Love Your Heart: A Cleveland Clinic Podcast

Left atrial appendage (LAA) closure is an alternative solution to anticoagulants (blood thinners) to prevent blood clots and stroke in some patients with atrial. Last week, the team spoke about who would be a good candidate for this procedure. This week, Dr. Oussama Wazni, Dr. Walid Saliba, Dr. Mohamed Kanj and Dr. Tyler Taigen discuss the challenges and strategies to ensure successful treatment a...

There are many things to consider if you have atrial fibrillation. In part 1, Dr. Oussama Wazni speaks with Drs. Walid Saliba and Mohamed Kanj about the benefits of this treatment option and who would be a good candidate, with special consideration to anticoagulation (blood thinners) therapy. Next week, Dr. Wazni will continue the conversation.

Valve-sparing aortic root replacement (David procedure) is heart surgery to treat an enlarged aortic root wall (aortic aneurysm). This surgery replaces your aortic root while keeping your own aortic valve. Drs. Eric Roselli and Marijan Koprivanac discuss why they may choose this option and how it might be better for patients.

Protein shakes can be a great after exercise beverage or serve as a meal replacement. Julia Zumpano, a registered dietician from the Preventive Cardiology Program at Cleveland Clinic explains that the most important thing to consider is the nutritional make up of your shake. It should have enough protein, amino acids, fiber and not a lot of added sugar. Some protein shakes come ready-to-drink, whi...

A low sodium diet may mean making some big changes in the way you eat. Sodium is found naturally in some foods but is also added to many foods, which can make lowering your intake challenging. Julia Zumpano, a registered dietician from the Preventive Cardiology Program at Cleveland Clinic, explains the current recommendations for sodium intake and how to get started lowering your intake. It is imp...

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is an attractive option to treat aortic valve disease because it is a less invasive procedure that only requires a shorter hospital stay for most patients. Dr. Amar Krishnaswamy, Section Head of Invasive & Interventional Cardiology, discusses who is – and who is not - a candidate for this procedure.

You may have heard this expression “Exercise is medicine” and wondered if it is true. Dr. Michael Emery explains that it is! The hardest part is getting started but Dr. Emery gives some helpful tips to get started and stick with it. Find what you enjoy doing and then find others who share in that passion to help you reach your goals.

Being able to see your doctor or get medications can be challenging for some patients. Steven Nissen, MD, Chief Academic Officer for Cleveland Clinic Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute, talks about how in the future there may be a way to help get medications to those in need. Before a process like this is available, it must be proven safe.

Patients with rheumatology conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), systemic sclerosis, connective tissue disorders, and even those with unidentified autoimmune and inflammatory conditions have higher rates of cardiovascular disease. Dr. Paul Cremer, MD and Dr. Heba Wassif, Director of the Cardio Rheumatology Center at Cleveland C...

Atrial fibrillation is the most common irregular heart rhythm that starts in the atria or top of the heart and last week Dr. Walid Saliba and Dr. Ayman Hussein joined Dr. Oussama Wazni to discuss atrial fibrillation. This week, they are answering more of your questions including those about health watches.

Atrial fibrillation is the most common irregular heart rhythm that starts in the atria, or top of the heart. Dr. Walid Saliba and Dr. Ayman Hussein join Dr. Oussama Wazni to answer your questions about atrial fibrillation. This is part 1 of a 2-part series to address symptoms, risks, and management of atrial fibrillation as well as other questions from patients. Next week’s episode will answer mor...

Starting a vegetarian diet can be scary or overwhelming. You may feel like being a vegetarian means that you can never have meat again. A vegetarian diet is a word that describes eating mostly plant based foods. Some forms of this diet allow for options like fish or dairy products to be eaten.

April is recognized as Stress Awareness Month. Stress can be bad for your heart and health in more ways than one. Stress can cause problems in your body and can also lead to unhealthy behaviors. Dr. Luke Laffin from the Preventive Cardiology & Rehabilitation Section at Cleveland Clinic explains why is it important to keep stress under control.

Spring is starting and that means that more fruits and vegetables will be in season. Of course you can enjoy smoothies any time of year, but they can be a refreshing treat as well as adding nutrients into your diet. Julia Zumpano, a registered dietician from the Preventive Cardiology Program at Cleveland Clinic, tells us the main types of foods you should include when making a smoothie.

Achalasia has many treatments available Thoracic surgeons Dr. Siva Raja and Dr. Monisha Sudarshan discuss how they determine the right treatment for you. They talk about pros and cons of different treatment options as well as other things to consider.

Making healthy food choices can be hard. A registered dietitian (RD) can help create a personalized plan to help you meet your diet and nutrition goals. A registered dietitian can help and support anyone. Ask your doctor if you have questions and for a referral.

Carbohydrates are not bad for your heart, as long as you choose a variety of whole, minimally processed carbs and eat them in moderation. Eating foods such as whole grains, vegetables and beans can keep you feeling full. Julia Zumpano, a registered dietician from the Preventive Cardiology Program at Cleveland Clinic explains what carbohydrates are and explains how refined carbs are different (and...

The heart and the kidneys are like a married couple. If one is not happy, the other one probably isn’t either.” Dr. Luke Laffin, Co-Director of the Center for Blood Pressure Disorders, explains the relationship between the heart and kidneys and how your doctors care for both.

February is often associated with hearts. It is American Heart Month and Valentine’s Day is celebrated. It may be easy to overindulge with all of the sweets and treats for Valentine’s Day, but Julia Zumpano, a registered dietician from the Preventive Cardiology Program at Cleveland Clinic, explains that some treats may have health benefits when consumed in moderation.

A heart attack or myocardial infarction (MI) is a serious and frightening event. Returning home can be just as scary. Dr. Luke Laffin talks about ways to have a better recovery after a heart attack.

Choosing the right diet to keep your heart healthy can be hard. Julia Zumpano, a registered dietitian in the Department of Preventive Cardiology, explains what the most commonly recommended diets are for heart health and what the differences are.

Clinical research helps us find new treatments or evaluate what treatments are best for patients. Dr. Marc Gillinov, Chairman of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, describes types of research protocols used in heart surgery; patient safety; patient follow-up; and the purpose of research in clinical care.

Some patients who have pectus excavatum (a chest wall deformity) also have cardiovascular problems, including congenital heart defects, valve disease, connective tissue disorders and aorta disease. A team approach including a comprehensive evaluation is important for this complex patient population. Repair of both problems in the same surgery can help patients feel better and look better with reco...

A common New Year’s resolution is to eat better. There are many snacks advertised as healthy, but are they really good for you? Julia Zumpano, a registered dietitian in the Department of Preventive Cardiology, explains while certain “healthy” snack foods might be better than other snacks, many are still not healthy options.

The aorta is the body’s main artery that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body. The aorta can become damaged and weak, causing it to become wider that is should. This is called an aneurysm. When this happens, there are a few different treatment options. Dr. Sean Lyden, Chairman of Vascular Surgery, and Dr. Francis Caputo, Vascular Surgery Director, Aorta Center, discuss how they dec...