James P. Donovan, M.D., is a cardiologist with Norton Heart Specialists. Tell me about the first memory, academic or otherwise, that comes to mind when you think about medical school. Growing up, I had always been on summer vacation on my birthday, which is in August. But medical school started early, so I was in…
Goodbye. Adiós. Au revoir. Sayonara. No matter how you say it, this is what all countries may soon be saying to trans fats. The World Health Organization (WHO) is on a mission to globally eliminate industrially produced trans fats from foods by 2023. They released a plan called REPLACE, which provides insight into how governments…
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….
If someone near you were having stroke, could you recognize the signs? Do you think a kindergartner could? Five-year-old Colt Wagner may not have known what a stroke looks like, but he knew his mother needed help right away when she collapsed last spring. Kennetta Wagner was home with Colt when she had a stroke…
A massive heart attack called a “widowmaker” that struck filmmaker and actor Kevin Smith can happen quickly and fatally. Taking steps to protect your heart while young, as well as knowing your critical numbers, can be the key to surviving such a devastating blockage. “This type of heart attack refers to a blockage in a…
If someone is having a stroke, the chance of survival when taken to a Comprehensive Stroke Center versus another hospital can be significant. So significant, in fact, that the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA) recommend emergency medical services (EMS) go out of their way if necessary to take stroke patients to one…
In honor of American Heart Month, Paula Beickman shares why she wears red to raise awareness each February: Because knowledge is power, and it can save a life. For the past 25 years, I have worked at Norton Heart Specialists. It’s my career, yes, but it is so much more. It has become part…
In honor of American Heart Month, Tara Mudd, APRN, shares why she wears red to raise awareness each February: to remember her own journey, a grandmother lost and the importance of heart health for women today. Most 9-year-olds are busy playing sports, making new friends and navigating increased independence from their parents. At age 9,…
The long-awaited question as to how Jack Pearson died on the hit NBC show “This Is Us” was finally answered. Viewers had expected Pearson (played by Milo Ventimiglia) to die in a house fire. As it turned out, the fire was only part of the story. Viewers learned Pearson suffered a type of heart attack…
Norton Healthcare’s newest vascular surgeon is Hanna Davis, D.O. What’s a D.O.? It stands for doctor of osteopathy. Her medical degree requires the same type of training as an M.D., but her training focused on working with the body’s ability to heal itself. As a child, Dr. Davis liked to take things apart and put…