Love Your Heart: A Cleveland Clinic Podcast

A heart attack or myocardial infarction (MI) is a serious and frightening event. Returning home can be just as scary. Dr. Luke Laffin talks about ways to have a better recovery after a heart attack.

Choosing the right diet to keep your heart healthy can be hard. Julia Zumpano, a registered dietitian in the Department of Preventive Cardiology, explains what the most commonly recommended diets are for heart health and what the differences are.

Clinical research helps us find new treatments or evaluate what treatments are best for patients. Dr. Marc Gillinov, Chairman of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, describes types of research protocols used in heart surgery; patient safety; patient follow-up; and the purpose of research in clinical care.

Radiation heart disease is a difficult condition to treat. Radiation can cause damage to different parts of the heart. Dr. Douglas Johnston, Vice Chairman, Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery discusses when to see a specialized cardiologist, what tests or procedures that may be needed, and what the next steps may be.

Some patients who have pectus excavatum (a chest wall deformity) also have cardiovascular problems, including congenital heart defects, valve disease, connective tissue disorders and aorta disease. A team approach including a comprehensive evaluation is important for this complex patient population. Repair of both problems in the same surgery can help patients feel better and look better with recovery from only one surgery. An experienced multidisciplinary team is necessary to determine the best treatment plan for the patient, plan the best surgery approach, ensure the best recovery and have the best outcomes.

A common New Year’s resolution is to eat better. There are many snacks advertised as healthy, but are they really good for you? Julia Zumpano, a registered dietitian in the Department of Preventive Cardiology, explains while certain “healthy” snack foods might be better than other snacks, many are still not healthy options.

The aorta is the body’s main artery that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body. The aorta can become damaged and weak, causing it to become wider that is should. This is called an aneurysm. When this happens, there are a few different treatment options. Dr. Sean Lyden, Chairman of Vascular Surgery, and Dr. Francis Caputo, Vascular Surgery Director, Aorta Center, discuss how they decide to manage an aneurysm and ensure patients are receiving the best possible treatment. The Vascular Surgery Department at Cleveland Clinic offers expertise in multiple treatment options and focuses on collaborative care.

Pericarditis is a word that has been used a lot lately. There have been many changes in the world of pericarditis. Dr. Allan Klein, Director of the Center for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Pericardial Diseases, talks about the diagnosis, causes and treatment of pericarditis.

Echocardiography can be a useful diagnostic tool in caring for cardiac patients. Dr. Richard Grimm and Dr. Rhonda Miyasaka speak about various types of tests using echocardiography. Learn indications, benefits, and challenges of these imaging tests.