of this Aorta Disease program provides answers to questions about medical therapy; exercise advice; when should you have surgery; risks and benefits of surgery; and types of surgery available. Questions are answered by Aorta Center directors Dr. Eric Roselli and Dr. Milind Desai.

This two part program answers all your questions about Aorta Disease. Part 1 includes concerns about COVID-19; types of aortic aneurysm disease and dissection, risk factors; symptoms; diagnostic testing and monitoring. Questions are answered by Aorta Center directors Dr. Eric Roselli and Dr. Milind Desai .

Dr. Lee Kirksey, Vascular Surgeon and Vice Chairman of Vascular Surgery talks with staff vascular surgeon Dr. David Hardy , vascular medicine specialist and director of the vascular lab, Dr. Natalia Fendrikova Mahlay and imaging/diagnostic radiology specialist Dr. Paul Schoenhagen about vascular imaging. They answer common questions about what tests to use for vascular disease, how to diagnose the...

Michael Crawford, MS, Manager of Cardiac Rehabilitation at Cleveland Clinic and certified exercise physiologist talks about how to get back to activity after heart surgery – starting with what you can do in the hospital moving to home, cardiac rehabilitation - and back to the activities you enjoy . He answers common questions patients often ask the cardiac rehab team.

The Cleveland Clinic Heart, Vascular and Thoracic Institute is resuming patient care services. As we move forward it is so important that patients and caregivers understand that their health and safety remains our top priority. We are seeing patients in our outpatient clinics, performing procedures and providing virtual visits based on patient need and preference. Dr. Lars Svensson, Chairman of th...

Patients with heart failure have many questions about COVID-19 including their risk for getting COVID, damage to the heart from COVID, information in the news about heart failure medications, concerns about going to the doctor during this time, red flag symptoms, and how patients with heart failure can stay healthy during this time. Dr. Jerry Estep, Section Head of Heart Failure and Transplantatio...