Love Your Heart: A Cleveland Clinic Podcast

Richard Grimm, DO, Director of the Echocardiography Laboratory, and Helga Lombardo, RDCS, FASE Supervisor, Echocardiography Lab, answer many of the common questions patients have about the echocardiogram such as what it is, how to prepare for it, how doctors choose the type of echo to use, how the echo is performed and what the test results show.

After a Lung Cancer Awareness webchat , thoracic surgeon Usman Ahmad MD leads a discussion with pulmonologist Dr. Peter Mazzone, MD, MPH and radiation oncologist Gregory Videtic, MD about lung cancer: the role of smoking in lung cancer; symptoms; early identification; the team approach to planning care; options for treatment; research studies; advances in surgical treatment; and prevention of lung cancer.

After an “Ask your heart doctor” webchat Steven Nissen, MD, Chairman of the Robert and Suzanne Tomsich Department of Cardiovascular Medicine at Cleveland Clinic talks with John Mansour, MD about the common questions during the chat such as management of atrial fibrillation and aortic aneurysms, and when to get a second opinion.

In this three-part program, achalasia experts thoracic surgeon Dr. Siva Raja and gastroenterologist Dr. Scott Gabbard answer all the questions commonly asked by patients with symptoms of achalasia, going through diagnostic testing or being treated for achalasia. Achalasia Part 1 – The Basics: diagnosis, symptoms, treatment, recovery.

In this three-part program, achalasia experts thoracic surgeon Dr. Siva Raja and gastroenterologist Dr. Scott Gabbard answer all the questions commonly asked by patients with symptoms of achalasia, going through diagnostic testing or being treated for achalasia. Achalasia Part 3 – Outcomes: Long Term Treatment, Recurrence, Outcomes.

In this three-part program, achalasia experts thoracic surgeon Dr. Siva Raja and gastroenterologist Dr. Scott Gabbard answer all the questions commonly asked by patients with symptoms of achalasia, going through diagnostic testing or being treated for achalasia. Achalasia Part 2 - Treatment: Procedures, Surgery, Risk for Cancer.

After a webchat on heart valve disease and treatments, Dr. Grant Reed and Dr. Deborah Kwon review common questions such as what tests are needed to diagnose valve disease, how to determine the best treatment , what patients should know about aortic and mitral valve disease - when surgery is needed or when transcatheter valve replacement is an option, and treatment of tricuspid valve disease.

After an atrial fibrillation webchat, Dr. Wazni and Dr. Saliba, from the Atrial Fibrillation Center discuss the major themes from the chat: goals of treatment, differences when you have symptoms vs. no symptoms, factors that come into play when deciding the best treatment, and types of treatments available to patients with atrial fibrillation.

Dr. Leslie Cho, Section Head, Preventive Cardiology and Rehabilitation and Director of Women’s Cardiovascular Center answers questions about statin intolerance: How do you reduce risk of statin intolerance? What if you need a statin? Can you take herbals instead? What are the risks? How are patients monitored?

Dr. Steven Nissen talks with Kate Patton, Med, RD, CSSD, LD, from our Preventive Cardiology Clinic about our recent survey showing that while most Americans (88 percent) understand that there is a connection between a healthy heart and a healthy weight, most aren’t doing enough – or anything – to combat their own weight issues. Kate and Dr. Nissen talk about suggestions on how to do get started on a heart healthy eating plan, strategies to keep weight off, what you need to know about the Mediterranean diet, barriers to healthy eating and losing weight.