This two part program answers all your questions about Aorta Disease and related disorders (Marfan syndrome, Ehlers Danlos, Loeys Dietz). Part 1 answers questions about types of aorta disease; how this disease is diagnosed (including imaging and genetic testing); and medical management of aorta disease including monitoring, medications, blood pressure control, exercise and how to prevent progression.

Patients often ask if they should take their blood pressure at home, how to get the most accurate results, how often to do it, and what type of monitor to use (check out https://www.validatebp.org/) Preventive cardiologist and blood pressure specialist Dr. Luke Laffin answers these important questions.

Pericarditis treatment can be very challenging, however, the approach to surgical treatment has changed over the years with advances in imaging and earlier diagnosis. Dr. Doug Johnston, Vice Chairman of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery and Surgical Director of the Pericardial Disease Center, talks about pericarditis (including recurring pericarditis, constrictive pericarditis), what it is, and when someone may need surgery to treat it. Dr. Johnston talks about what surgery involves, why Cleveland Clinic takes this approach and what recovery looks like.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) involves more than septal thickness. Dr. Nicholas Smedira, Surgical Director of Cleveland Clinic’s Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center describes what happens when a patient has hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. A team approach is used to understand the anatomy and cause of obstruction. Many surgical approaches are available to individualize the care for the HCM patient to address the obstruction or treat the heart when a patient has HCM without obstruction.

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is becoming more common as a diagnosis. If you have HFpEF, you may have questions about this condition and treatment.

New valve guidelines provide information about management of patients with heart valve disease including when to operate, TAVR (TAVI); valve surgery; valve choice, valve repair, surgical approach, and how the guidelines address the aorta and the tricuspid valve.Dr. Lars Svensson, Chairman, Sydell and Arnold Miller Family Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute and Dr. Marc Gillinov, Department Chairman, Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery provide their take on the new guidelines.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a minimally invasive procedure used to insert a new aortic valve in patients with aortic stenosis. While risk is low, stroke remains an important risk for this procedure. Dr. Samir Kapadia, Chairman of Cardiovascular Medicine, explains why stroke occurs during TAVR and how the sentinel filter device is used during the procedure to lessen risk of stroke.

Dr. Milind Desai describes the results of a study performed during this COVID pandemic, looking at patients with symptoms of COVID who were not sick enough to be in the hospital. The question he answered was: Does vitamin C and/or zinc reduce the duration or severity of symptoms in patients diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)?

If you have valve disease you may have questions about symptoms, diagnostic tests and treatments. In honor of Valve Disease Awareness Day, valve specialists Dr. Paul Cremer and Dr. Christine Jellis answer questions they often get from patients about valve disease.

Heart failure is very common affecting millions of Americans. Surgeon Dr. Edward Soltesz and Cardiologist Dr. Jerry Estep talk about heart failure symptoms, how heart failure is classified to guide treatment, and innovations in heart care including new medications, left ventricular assist devices (LVAD), and transplant.