Category Archives: Heart

04.09.18
by

AFIB – Not just for older people

AFIB

AFIBWhen we are younger we feel immortal, like nothing can touch us and we will live forever. Our health is generally good.  The thing is, health conditions like Afib (atrial fibrillation) can strike at just about any age.

What is Afib?

Atrial Fibrillation, is a condition many of us remain blissfully unaware of. It is sometimes referred to for short as Afib. It is an irregular heartbeat. Afib is the most common type of arrhythmia. Even if you are young and in good health, you can still present with Afib due to stress.

Other risk factors may include certain medications, heavy alcohol consumption, or training as an endurance athlete, or structural heart defects.

When no risk factors exist,  a sleep study may be conducted as sleep apnea can be a causing culprit. The fact is that with Afib, the cause isn’t always discovered. Even with an unknown cause, unlike most things in life, there is still a possible solution. Having an ablation procedure done which knocks out the part of the heart which keeps having the episodes.

The term Lone Afib has been used for more than half a century and is used to describe an atrial fibrillation of unknown origin.

Long-term and untreated Afib wears out your heart and entire cardiovascular system. This puts you at a higher risk of stroke. In many people, it will also cause chest pain, heart attack or even heart failure. If you have signs of Atrial Fibrillation it’s important to see your doctor right away

Symptoms can include:

Rapid Heartbeat

Shortness of breath

Heart palpitations

Exhaustion without exertion

Exhaustion during workouts

Irregular heartbeat

Confusion

Dizziness

Doctors diagnose atrial fibrillation using family and individual medical history as well as a physical exam, and an electrocardiogram. Treatments can include select medicines and procedures designed to restore normal rhythm.

Heart issues are among the most disturbing to deal with after all your heart is the core of your being. If you feel the above symptoms and they do not subside with rest, relaxation, or attempts to de-stress it is important to seek medical advice.

If you live in the Tampa Bay area and are looking for a great cardiology team, please call us at 813-975-2800. Patient comfort and care are a priority here at Tampa Cardiovascular Associates. We look forward to talking with you. www.tampacardio.com.

04.06.18
by

Could Sugar Harm Your Heart?

sugar

sugarThe answer is YES sugar can harm your heart when eaten in excess.

Our bodies do not need sugar to function and run properly. They contribute nothing nutritionally.

When you first begin to eliminate sugar from your diet you may actually go through a withdrawal stage. Both physically and psychologically. You may miss the taste, the feel, the smell, everything about it. Sugar gives your body a high. But it isn’t a clean high and there is always a crash. The side effects being ill health and extra body fat. When repeated over and over again, damage can be done to the body and to the heart.

The American Medical Association of Internal Medicine back in January of 2014 found that the odds of dying from a heart-related condition rose incrementally right along with the patient’s diet – regardless of other factors that would seem to come into play such as age, sex, activity level, and even BMI.

Most adults in the USA consume 22 teaspoons of added sugar a day without even realizing it. That’s more than 3x what is recommended. Ideally no more than 100 calories a day (6 teaspoons) should come from sugar.

The  American diet is chock full of hidden sugars, especially prepackaged and processed foods. The amount of sugar you consume during a given day may surprise you. Our bodies are not designed to need excess sugar, especially non-natural sugars. They can increase your risk of cardiovascular disease as well as raise your cholesterol levels, boost your risk for high blood pressure and add on extra unwanted pounds.

Ways to Eliminate Added Sugars

Remove from your diet: Soft drinks, candies, cakes, cookies, pies, fruit drinks, milk products, grains,  canned fruit in syrups, fruit yogurts, cereals with added sugars, and so on. Get your sugar from natural sources such as fruit and whole milk in small servings.

To learn more about how to care for your heart, check back regularly. If you are in the Tampa, Florida area and looking for a great cardiovascular team check out www.tampacardio.com Tampa Cardiovascular Associates or call us at (813) 975-2800.

02.08.18
by

Avoid a Heart Attack with These Key Tips

heart

heartStress has a horribly negative effect on your body.

The physical manifestation may begin as anxiety but it can quickly lead to high blood pressure, heart palpitations and even chest pains. Any discomfort centered in the chest is disarming and can make you worry. Rightly so, but it is important to know how to distinguish a possible heart attack from acute stress or a panic attack. 

Prevention is the best medicine. 

  • Eliminate things and people that cause you stress. Avoid it as much as you can even if it means saying no to people or events you would normally agree too.
  • The heart is a muscle. WOrking out and getting cardiovascular exercise can help your body deal more easily with stress.
  • Stop smoking.
  • Check your cholesterol.
  • High Blood Pressure left unregulated can wear out the heart and valves. Monitor your blood pressure. If it’s consistently high, talk with your doctor.
  • Eat lots of grains and fruits
  • Get omega-3’s in daily
  • Avoid trans fats
  • Talk. Venting is healthy for your mind, soul, and body.
  • Too much sugar can damage arteries. Monitor your blood sugar levels.

If your chest feels weird – like it’s under pressure, aches, has pain, heart palpitations or other uncomfortable sensations or just sense that something may be wrong, never ignore it and just hope it will go away. Visit Tampa Cardiovascular Associates. Worrying about your health and the unknown can also cause undue amounts of stress, when one visit and a checkup could very well put your fears to rest.

If you are in the Tampa, Florida area we invite you to give us a call today 813-975-2800 or visit www.tampacardio.com. Our expert staff can help you get a clear picture of what is going on with your heart and your health and set you on the course to the best possible stress free mindset and healthy body possible.

12.08.17
by

What is Cardiovascular Disease?

Cardiovascular disease

Cardiovascular disease is an illness of the blood vessels and the heart itself.  Heart disease can present in many different forms.

Cardiovascular disease can consist of:

Heart Failure (Congestive heart failure) While this doesn’t mean the heart stops beating it is a scary phrase to hear from your doctor. It means that the blood isn’t able to pump as well as it should. The heart has to keep working harder and harder to meet the body’s blood and oxygen needs. It can get progressively worse if left untreated. 

Heart Valve Problems (Stenosis) – The heart valves don’t open and close enough to allow proper blood flow. This is particularly dangerous to the health of your heart and your overall wellbeing.

Arrhythmia – the Abnormal beating of the heart. It can beat too slowly, too fast or off rhythm. Arrhythmia can affect how efficiently the heart is able to work. It can cause palpitations and lead to stress and adrenal fatigue as well as other health problems such as anxiety.

Atherosclerosis -Atherosclerosis is a condition where plaque develops and builds up inside of the artery walls. It makes the passageways more narrow and blood flow becomes constricted. It makes it far more difficult for your heart muscle to be productive and wears it down over time.

When your heart function fully or properly it can leave you feeling exhausted, weak, and often dealing with chest pains. If left untreated cardiovascular disease often leads to heart attacks and or strokes in patients.

If you are in or near the Tampa, Florida area we would love to work with you to get your health on track and you on your way to the best most productive healthy life you can live. Give Tampa Cardiovascular Associates a call today at 813-975-2800 or visit us online at www.tampacardio.com.

11.02.17
by

Is Your Heart Healthy?

heart

Is your heart healthy? Unless given reason to believe otherwise, we all go on the assumption “yes”.

There are some basic tests you can do to monitor your heart and make sure it is staying healthy without much effort or cost.

Check your blood pressure. Though one single reading won’t give you a full picture, keeping a chart of readings can establish a baseline. If you are generally within a good range, wonderful. If your numbers are often higher than they should be or consistently lower it may be time to visit your physician.

What’s normal range?

“Normal” for a resting adult is 120 over 80 or less. Hypertension begins at 140/90 or higher. You may not think a high reading is a big deal but what happens over time is that adding that extra pressure can stiffen and even narrow the artery walls blocking natural blood flow to and from the heart. This can lead to heart attack or heart disease.

Your blood pressure is a reading of the pressure in your arteries every time your heart pumps and relaxes. Systolic is the contracted measurement and Diastolic measures the relaxation between beats.

Take a blood test

A blood test is a great way to monitor health. Your doctor can look at your levels of potassium, sodium, albumin, and creatinine. Abnormal levels can signal heart problems including failure as well as other issues with cholesterol, liver and or kidneys.

Get some exercise

Getting regular exercise strengthens the heart muscle as well as the rest of your body. It is important to note that cardiovascular exercise shouldn’t make your chest hurt. If it does, check with your doctor before continuing any exercise program.

Monitor your heart rate

Your heart rate is the number of times your heart beats within one minute. When monitored by using a stethoscope the opening and closing of your heart valves can also be heard and checked for abnormalities. The normal range goes from 60 to 100 beats per minute. If yours is higher – it may be a sign your heart is working too hard.

If you are in the Tampa, Florida area and in need of a Cardiovascular Physician please think of Tampa Cardiovascular Associates www.tampacardio.com. Give us a call at 813-975-2800.

10.03.17
by

Coconut Oil – Healthy or Not?

coconut oil

There is so much hype online both ways as to the health benefits of coconut oil. Is it good for you? Is it bad for you? Honestly given the amount of debate its hard to know what to think.

Coconut oil is considered by many to be a “miracle oil” with a host of dietary benefits, and those who are pro coconut oil believe it boosts metabolism, improves digestion and immune health, supports hormone production and improves mental focus. Others say that the lauric acid content and medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) it contains can help with weight loss.

What’s the verdict?

A science advisory was recently issued by The American Heart Association warning people not to ingest coconut oil due to its high levels of saturated fat. It warned that saturated fat from all sources raises LDL, or “bad” cholesterol levels, which can contribute to the buildup and hardening of fatty plaque in arteries and lead to heart attacks and strokes.

It was noted that coconut oil holds 82% saturated fat; by comparison, canola oil contains only 7% saturated fat. One tablespoon of coconut oil contains 11 grams of unsaturated fat, just 2 grams short of the heart association’s recommended daily limit.

The warning triggered a massive outcry online, with some challenging nutritional norms by insisting that cardiovascular disease is caused by inflammation and oxidized cholesterol from sugars, carbohydrates, and vegetable oils. Others claimed the recommendation was tied to pressure from pharmaceutical and agricultural corporations, as well as multi-national food businesses collectively known as “Big Food.”

While a majority of Americans believe coconut oil is a healthy food, medical experts agree that there’s simply no evidence of long-term health benefits associated coconut oil. In fact, it’s calorie-dense and holds more saturated fat than butter, beef tallow, and lard, according to one weight-loss expert.

When cooking with oils, it’s important to pick the healthiest option and consume fatty foods in moderation, as part of a healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise.

Tampa Cardiovascular Associates, with offices in Tampa and Wesley Chapel, is ready to help you make dietary and lifestyle changes to improve your cardiovascular health. For a free screening and consultation, visit our website or call 813-975-2800.

03.21.17
by

Do you suffer from Pelvic Congestion Syndrome?

Pelvic congestion syndrome

Pelvic congestion syndromePelvic Congestion Syndrome is experienced as a heaviness and or pain in the lower back and abdominal area. It is caused by varicose veins in the region of the pelvis. Since these damaged veins are deep in the abdomen and are not visible from the skin, it can be difficult to come to a diagnosis. This is due to the fact that there are many causes for pelvic pain in women, especially during the childbearing age when menstruation occurs. Pelvic Congestion Syndrome can be misdiagnosed as endometriosis, fibroids, and other diseases.

It can be difficult to diagnose due to the fact that the veins damaged in PCS are deep veins and non-visible. They occur mainly in younger women of childbearing age. It is often mistaken for fibroids, endometriosis, and other diseases.

Diagnosed or not the pain and discomfort can become so severe that it affects the woman’s daily life. That is why at Tampa Cardiovascular Associates, they are adamant about a correct diagnosis as swiftly as possible and getting started on the resultant treatment.

The doctors at Tampa Cardio are highly trained in embolization. Embolization is a simple procedure that can get rid of those painful pelvic varicose veins.

There is no need to continue to suffer. Come talk with us and we can advise you on the treatment options for you and your condition. Our team of experienced doctors brings a high level of knowledge on the topic of varicose veins. We know the pain that our patients go through and we want to take that pain away. We care about each and every patient and are focused on providing the absolute best care possible.

If you live in the Tampa bay area and are considering vein treatment, please call Tampa Cardiovascular Associates at 813-975-2800 or schedule an evaluation through our online form.

08.15.16
by

Signs of a Heart Attack

heart attack

Heart attacks continue to be the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States today.  The rate for survival increases when a person experiencing a heart attack is with someone who knows the signs. What to keep in mind is that heart attacks can differ with each person. So, the signs of a heart attack in one person might be different in another person. There are some signs that are more common than most, which we list below.

Heart attacks can occur quickly with no warning. They can also build-up gradually and with such a slow onset of symptoms that many of those who have heart attacks are not aware of what is happening until it is too late. Recognizing the signs of a heart attack is very important. Knowing what to look for can save someone’s life, maybe your own.

What for these signs and get immediate medical attention:

  • Chest discomfort – many survivors recall that the “chest pain” they experienced wasn’t exactly painful, but more lie a squeezing and full feeling with “chest pressure”.
  • Discomfort around the chest –We’ve all heard the warning sign that the left arm goes number right before a heart attack. But, in reality, anywhere around the chest can experience pressure, numbness, and pain such as the shoulders, neck, jaw, back, arms and stomach.
  • Shortness of breath – some people may experience fatigue, exhaustion, or shortness of breath and trouble breathing right before a heart attack. This symptom tends to be more common in women than in men and can actually start appearing a few months before an impending heart attack.
  • Gastrointestinal problems – although less common, some people report feeling sick to their stomach and having heartburn before a heart attack. Sometimes, they will vomit. Having this problem is actually very dangerous since you might not realize it is your heart and mistake it for the flu.

If you are concerned that you or someone you love may be at risk for a heart attack, then contact the physicians at Tampa Cardiovascular Associates today by calling (813) 975-2800, and we can get you scheduled for an evaluation with one of our cardiologists.