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Heart Health

NSAIDs may increase your risk for heart disease, new research suggests

Health Topics

Jun 13, 2017

Do you take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for pain relief or fever management? New research supports the claim that people who routinely take NSAIDs could face a higher risk of having a heart attack.The recent study, published in the British...

Silent damages: Why you should keep track of your blood pressure

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Jun 8, 2017

Understanding your blood pressure is vital when it comes to the quality of your heart and overall health. Here are some of the most important facts you should know about blood pressure and how you can maintain a healthy heart.What is...

After 2 heart procedures, WWII vet shares his incredible story

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May 29, 2017

Doctors and patients forge personal connections in different ways, for different reasons. Molly Szerlip, MD, an interventional cardiologist on the medical staff at The Heart Hospital Baylor Plano, and Fletcher Harris, a 90-year-old veteran of World War II, found they...

Boxing provides strength to woman living with heart condition

Health Topics

May 13, 2017

When you think of boxing, you may picture the greats duking it out in the middle of a ring. But boxing isn’t just a sport. It’s recognized as a critical part of the rehabilitation process for older adults who are recovering from heart surgery...

How those popular fad diets affect your heart health

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Apr 27, 2017

In this day and age, it seems like a new diet pops up every time we turn on the TV. Keto, Whole30, paleo, carnivore, high carb, low carb, high fat, low fat… As consumers, trying to sort through all of...

How TAVR has changed patient recovery for those with aortic stenosis

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Apr 18, 2017

For a doctor, the hardest conversation you ever have with patients is when you have to tell them, “No, there’s nothing I can do for you.” I went into medicine to make folks better. When you can’t do that, it’s...

23-year-old faces congestive heart failure post-pregnancy

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Apr 7, 2017

Three-month-old Layci is the picture of a happy baby — smiling at everyone, cooing and very aware of her surroundings. Her mom, 23-year-old Brianna Harris, looks like many happy young women with a new healthy baby girl. Pictures can fool you, though....

Lipoprotein(a), genetic heart condition, increases risk of heart attack

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Feb 28, 2017

Like many things we see in medicine, it just didn’t seem fair. Heart-wise, my patient seemed to have done everything right: good diet, plenty of exercise, ideal weight and no smoking. Yet, at a young age, he had hardening of...

Intolerance to exercise discovered to be blockage in 35-year-old’s heart

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Feb 25, 2017

At age 35, Adriana Oviedo started to experience an intolerance to any exercise. At times, she would become anxious and feel out of breath just walking to her car. Her chest hurt. Her arm ached, and she felt like she...

Robotic heart surgery saves the life of teenage athlete

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Feb 24, 2017

Ever since he can remember, 15-year-old Camden Thrailkill has been passionate about baseball and football. The high school freshman from Denton, Texas spends his days outside of the classroom honing his athletic skills as a member of his school’s football...

72-year-old returns to active life following coronary artery bypass surgery

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Feb 17, 2017

Danny McCoy is not your average 72-year-old. The retiree who previously worked in recreational property management in Houston completed a half-marathon without any prior training while in his fifties. He lived an active life.Prior to his race, Danny thought it...

Broken Heart Syndrome: Can you die from a broken heart?

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Feb 14, 2017

While anyone can face a broken heart, broken heart syndrome (also known as takotsubo cardiomyopathy or stress cardiomyopathy) is a condition almost unique to women between the age of 50-80. The cause of the heart condition is not completely known,...

Genetic heart conditions could cause sudden death

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Feb 13, 2017

The human body is composed of between 20,000 and 25,000 different genes that make us into who we are today. Some of the genes we inherit determine the color of our hair, while others are responsible for the development of the...

Leading the nation in healing hearts: The evolution of heart surgery

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Feb 10, 2017

Sternotomies — the medical term for splitting open the chest to reach the heart — get the headlines. Transplants, bypasses and other open-heart surgeries are amazing, dramatic and lifesaving, the stuff of riveting documentaries and poignant narratives. By many measures,...

A physician trained in space medicine brings skills to wound care

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Jan 24, 2017

As far back as she can remember, Laurie Aten, MD, wanted to be part of the space program. Instead, she pursued a career in medicine.Then opportunity knocked.After practicing family medicine for four years, Dr. Aten applied for a residency in...

An aspirin a day: Clinical trial aims to find cheaper ways to research medicine

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Jan 18, 2017

For four decades, people have been taking aspirin to ward off strokes and heart attacks. But is the commonly used “baby aspirin” dose of 81 milligrams better, or the regular dose of 325 milligrams?To help settle the issue, an unusual...

6 ways game day can hurt your heart

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Jan 1, 2017

If you’re a Dallas Cowboys fan, chances are you’ve had your heart broken more than once over the years. Watching your favorite team on game day can be stressful — but can it literally hurt your heart? Fan: Cowboys’ “Heart-Stopping...

Holiday heart syndrome: Seasonal celebrations can cause irregular heartbeat

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Dec 31, 2016

This time of year, many of us are worried about putting on pounds from all those holiday treats and cocktails. But we should also consider how we could be harming our hearts.A phenomenon called “holiday heart syndrome” — alcohol-induced atrial...

Could twice-a-year shots replace daily cholesterol medication?

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Dec 20, 2016

What if a twice-a-year injectable medication could replace popping a pill every day to help fight high cholesterol?According to new research presented at the November 2016 American Heart Association Scientific Sessions in New Orleans, a clinical study suggests that a...

New technology repairs art teacher’s ‘hole in the heart’ to reduce stroke risk

Health Topics

Nov 30, 2016

Heidi Easley was going over her Monday morning to-do list when suddenly letters and full words were missing off the page. Terrified, she grabbed her phone to search the internet for a cause, but couldn’t read anything.“One of my biggest...