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Heart Health

How a routine physical detected this man’s dangerous heart blockage

Health Topics

Feb 11, 2019

Gary Aspelin has lived a life of wonder and adventure, traveling to almost 40 countries with his wife of over 50 years by his side. After a shocking discovery at his annual physical, Gary was faced with a new kind...

Could your toothbrushing habits predict your risk of heart disease?

Health Topics

Feb 7, 2019

From an early age, your parents probably instilled in you the importance of brushing your teeth. Every day, twice a day, for two minutes. After years of their encouraging (and sometimes nagging), it became a habit like any other.Research suggests...

How a patient’s heart attack inspired his heart surgeon to get better

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Feb 5, 2019

As a heart surgeon, Baron Hamman, MD, is often the inspirer and encourager for his patients to take better care of their hearts. But something about one patient’s story made him stop and think — was he practicing what he...

Is coffee good for your heart?

Health Topics

Feb 5, 2019

Every day, I get up and make myself a cup of coffee. I used to drink instant, moved on to pods and then ultimately graduated to grinding my own. I drink about 2-3 cups during the day, sometimes more if...

Demystifying thoracic outlet syndrome: What you need to know

Health Topics

Feb 1, 2019

Imagine yourself in this scenario: The fingers on your left hand are numb. There’s pain off and on in your shoulder and neck. Your grip is suddenly weak, almost as if your muscles are wasting away. And yet, the doctors...

A year after my heart attack during the Dallas Marathon, I finally crossed the finish line

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Dec 14, 2018

A year ago, I had a heart attack in the middle of the Dallas Marathon relay, right around mile marker nine. One minute, I was running. The next, I was on the ground. My heartbeat stopped for more than two...

Blood clots: The scary side of holiday travel

Health Topics

Dec 11, 2018

Whether you’ll be boarding a plane, hopping on a train or getting behind the wheel, you’ll likely be one of the millions of Americans joining the annual holiday travel rush. You’ve probably checked off the typical items on your preparation...

28-year-old woman with rare heart disorder dedicates career to saving others’ hearts

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Oct 3, 2018

Chelsea Morris has a passion for fixing hearts. If you happen to see her working at Baylor Scott & White The Heart Hospital – Dallas, it’s hard not to notice her joyful spirit and infectious smile. But behind her positive...

How a simple test can help tailor aspirin doses for heart disease

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Sep 18, 2018

You’ve probably heard the recommendation: If you’ve already had a heart attack, take a low-dose aspirin daily. But is that enough? Beyond its pain-relieving effects, aspirin blocks an enzyme pathway that helps platelets in the blood stick together. This lowers...

New therapies offer hope for patients living with pulmonary arterial hypertension

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Sep 17, 2018

When most of us hear “hypertension,” we immediately think of blood pressure issues all over the body. But people with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) have problems in a very specific area: the blood vessels running from the heart to the...

New MRI allows scans of patients with conditional or legacy pacemakers and defibrillators

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Aug 25, 2018

Many people probably associate MRIs with sports injuries, as they await news of test results that determine how long their favorite athlete will be sidelined. But for more than two decades, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been a crucial tool...

Innovative heart device explores connection between AFib and stroke

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May 28, 2018

A recent innovation in heart rhythm monitoring has given neurologists and cardiologists a crucial new tool in detecting a potentially dangerous irregular heartbeat known as atrial fibrillation, or AFib.A-fib, one of the leading causes of stroke, is a condition that...

Women and heart disease: It’s not just a man’s problem

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May 12, 2018

Cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes are listed as some of the leading causes of death in women across the globe. But in the United States, the number one killer of women may come as a shock: heart disease.Heart disease has...

What to expect when you go to the ED with chest pain

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May 5, 2018

Retail health centers, urgent care facilities and freestanding emergency rooms sprouting around the United States may be equipped to treat minor illness and injury.But patients experiencing chest pain or shortness of breath, which might signal a heart attack, should go...

Why I went plant-based and why my patients should too

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Mar 17, 2018

When I was growing up in Georgia, my mother put meatloaf on the table all the time. We ate burgers and hot dogs like everybody else and didn’t think anything about it. I don’t remember ever eating fish at our...

When you should worry about an irregular heartbeat

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Feb 14, 2018

Many of us take for granted the organ that keeps us going every day — the heart. With its slow and steady rhythm, beating roughly 4,800 times every hour, your heart keeps you alive.But what happens when that familiar rhythm...

Why too much running is bad for your heart

Health Topics

Feb 12, 2018

It’s common knowledge that running is one of the most efficient forms of exercise. Many people enjoy running, myself included, and it’s proven that aerobic exercise is good for the heart.But is it possible to run too much?I’ve completed 54...

82-year-old valve patient experiences evolution of heart surgery first-hand

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Feb 9, 2018

82-year-old Herman Veselka is no stranger to hospitals. Over the last 25 years, he’s undergone several cardiovascular procedures, and had a front-row seat to watch how heart surgery and technology have evolved over time.When he arrived at Baylor Jack and...

TAVR clinical research ushering in new era of non-invasive heart care

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Feb 7, 2018

Nearly 1.5 million people in the United States are estimated to be living with aortic stenosis, a narrowing of the main heart valve that impedes blood flow from the heart. For years, open heart surgery was the best option to...

How a calcium screening can detect risk of heart disease

Health Topics

Feb 6, 2018

There are tests for nearly everything in healthcare. Some tell your doctor if you’re likely to develop diabetes or arthritis; others tell of developing cancer in the intestines or breast, and even if a broken bone is healed or should...