Love Your Heart: A Cleveland Clinic Podcast

There are many things to consider if you have atrial fibrillation. In part 1, Dr. Oussama Wazni speaks with Drs. Walid Saliba and Mohamed Kanj about the benefits of this treatment option and who would be a good candidate, with special consideration to anticoagulation (blood thinners) therapy. Next week, Dr. Wazni will continue the conversation.

Clinical trials are an important part of how your doctor cares for you better. Dr. Samir Kapadia and Dr. Kevin Hodges discuss why we have clinical trials, the advantages of being in a clinical trial and how to get involved. They explain that participating in a clinical trial does not prevent you from getting care and should not have any associated added costs.

Valve-sparing aortic root replacement (David procedure) is heart surgery to treat an enlarged aortic root wall (aortic aneurysm). This surgery replaces your aortic root while keeping your own aortic valve. Drs. Eric Roselli and Marijan Koprivanac discuss why they may choose this option and how it might be better for patients.

Protein shakes can be a great after exercise beverage or serve as a meal replacement. Julia Zumpano, a registered dietician from the Preventive Cardiology Program at Cleveland Clinic explains that the most important thing to consider is the nutritional make up of your shake. It should have enough protein, amino acids, fiber and not a lot of added sugar. Some protein shakes come ready-to-drink, which can be good option if you are on the go. Protein powders can be good on their own mixed with water or other base. You may choose to make them into a smoothie by adding other ingredients; it will keep you fuller, longer.

A low sodium diet may mean making some big changes in the way you eat. Sodium is found naturally in some foods but is also added to many foods, which can make lowering your intake challenging. Julia Zumpano, a registered dietician from the Preventive Cardiology Program at Cleveland Clinic, explains the current recommendations for sodium intake and how to get started lowering your intake. It is important to read nutrition labels to ensure you are not going over your recommended limit.

When you hear “heart surgery”, you may think of a big incision or scar on someone’s chest. Thanks to robotically assisted mitral valve surgery, this may be a thing of the past. Dr. Marc Gillinov and Dr. Daniel Burns discuss who is a good candidate and the advantages of robotically assisted mitral valve surgery.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is an attractive option to treat aortic valve disease because it is a less invasive procedure that only requires a shorter hospital stay for most patients. Dr. Amar Krishnaswamy, Section Head of Invasive & Interventional Cardiology, discusses who is – and who is not - a candidate for this procedure.

You may have heard this expression “Exercise is medicine” and wondered if it is true. Dr. Michael Emery explains that it is! The hardest part is getting started but Dr. Emery gives some helpful tips to get started and stick with it. Find what you enjoy doing and then find others who share in that passion to help you reach your goals.

Pain management is a big concern for most people who undergo heart surgery. There are many things to think about and we want you to know, you are not alone! Nikhil Kumar MD and Angelia Nadiak, CNP, talk about how your care team works together to make sure your pain is managed. Each person is different and each pain plan is unique to each patient.

Being able to see your doctor or get medications can be challenging for some patients. Steven Nissen, MD, Chief Academic Officer for Cleveland Clinic Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute, talks about how in the future there may be a way to help get medications to those in need. Before a process like this is available, it must be proven safe.