florida mitral valve replacement Archives - Page 2 of 3

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Did you know a painkiller, one that’s probably in your medicine cabinet right now, can increase your risk of heart disease? Scary thought, right? Well, over-the-counter NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) have been proven to increase the risk of heart disease through heart attacks and strokes. Studies have shown a 20 to 50 percent increase in risk of heart attack when using NSAIDs compared to when not using them.

It’s best to take these types of medications in small doses and for a short time so they will not have serious effects on your heart. Don’t become a regular user.

Common NSAIDs you can find in your home include ibuprofen and naproxen, the most common being Advil, Motrin and Aleve. Aspirin is a type of NSAID but not does not increase your chances of having a heart attack or stroke. All these over-the-counter NSAIDs are used to treat pain and inflammation in the body.

If you currently suffer from any heart condition, you should take NSAIDs with caution, and definitely talk to your doctor about taking them. For people with heart conditions, NSAIDs can potentially make your conditions worse. You don’t have to stop taking NSAIDs, especially if you’re in a lot of pain, but be mindful of how, when, and why you’re taking them.

Even if you currently don’t have a heart condition, be cautious when taking NSAIDS. If you truly need to take one for pain relief, aim to take the smallest dosage, and not for an extended period.

Studies haven’t proven that NSAIDs cause heart attacks, but some research shows that NSAIDs can increase blood pressure or raise the risk of a blood clot, which can lead to a heart attack.

Even though these NSAIDs are over-the-counter medications, you should be careful with them in the same way you would be with a prescription-level painkiller. Medication is medication, and too much of any kind can do you harm.

If you have heart disease and need surgery on your valves, Dr. Peter Mikhail performs mitral valve surgery and aortic valve surgery in and around Tampa, Clearwater, and New Port Richey, Florida. To book a consult, click here or call 727-312-4844.

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When one thinks of low testosterone, one usually thinks of low sex drive or sexual dysfunction. However, did you know that low testosterone and heart health are related? They can be. From 1970 to 2013, there were studies conducted on testosterone and causes of coronary artery disease, and a link was found between them.

How can this be? Well, the heart and its blood vessels have testosterone receptor sites within them, which means the hormone and heart work together. With a low testosterone level, a person can develop metabolic syndrome, which is a group of risks factors that can raise the risk of heart disease, diabetes and stroke. Such risk factors include: a large waistline, high triglycerides, a low HDL cholesterol level, high blood pressure, and a high-fasting blood sugar level.

A person can generally tell that he or she may have testosterone issues from the following symptoms: libido loss, fatigue, weight gain or loss, and depression. For men 50 and older, testosterone production drops 1 to 2 percent each year.

Studies in the Journal of the American Heart Association concluded that higher levels of testosterone go hand in hand with good heart health. They found that people with low testosterone often have abnormal EKG readings; they also found people with higher levels of this male hormone had a 25 percent less chance of suffering from sudden cardiac arrest. These studies also found that when a man has low levels of testosterone he could also experience: insulin resistance, narrowed carotid arteries, congestive heart failure, higher incidences of angina, a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, extra fat around the mid-section with a high BMI level, type II diabetes, and a high death rate.

If you are over the age of 50 and experiencing any of the above symptoms, it’s best you contact your doctor to get your testosterone level checked. If you currently suffer from heart disease and are looking for a cardiac surgeon, contact Dr. Peter Mikhail, who works in the cities of Tampa, Clearwater, and New Port Richey, Florida. He specializes in mitral valve surgery and mini-AVR. Click here or call 727-312-4844 to book an appointment.

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Whether you have suffered a heart attack or stroke, or have been told by your doctor that you are at an increased risk of heart issues, chances are you have been looking seriously into ways to change your lifestyle. Nothing prompts healthy lifestyle changes like a scare, but we don’t have to wait until we have a heart attack to find out we are at high risk before we take our lives into our own proverbial hands and make some healthy changes for the better.

For most of us, diet and exercise are the two areas where lifestyle and personal change can make a significant difference in our heart health and resulting risk factors. While it might be nice to think that medication alone is all that we need, effort on our part to make better, more healthy choices, is part and parcel to being healthy and to reduce the risk for issues or recurring issues.

Diet is an area where almost all of us fail to meet the recommended goals. For whatever reason, most of us eat a diet rich in fattening, oversized portions of convenience foods that are high in calories and low in nutrition. While we do not have to resort to a life without cheeseburgers, we do have to make changes in what, how much, and how often we eat.

There are some simple rules of thumb for keeping your diet under control and changing your diet in more heart-healthy ways. First and foremost, watch the portion sizes. Most of us are shocked when we look a bit deeper and find out just how small a serving size truly is compared with the amount we serve ourselves. Using smaller plates gives you the illusion of eating more and can really help with portion control. Secondly, watch out for liquid calories. A lot of people don’t realize just how many calories they consume with their daily coffee drinks, soda, wine, beer, and juice. Switching out some of these sugar-laden drinks for water or unsweetened tea is a great heart-healthy choice.

When it comes to eating more heart healthy, there are some general tips that will make all dietary choices a bit easier. If we are mindful of the portion sizes we are eating and work to reducing the amount of food we eat to healthier levels, we can really reduce the amount of fat, calories, and artery-clogging foods we consume. Also, by making more cognizant beverage choices, we can reduce the amount of unnecessary sugar and calories we consume in liquid form. These small changes will reduce the amount of fat, sugar, and junk in our diet, promoting more healthy choices.

If you’re currently suffering from heart valve disease and considering surgery, contact Dr. Peter Mikhail. Dr. Mikhail is a cardiac surgeon based in New Port Richey, Florida. To book an appointment, click here or call 727-312-4844.

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Heart valve surgery is a major life event. If you are planning on this surgery, you are most likely well-versed in the ins and outs of what you’ll be experiencing during pre-operation and post-operation. After the surgery, your focus will be on healing and getting your life back to normal. Whether you were an active person or not before the heart valve surgery, exercise will be crucial to your healing process. Exercise is just one great way to help prevent your heart from having a major issue again.

Exercise is recommended and encouraged after heart valve surgery. Since you’ll be in recovery, there will be more precautions to keep in mind. Your body just went through the major trauma of surgery, so it’s important to ease into exercise to prevent injury or complications.

When you first get home from the hospital after surgery, it is recommended that you slowly increase the amount of activity you do. In the first week, you want to do around 5 minutes of exercise several times throughout the day. As each week passes, you’ll increase the activity time. This type of activity could be just a slow walk around the neighborhood.

As you heal, you will be in contact with your cardiac surgeon; he or she will tell you when you’re cleared for certain types of exercises, including aerobic activities and weight training. If you were active pre-op, your doctor understands your urgency to get back to normal as soon as possible, and will work with you to make sure you are stable (no shortness of breath or heart rhythm issues) before approving you for physical activities.

Every patient is different. The doctor will ask you to take it easy with any exercise you start and will want you to monitor how you feel after each exercise and workout. Make sure to tell the doctor what types of exercise you plan to do. The clearance for weight training may be different from biking or walking, due to the exercise’s effects on the body. It makes no difference to the doctor what type of exercise you choose, as long as you do it safely.

If you’re looking for a cardiac surgeon to perform your mitral valve surgery or mini-AVR, Dr. Peter Mikhail specializes in these surgeries; he is based in New Port Richey, Florida. To learn more, click the Mitral Valve Surgery page or the MINI-AVR page. To book an appointment, click here or call 727-312-4844.

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Mobile apps are the “thing” right now, even in the medical industry. You’ve probably heard of food log apps and step tracking apps, but there happens to be many heart-healthy mobile apps out there that heart disease patients can use. Below, we wanted to share some good mobile apps that can help you on your journey of taking control of your health.

Cardiio – This app can monitor your heart rate, as well as determine your level of cardiovascular health and fitness. Your phone’s camera measures your heartbeat. The app looks at the light reflected off your face to get its reading. This was developed by people at Harvard University and MIT.

Azumio – Azumio is like Cardiio and it can check your pulse. With this app, you place your pointer finger on the camera and your pulse reading will appear on the screen.

Blood Pressure Companion – This app records heart rate and blood pressure. You can take notes in this app and set reminders for you to take your readings. In this app, you’ll be able to track all your readings for yourself and a doctor.

Digifit iCardio – In this app, you can track your exercise and progress. You can integrate different music apps and social media sites to go along with your workout. You can track your weight, blood pressure, and sleep. You can also connect this with your Fitbit or other heart rate monitor.

Heart Healthy Meal Planner – The Heart Foundation created this app for people to create heart-healthy meal plans. Within the app, you have access to advice on foods to eat, meal ideas, and recipes. There is a heart symbol shown next to choices that are heart healthy.

Do you currently suffer from heart valve disease? If you’re a candidate for surgery, Dr. Peter Mikhail is a cardiac surgeon who specializes in minimally invasive mitral valve surgery, as well as mini-AVR. These procedures require less recovery time than traditional open heart surgery. Dr. Mikhail is based in New Port Richey, Florida. To learn more or to book a consult with the doctor, visit the Mitral Valve Surgery page or call (727) 312-4844.

Can stress cause heart disease? Stress isn’t an exact or direct cause for heart disease, per se, but it can be a risk factor. Stress, especially when it is chronic, can cause all sorts of health issues in the body, including issues with the heart.

When a person experiences stress, the body releases the adrenaline hormone as a response. This hormone increases a person’s heart rate, and also raises blood pressure, which puts stress onto the heart. Stress doesn’t cause high blood pressure, but it will raise it when it occurs. With chronic stress, the increase in blood pressure can do damage to the heart’s arteries over time.

Rarely, a person can experience “broken heart syndrome,” which is a temporary condition a person experiences in the heart due to extreme traumatic and stressful situations like a death of a family member or friend. Broken heart syndrome can cause a person to experience chest pain similar to that of a heart attack. The medical term for this syndrome is known as stress cardiomyopathy and it is treatable.

Many people often turn to unhealthy habits to destress themselves. Smoking, drinking alcohol, and eating bad foods are often the go-to choices of people when they’re feeling stressed. Unfortunately, those choices are not good for the heart, especially if they become habits and lead to excessive use and weight gain.

Right now, in the medical field, the consensus is that stress does not directly lead to heart disease, but it can lead a person down certain paths and behaviors that can increase the risks of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart attacks and strokes.

The best thing a person can do is manage their daily stress as best as possible through different practices. Exercise is a great stress reliever for many people, and it is also heart-healthy. Other ways to reduce stress include: talking to a mental-health professional, reading a book, relaxing by a pool, watching a movie, practicing meditation, taking a yoga class, taking a bath, eating healthy, talking to a friend, getting a massage, or participating in a favorite hobby.

If you currently suffer from heart disease, managing your stress is still important to keeping your heart as healthy and strong as possible. Looking for a cardiac surgeon to assess your condition? Dr. Peter Mikhail is a cardiac surgeon based in New Port Richey, Florida. He performs mitral valve surgery and mini-AVR on patients with mitral valve disease and aortic valve disease. To book an appointment, click here or call (727) 312-4844.

Although minimally invasive, mitral valve surgery or mini-AVR are major procedures that are taxing on the body. With any type of surgery, the recovery period is important. After valve surgery, a patient will spend several days in the hospital while the doctor and nurses monitor recovery and pain. After 4 to 6 weeks post-op, your doctor will schedule a follow up appointment to check in on your recovery. For this post, we want to share some thoughts and tips about recovery from heart valve surgery. Recovery is different for each patient, but there are many things to follow and take note of that will help you recover faster and better.

Listen to your doctor, and follow the recovery instructions given to you at the hospital.
- Questions to ask your doctor about your recovery
  - Am I able to lift things on my own? How heavy?
  - When can I drive a car?
  - When can I go back to work?
  - Should I be exercising? What can I do or not do?
  - What medications will I be taking or should stop taking?
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help or accept someone’s offer to help you. Whether it’s making food or running an errand, a family member or friend can help you do daily tasks while you get as much rest as you can.
- Eat a healthy diet full of variety. Fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy products, lean meats, fish and whole grains are recommended. Your doctor will recommend the best diet plan for you to follow.
- Take note: there are some things you may not be able to do easily right after heart valve surgery, including: tying your shoes, climbing stairs, cooking, raising your arms above your head, sitting up on your own, or cleaning.
- You may hear your new heart valve as it opens and closes.

If you have been diagnosed with mitral valve disease or aortic valve disease, meet with Dr. Peter Mikhail to discuss your surgical options. Dr. Mikhail is a cardiac surgeon in New Port Richey, Florida, specializing in mitral valve surgery and mini-AVR. To book a consult and for more information, click here or call 727-312-4844.

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You’ve probably heard and read a thousand times about the best diets or foods to eat to be heart healthy; however, do you know the foods it’s best for you to avoid? Nutrition is an extremely important aspect to focus on when currently living with heart disease. Food can either act like a medicine or a poison based on your choices. You want to stay as healthy as possible while living with this disease before treatment, during treatment, and after treatment.

When your heart isn’t functioning at its best, it’s best to stay clear of certain foods to remain as healthy as possible. Below are some foods you should think about limiting or avoiding if you’re currently suffering from heart disease.

Highly Processed/Refined Grains and Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are great for your body; they supply the body with energy; however, when a carbohydrate is processed or refined, it loses most of its health benefits (fiber, fatty acids, vitamins and minerals). Processed foods usually come with added ingredients like sodium and trans fats. Some examples include: white bread, white rice, instant oatmeal, and some cereals.

Processed/Refined Sugars

Sugar, in moderation, won’t harm you, but if you consume enough of it, it can harm your heart by raising blood pressure and triglycerides. High dosages of sugar can be found in soda, some cereals, candy, baked goods, canned foods, and juice.

Certain Fats

Trans fats and saturated fats are not the “good” kind of fat. These types of fat can raise bad cholesterol and lower good cholesterol and contribute to clogged arteries. Foods known for their high trans fats and saturated fats include: fried food, margarine, doughnuts, biscuits, cakes, and pies.

High Sodium

Your body needs sodium. It helps keep your blood pressure in check, as well as maintain proper fluid levels in the body. If you consume too much sodium, your kidneys cannot process it all so the remaining sodium can elevate your blood pressure. Too much sodium can put a person at risk for heart failure, a heart attack, kidney failure or a stroke. Foods with high sodium include: canned soups, processed meats, fast food, salted nuts, canned vegetables, frozen meals.

Overall, it’s best to practice moderation in all things, especially in your diet if you are currently suffering from heart disease. One slice of pie at the holidays won’t harm you, but it’s best to avoid the above-mentioned foods with your heart in a fragile state.

If you’re in need of a great surgeon to perform mitral valve surgery or mini-AVR, Dr. Peter Mikhail is a cardiac surgeon in New Port Richey, Florida, who specializes in these surgeries. To book a consult or for more information, click here or call 727-312-4844.

If you’ve been diagnosed with heart valve disease, or know someone who has, you’ve probably heard a lot talked about the heart valve flaps. Well, what exactly are heart valve flaps? What do they do?

Heart valve flaps are also referred to as heart valve leaflets. The heart valve flaps are made up of tissue, and they operate like doors. They open and close to allow blood flow through the heart in one direction. When functioning properly, these flaps close tightly. The mitral valve has two flaps and the aortic valve has three valve flaps.

When people experience heart valve problems, the flaps are often to blame. If the flaps no longer close tightly, a patient has a good chance of developing heart valve disease. Depending on what’s happening to the flaps and valve, the person can be experiencing a different type of heart valve disease.

For the mitral valve, there are three different ways for the flaps to fail at doing their job. Mitral valve regurgitation/insufficiency is when the flaps do not close tightly, so blood leaks back into the left atrium of the heart. In mitral valve stenosis, the flaps have thickened or stiffened and may even fuse together. Because of this, there is a narrowing of the valve or a blockage. Lastly, mitral valve prolapse is when both of the valve’s flaps are enlarged or bulging, which keeps them from closing evenly.

With the aortic valve, aortic valve regurgitation occurs then the flaps no longer close properly and blood flows back into the left ventricle of the heart. Aortic valve stenosis is when the flaps have thickened or stiffened and potentially fuse together, which narrows the valve.

If you’re having a problem with the flaps in your mitral valve or aortic valve, you may be a good candidate for mitral valve surgery or mini-AVR. If you’ve been looking for a cardiac surgeon, Dr. Peter Mikhail specializes in mitral valve surgery and mini-AVR. He is based in New Port Richey, Florida. To learn more click the Mitral Valve Surgery or Mini-AVR pages. To book a consult, click here or call 727-312-4844.

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Is your heart healthy? Currently, you may not be experiencing any heart issues, but that doesn’t mean a serious condition isn’t developing inside your chest. If you have a family history of heart problems and currently aren’t living the healthiest lifestyle, you are at a higher risk of developing major heart problems, including mitral valve disease, a heart attack, or stroke. The best thing you can do is take preventative measures to protect your heart.

What are some preventative measures? There are plenty of things a person can do to be heart healthy. By adding these below suggestions to your everyday life, your heart will thank you. In fact, you may feel generally better from all the positives changes you’ve made to your lifestyle.

Preventative measures to stay heart-healthy include:

Eating a balanced, healthy diet filled with good fats, vegetables, fruit, whole grains, and lean proteins.
Exercise! Being active daily is important. Aim for at least 30 minutes of activity daily. Sometimes, it can be hard to get up and move. We all enjoy relaxing and being lazy from time to time. Try to choose activities that you find fun. Dancing, biking, walking, lifting weights, Zumba class, and yoga are just a few examples of great ways to get in your daily activity.
If you’re overweight, make the conscious decision to drop some weight. Excess weight puts stress on your heart and arteries.
If you have high blood sugar, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure, this is your opportunity to make diet changes to help bring your levels back to normal. Every person is different, so it’s best you talk to your doctor about what diet changes are right for you to manage your blood pressure or sugar levels.
Quit smoking.
Get at least 6 to 8 hours of sleep at night.
Find ways to reduce your daily stress, whether you choose to meditate, read a book, talk to a friend, or watch a favorite TV show.

Not all heart-related diseases can be prevented; however, it is in your best interest, whether or not you’ve been diagnosed with a heart-related issue, to try to live the healthiest life possible.

If you’ve been diagnosed with mitral valve disease and need surgery, Dr. Peter Mikhail is a specialist in mitral valve surgery in New Port Richey, Florida. To learn more, click the Mitral Valve Surgery page, or call 727-312-4844.

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MITRAL VALVE BLOG

NSAIDs Link to Heart Disease

Low Testosterone and Its Relation to Heart Disease

Easy Dietary Changes for Heart Health

Exercising After Heart Valve Surgery

Mobile Apps to Stay Heart Healthy

The Relation of Stress to Heart Disease

Tips to Recover Faster After Heart Valve Surgery

Foods to Avoid When You Have Heart Disease

What Are Heart Valve Flaps?

Is Your Heart Healthy?

Time in the Sauna Can Benefit the Heart

Aortic Stenosis 101

What is Structural Heart Disease?

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