The only reliable sign of high blood pressure is the data gathered by a blood pressure cuff. There are rarely outward symptoms of high blood pressure, unless you are severely ill and in need of emergency treatment. That is why it is called a “silent killer.” Occasional headaches, nosebleeds, blood spots in the whites of…
Norton Heart & Vascular Institute has expanded services for patients with advanced heart failure to include surgical implantation of ventricular assist devices (VADs) at Norton Audubon Hospital, which recently received VAD accreditation from DNV GL – Healthcare and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). In early 2020, Norton Audubon Hospital was the winner of…
Not long after joining Norton Heart & Vascular Institute, interventional cardiologist Daniel Rothschild, M.D., was working on a challenging case to install a stent in a patient’s artery. The patient had a dangerous calcium buildup in one of the arteries supplying his heart. Dr. Rothschild and another interventional cardiologist would use a tiny drill called…
A collaboration between Norton Healthcare, the University of Louisville and Bellarmine University aims to evaluate student-athletes for heart damage after having the COVID-19 virus. Norton Healthcare is uniquely positioned to facilitate this partnership: Norton Sports Health is the official health care provider of the Louisville Cardinals and the official sports health provider for Bellarmine University…
Bassel Alkhalil, M.D., was a medical resident and unsure what path to take in medicine when a dramatic case changed his life. While he was training at a Baltimore hospital, an 18-year-old with heart failure and listed for a heart transplant needed to get to the hospital immediately because a donor heart had become available….
Atrial fibrillation (A-fib) is a heart rhythm condition that isn’t life-threatening, but can lead to other conditions such as stroke and heart failure, so it should be taken very seriously. A-fib is an irregular heart rhythm starting from the atria — the top of the heart — sending out fast, erratic signals that cause the…
A coronary calcium scan is a test for people who have no symptoms of heart disease but may be at borderline or intermediate risk for getting it. The test uses computed tomography (CT) to check for calcium buildup (plaque) on the walls of the coronary arteries. Coronary arteries wrap around your heart and supply it with…
Chest pain in women is often different from men’s typical experiences. Also known as angina, heart-related chest pain is the result of a decrease in blood flow to the heart. It can be difficult to know the difference between angina and other causes of chest pain. Other than heart disease, stomach and esophagus issues, lung…
When Arnold Belker, M.D., went for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan at Norton Brownsboro Hospital recently, he became a medical pioneer of sorts. His cardiac device had to be programmed into an MRI-safe mode before he went into the MRI tube, but rather than do it in person and add a possible risk of…
This quick recipe comes together in about 25 minutes and keeps in the fridge for several days. This can be eaten alone or served on top of fresh salad greens as a unique salad topper or accent. Consider adding thinly-sliced grilled steak for a delicious protein option. This recipe is: optionally vegan, gluten free, nut-free,…
During his 30-year coaching career at the University of Louisville, legendary Basketball Hall of Famer Denny Crum was prepared for the toughest matchups on the court. Off the court, two strokes in two years not only caught him off guard but proved to be a formidable opponent. Now, one year after his debilitating second stroke,…
Snoring loudly is a telltale sign of obstructive sleep apnea and a warning you may face a higher risk of stroke. Sleep apnea more than doubles the risk of stroke for middle-aged and older men and also increases the stroke risk in middle-aged and older women. “Sleep apnea is a common but under recognized risk…