Love Your Heart: A Cleveland Clinic Podcast

An implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is a medical device that monitors your heart and can deliver an electric shock to correct life-threatening arrhythmia and prevent sudden cardiac arrest. Dr. Mohamed Kanj talks about the safety and risks of activity with an ICD and different arrhythmias. He reviews findings from research that helps guide how doctors care for active patients with ICDs.

A heart MRI is a painless, safe and noninvasive way for your healthcare provider to see detailed pictures of your heart. Cardiac MRI images show the parts of your heart and any damage to specific areas and also show how well your heart’s chambers and valves are working. Cardiac MRI is often a necessary diagnostic test for patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED) but challenging due to patient safety concerns and poor image quality. Drs. Callahan and Wilkoff talk with Dr. Deborah Kwon, Director of Cardiac MRI at Cleveland Clinic about cardiac MRI safety and image optimization.

Aortopathy refers to conditions that weaken your aorta, like aortic aneurysms and aortic dissections. Dr. Vidyasagar Kalahasti, Director of the Marfan Syndrome and Connective Tissue Disorder Clinic and member of the Aorta Center, discusses causes of aortopathies, especially for people with genetic conditions or competitive athletes.

School may be out for the summer, but student athletes are still attending practices for the next season. Summertime also provides masters level athletes a chance to enjoy the nice weather while practicing their sport. Dr. Tamanna Singh hosts a panel discussion with Drs. Richard Figler, Thomas Callahan, and Michael Emery about screening and preparedness for potential life-threatening heart conditions that affect athletes.

Life after a cardiac event can be difficult to adjust to, especially if you are an athlete. The decision to return to play is important and must be made by weighing the risks and benefits. Dr. Michael Emery, Co-Director of the Sports Cardiology Center, talks about returning to play, what your doctor thinks about, and the shared decision-making process.

Being involved with a sport comes with a long list of things to do to get ready to play. One item on this list is a pre-participation cardiac screening. Dr. Tamanna Singh, Co-Director of the Sports Cardiology Center, talks about the value of pre-participation screening including a history and physical (H&P) and one common test, an electrocardiogram (EKG).

Patients have many questions about how to lower cholesterol and what to do after a high cholesterol diagnosis. Dr. Ashish Sarraju answers some of these common questions including why fasting before your test is important, what all of the different tests tell your doctor and what you can do to help your heart.

Have you ever wondered what your surgeon thinks about when they are deciding if you need an operation? Dr. Lars Svensson and Dr. Marijan Koprivanac discuss all things aorta, such as your past medical history, current health, and how your surgeon looks to the future to provide the best options for you.

The choice between robotically assisted, minimally invasive, or full open incision is a decision you should talk to your surgeon about. Dr. Marc Gillinov and Dr. Daniel Burns answer some common questions and provide insight on how your surgeon chooses the best approach for you.

Eating healthy can be tricky. Food labels can be challenging to read and understand. Dr. Stan Hazen and Dr. Wilson Tang recently spoke about erythritol and the link to heart health. Natalie Salvatore, RN and Julia Zumpano talk about more about food choices and how to spot artificial sweeteners.