Rosemary Stiles’ Apple Watch started vibrating. A text message? An incoming call? A new bit of social media nonsense? None of the above. “Your heart has shown signs of an irregular rhythm suggestive of atrial fibrillation.” The message from her watch went on to suggest she see a doctor. But it’s just a gadget, right?…
You could say that for Sofya Kuznetsov, M.D., cardiology is in her blood. Her mother was a cardiologist in her native Russia. “I saw how grateful her patients were. Some of them became her lifelong friends,” said Dr. Kuznetsov, a cardiac electrophysiologist with Norton Heart & Vascular Institute Heart Rhythm Center. As an electrophysiologist, Dr….
Although the science of studying sleep dates back to the 1920s, it’s only within the past 40 years that physicians have been able to diagnose and treat one of the largest groups of people with sleep disorders — those living with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Roughly 10% of U.S. adults — an estimated 22 million…
Robby Speer is delegating more these days. He’s had to slow down a little since he experienced a stroke in 2018. “I realized that if I’m doing everything, someone else isn’t getting the chance to,” Robby said. “It’s been good for me to learn the importance of giving others the opportunity to do what they…
In early January 2019, 35-year-old Aaron Mount woke with shortness of breath and minor chest pain. His Apple Watch showed his resting heart rate at about 165 beats per minute, well above the normal range. Aaron decided to go to an urgent care center to see why he wasn’t feeling well. “I really didn’t think…
Atrial fibrillation (A-fib) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia, currently affecting over 5 million people in the U.S. Twenty percent of all strokes occur in patients with A-fib; and A-fib-related strokes are more frequently fatal and disabling. The most common treatment to reduce stroke risk in patients with A-fib is a blood-thinning medication such as…
Simple snoring is a problem in bedrooms across the world. But 1 in 5 adults have at least mild sleep apnea. They stop breathing for periods while they’re asleep. While it’s not breathing, your body reflexively responds to the lack of oxygen by releasing adrenaline. Your heart beat accelerates, and your blood pressure rises. Sleep…
Tobacco smoke does plenty of damage to the lungs, eyes, bones, bladder … every organ in your body. But why is smoking a risk factor for heart disease? It’s the chemicals in tobacco smoke that damage blood cells and can harm how your heart pumps and the structure of your blood vessels. “It’s the toxic…
A high body mass index, or BMI, and a sedentary lifestyle increase your risk for heart disease. It’s important to understand how these two factors impact your heart and what you can do to decrease your risk for developing heart disease. What is BMI? BMI is a screening tool used to measure body fat. You…
Atrial fibrillation, also called A-fib, is a disease of the heart. It causes an irregular heartbeat, often faster than normal. Between 3 and 6 million people in the U.S. have A-fib. Each year, around 350,000 people are admitted to hospitals for A-fib, and about 500,000 people are diagnosed. “After turning 40, there is a one-in-four…
Rob Rogers, APRN, is an electrophysiology nurse practitioner with the Norton Heart & Vascular Institute Heart Rhythm Center. In his role as a heart specialist, he talks with patients about how to keep their heart healthy. But when he is not wearing a white coat, you may find him wearing a whistle and gym…
A study published in the British Medical Journal earlier this year supports findings that previous studies have shown: Migraine may increase a person’s risk for heart attack, stroke and other forms of heart disease. Previous studies have shown that women, in particular, who get migraine headaches have a higher risk of heart disease and stroke….