Heart stents are a potentially lifesaving treatment in preventing heart damage during and after a heart attack. The procedure opens arteries that are causing the heart attack and can relieve other blockages that may be causing chest discomfort called “angina.”
But before getting stents in your heart, you’ll want to consider both the risks of heart stent treatment and how it benefits your cardiac health.
A dense breast tissue diagnosis is an opportunity to review your breast cancer risk factors with your doctor and decide together whether additional screening tests are right for you.
Here’s what to know about recognizing and treating heart valve disease, and what to expect if you’ve just been diagnosed.
Did you know that nearly half of all adults in the US have high blood pressure? As a practicing interventional cardiologist, I see patients with high blood pressure, or hypertension, every day and can verify this statistic. The good news I give to those who do have high blood pressure is this—they have the ability to improve their blood pressure with certain lifestyle choices. And so do you. Here’s how.
You may benefit from participating in a high-risk breast screening program. Specifically for people who face a higher risk for breast cancer, this program offers advanced screening, surveillance, diagnostic and preventive methods to help you take charge of your health.
Let’s talk about who qualifies as “high risk” and what steps to take if you do.
Heart disease is the #1 cause of death in both men and women in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, every 36 seconds, an American dies from cardiovascular disease. But there’s good news—lifestyle modifications, like diet and exercise, can make a world of a difference in reducing your risk for heart disease and improving your overall health.
Based on the results of the assessment and tests, your doctor may order further tests. Let’s talk about four of the most common diagnostic tests for heart disease.
Scoliosis, a condition that causes the spine to curve, is often thought of as something that only happens in children. But the diagnosis isn’t just for kids: scoliosis can also happen in adults, who may live with it for years without developing symptoms. Others keep it at bay with regular exercise and healthy living. For some, the condition can generate severe pain and disability, eventually requiring surgery, but for most, scoliosis is treatable without surgery.
Here are a few things to know if you’ve been diagnosed with or think you might have adult scoliosis.
Recognizable by its sideways curvature, scoliosis arcs and twists the spine’s vertical column into an “s” or “c” shape. Mild cases of scoliosis may be hardly noticeable, while the most severe cases may require corrective surgery.
The good news: even without surgery, there are many home-based treatment options to help you thrive with scoliosis.
Your initial appointment to see a spine doctor can feel a bit daunting at first. If you’ve never been treated for back and spine issues, you might be unsure of what to expect. On top of the back pain you’re likely experiencing, there are the additional considerations of paperwork, questionnaires and overall uncertainty about your diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.
Fortunately, a bit of advance preparation can help. Here are some tips to help you prepare for your first appointment with a spine doctor.
The difference between chronic and acute back pain? Acute back pain comes on suddenly and usually lasts from a few days to a few weeks. Back pain is considered chronic if it lasts for more than three months. Whichever form yours takes, how do you know when to take action to treat your back pain?
