Heart Disease

High Blood Pressure 101

The whats, the why’s and the what-nexts of a hypertension diagnosis. High blood pressure, sometimes known as hypertension, is a condition where blood circulating throughout the body exerts too high of a pressure against the walls of the blood vessels (think of water flowing through a hose, the pressure needs to be “just right” or…

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I am Sick! Should I Exercise? How about my Heart?

So, I am currently on day 5 of my “Man Cold”. My symptoms include fever, sore throat, cough and congestion. These are pretty standard symptoms for a viral upper respiratory tract infection.  I must say, however, that this one has been a little tougher than most I have experienced. I am getting very tired of…

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TAVI…The (Less Invasive) New Kid on the Block

If your Aortic Valve is no longer working the way it is supposed to, you may need to have it replaced. The Aortic Valve is the one-way valve between the Left Ventricle, which is the largest pumping chamber of the heart, and the Aorta, which is the “stump” of the vascular “tree” that delivers oxygen…

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Sternal Precautions following Open Heart Surgery

Have you had open heart surgery? Here are some things you need to know as you begin your recovery process. Many of you will have been given information from the hospital or your doctor after you were discharged from hospital. Commonly this advice tells you not to lift anything more than 5 pounds, and restricts you…

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