4 “Strange Facts” You Never Knew About Your Heart

12 Apr 2017 Health Care, Medical

Hello #HeadStrongHeartSmart crew!.  I am Dr. Mike, your favorite board certified cardiologist, here to help you improve your health and add meaningful years to your life.

The heart is an amazing part of the body.  Since it keeps your blood circulating through your body, it is responsible for keeping every other part of the body working properly.  It has to keep working from the beginning of life to the very end.  Here are a few things that you probably never knew about your heart.

 

  1. The heart is the strongest muscle in the body

    When you think of strong muscles, you usually think of a bodybuilder. Granted, they have very strong biceps and pectorals, the heart remains one of the strongest muscles in the body.  All those other muscles are able to take frequent breaks.  Most weight lifters exercise in a series of 10-20 reps for 3-6 sets.  Your heart begins beating before you are even born and does not stop until you die.  The most amazing part is that the average adult heart beats about 100,000 times EACH DAY.  THAT is a strong muscle!

 

  1. The heart pumps a HUGE volume

    The heart has the job of pumping blood through the body.  This is so important because the blood carries the oxygen needed by your tissues.  When you breath, the oxygen enters the lungs and is transferred to the blood.  The heart carries it to the rest of the body.  The average amount of blood pumped by the heart is 5 liters per minute.  In other words, 2 1/2 soda bottles worth of blood is pumped out of the heart in 1 minute.  After a day, over 7000 L of blood have been pumped by an organ the size of your fist!  Your heart can fill a swimming pool in just over  a week!

 

  1. The heart has an electrical system

    Your heart has its own electrical system.  That electrical system regulates the heart rate and makes sure that everything is moving at the correct time.  If your heart was an orchestra, that electrical system would be the conductor.  Whenever there is a problem with the heart rhythm, it is due to some disruption in that electrical system.  When we perform an EKG (aka ECG), we are simply measuring the voltage in the heart over time.  Physicians are simply trained to recognize normal versus abnormal electrical activity.

 

  1. The heart has both pumping and suction functions.

    The heart is a very strong pump.  The blood leaving the heart is forcefully pumped out to reach all the organs in the body.  But there are areas IN the heart that move blood with suction.  For someone with a normal blood pressure of 120/80, those numbers represent the range of pressures in the arteries while the heart is beating.  At the same time, the pressures in the left ventricle, would range from 120 to just above 0.  Those low pressures occur while the ventricle is opening back up after pumping.  The pressure in the ventricle becomes so low, that it actually “sucks” the blood from the atrium of the heart.  The atrium only has to pump out the last bit of blood  that the ventral didn’t “suck” out.

 

There are just a few of the “strange facts” about the heart.  Knowing these things helps me as a cardiologist to better diagnose and treat a wide range of heart problems.  Be sure to share this post with your friends. Until next time…

5 Reasons a Healthy Person May Need to See a Cardiologist

12 Apr 2017 Health Care, Lifestyle, Medical

Hello #HeadStrongHeartSmart crew!  I am Dr. Mike, your favorite board certified cardiologist, here to help you improve your health and add meaningful years to your life.

 

When people learn that I am a cardiologist, it is often followed by statements such as:  “I hope I never have to see you as a patient” or  “I don’t want to ever have open heart surgery”.   If you are one of those people that has fears about seeing a cardiologist, I have good news; we are NOT surgeons!  That’s right, as a cardiologist, I am simply a medical doctor that has special skills in diagnosing and treating heart related problems.  I spent much of my time helping people prevent heart problems.

 

Today I’m going to tell you about 5 common reasons that generally healthy people come to see me.

 

  1. High Blood Pressure

    High blood pressure is when the blood pressure is above 140/90.  If it is identified early, there are changes in diet and exercise that can help improve blood pressure.  There are other times that medications need to be used.  Most primary care doctors are comfortable managing blood pressure, but there are some cases where the first line treatments may not be working as planned.  This is when a cardiologist can help by using customized regimens of medications to treat the blood pressure without excessive side effects.

  1. High Cholesterol

    High cholesterol is a common problem that can be treated by a cardiologist.  While there are simple cases managed by primary care physicians, the help of cardiologist may be needed when there are very high levels or more complicated patterns of cholesterol abnormalities. When multiple medications are needed, a cardiologist may be the best option to create a customized treatment plan.

  1. Irregular Heart Beat

    Sometimes fairly healthy people may have occasional irregularities in the heart beat. This may be felt as a skipping sensation in the chest, or even a racing heart.  As a cardiologist, I can ensure that a dangerous heart rhythm is not causing the symptoms and develop a treatment plan to keep you safe.

  1. Prevention of Heart Disease

    A frequent reason to see the cardiologist is when a healthy person finds that there are other people in the family with heart disease.  Because a heart attack is the end result of a process that takes many years to develop, a cardiologist can help identify early disease and begin preventative treatment so there is no opportunity to develop the more advanced disease that can lead to a heart attack.

  1. Preparation for Elective Surgery

    Before surgery, there is usually a “clearance” process that is requested by the surgeon and anesthesiologist.  This is requested to make sure that you are not at risk for a cardiac complication during the operation. If a surgeon is working on a completely different area of your body, the last thing they want is a heart attack while you are under anesthesia.  As a cardiologist, I perform testing to ensure that you are truly low cardiac risk and that you will come out of the surgery healthy.

 

This should relieve any concerns you may have had  about seeing a cardiologist.  If you have any of these issues, you can rest assured that you will be in good hands if you are seen by a cardiologist. Be sure to share this post with your friends. Until next time…

5 Things You Should Do Before Your First Doctor’s Visit

12 Apr 2017 Health Care

Hello everyone.  I am Dr. Mike, your favorite board certified cardiologist, here to help you improve your health and add meaningful years to your life.  You have come here because you are a smart and head strong person, and I’m here to give you information to help your heart and get you ready for your first office visit.  #HeadStrongHeartSmart

 

When it is time to visit a new doctor, there are a few things that you should do in preparation to make it a smooth experience.  As a cardiologist, many of my patients are referred to me from primary care doctors to take care of a specific problem.  Follow these tips and you will be on your way to having a pleasant experience at the doctor’s office.

 

  1. Know the terms of your insurance.

    You will probably provide basic information about your insurance when making the appointment to see the doctor.  However, it is VERY important to know a few specific things about your insurance.  Know the copayment, co-insurance, and deductible.  Knowing these things will avoid any unwanted surprises.  Don’t be that person expecting a $20 co-payment and being surprised with a several thousand dollar deductible that has to be met before your insurance pays anything.

 

  1. Gather prior test results.

    To avoid costly duplications in testing, be sure to get information about any recent testing before you arrive.  If you are being referred by another physician, you can usually request the records to be sent before you arrive for your appointment.

 

  1. Bring your medications.

    Your doctor will need to know what medications you are currently taking in order to properly treat you.  It can be hard to keep track if you are taking multiple medications and things like “I take 2 white pills each morning” won’t cut it.  Your doctor will need the medication names and dosages since they may need to adjust or change them.  The doctor needs to know where you are before they can safely take you where you need to go.

 

  1. Know your medical history.

    It is very important to know your medical history.  Your doctor will need to know what current and past medical problems you have had. This includes prior surgeries and hospitalizations.  Someone with a long medical history may need more aggressive treatment than someone who is otherwise healthy.

 

  1. Don’t eat.

    If it is your first visit at a doctor’s office, it is always a good idea to arrive fasting.  You should not eat anything for 6-8 hours before you arrive.  The doctor may need to perform blood tests and the results may be artificially abnormal if you eat something beforehand.

 

These 5 easy steps will do wonders for your first doctor’s visit.  There are too many things out there to stress you out. A doctor’s visit doesn’t have to be one of them.  Don’t forget to share this post with your friends. Until next time…

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