Love Your Heart: A Cleveland Clinic Podcast

Dr. Lee Kirksey, Vascular Surgeon and Vice Chairman of Vascular Surgery talks with Dr. David Hardy, Department of Vascular Surgery about thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS). This condition often occurs in athletes. The physicians discuss the need for quick treatment; diagnostic testing; treatment of venous occlusion in thoracic outlet syndrome including thrombolysis, thrombectomy and/or rib resection; and recovery including protocols to get back to an active lifestyle.

Dr. Steven Nissen, Chief Academic Officer, Chief Academic Officer, Sydell and Arnold Miller Family Heart & Vascular Institute discusses the benefits of metabolic (also called bariatric) surgery with surgeon Ali Aminian from the Bariatric and Metabolic Institute. Dr. Aminian recently published a paper on the long term cardiovascular outcomes of metabolic surgery on patients with type 2 diabetes and obesity. Dr. Aminian describes the study, primary outcomes (all-cause mortality, coronary artery events, cerebrovascular events, heart failure, nephropathy, and atrial fibrillation), results of this study, and what this means for future care of patients. Dr. Aminian also reviews who is a candidate for this type of surgery, types of bariatric surgery, risks and benefits of surgery, and factors leading to lifelong success.

Dr. Steven Nissen, Chief Academic Officer, Chief Academic Officer, Sydell and Arnold Miller Family Heart & Vascular Institute talks with Dr. Jerry Estep, Section Head of the George M. and Linda H. Kaufman Center for Heart Failure Treatment and Recovery and Brad Williams Pharm D, pharmacy specialist for heart failure about what to do when your medication has been recalled. In the light of several heart failure medications being recalled, these two experts provide advice and resources all patients on medications should know.

Luke Laffin, MD, Medical Director of Cardiac Rehabilitation and cardiologist in the Section of Preventive Cardiology at Cleveland Clinic talks about two related abstracts recently presented at the American Heart Association’s Hypertension Scientific Sessions focused on resistant hypertension in a cardiac rehabilitation program. Dr. Laffin defines resistant hypertension, the prevalence of resistant hypertension in a cardiac rehabilitation setting, factors associated with patients who have resistant hypertension, and lessons learned about this patient population.

Dr. Lee Kirksey, Vascular Surgeon and Vice Chairman of Vascular Surgery talks with Dr. David Hardy, Department of Vascular Surgery about thoracic outlet syndrome. This condition often occurs in athletes. The physicians discuss the need for quick treatment; diagnostic testing; treatment of venous occlusion in thoracic outlet syndrome including thrombolysis, thrombectomy and/or rib resection; and recovery including protocols to get back to an active lifestyle.

Luke Laffin, MD, Medical Director of Cardiac Rehabilitation and cardiologist in the Section of Preventive Cardiology at Cleveland Clinic tells us about natural ways to lower blood pressure. These tips will help you stay off medications or lessen the amount of medications you need to take to control blood pressure.

Cardiologist Dr. Milind Desai and surgeon Dr. Doug Johnston, both experts in radiation heart disease discuss a paper that was recently published entitled, “Prevention, Diagnosis, and Management of Radiation-Associated Cardiac Disease.” This expert panel highlights the unique aspects of radiation heart disease and the importance of individualizing care. The paper includes recommendations for diagnostic testing to plan treatment and the various treatment options available. Patients and their physicians need to gather a complete profile, set realistic expectations and plan an individualized treatment plan. An experienced radiation heart disease team is required to make the best decision for this patient population to achieve best outcomes.

Dr. Steven Nissen, Chief Academic Officer, Sydell and Arnold Miller Family Heart & Vascular Institute and Dr. Leslie Cho, Section Head Preventive Cardiology & Rehabilitation talk about Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD): What is it; Who is at risk; Incidence; Diagnostic Testing; and Treatment.

Dr. Steven Nissen, Chief Academic Officer, Sydell and Arnold Miller Family Heart & Vascular Institute talks with Dr. Leslie Cho, Section Head Preventive Cardiology & Rehabilitation about LDL cholesterol and statin intolerance. They discuss the full range of options available and what is in the future for LDL management. Then, Dr. Nissen describes the latest Lipoprotein a (also called Lp (a)) – what it is, why it’s important and a new research trial addressing this new frontier in lipid management.

Dr. Lee Kirksey, Vascular Surgeon and Vice Chairman of Vascular Surgery talk with Dr. David Hardy, Department of Vascular Surgery and Dr. Tushar Vachharajany, Nephrology and Hypertension about the challenges patients face when they need dialysis vascular access. Topics include where what patients need to know when they need dialysis, where to go if you need dialysis access, what happens when you come to a vascular surgeon, diagnostic tests that help determine the best vascular access for the patient, home hemodialysis, complications of vascular access and what to do when complications occur or limited options are available.