heart valve disease Archives - Dr. Peter Mikhail

To be blunt, surgery is scary. Even the toughest of us get nervous before going under the knife. When on the table, we are literally putting our lives into someone else’s hands. We have the hope that the surgeon will be able to “fix” us, heal us, and make us better. Surgery can become even more scary when it involves the heart. Heart valve surgery is a big-time surgery, so it’s no wonder patients have many questions and concerns about before, during, and after the procedure. With any surgery, there are risks, so it’s best to know as much as possible about the surgery before setting a date.

For this article, we focus on what you, as the patient, can do to help yourself have the best surgery and post-op as possible. Below, we’ve listed some helpful tips and ideas for you to think about and question before having heart valve surgery, including mitral valve surgery, TAVR, and mini-AVR.

Get to know your cardiac surgeon. What is his or her background? Specialty? How many heart valve surgeries has he or she performed? Do your research.
Choose a cardiac surgeon with a specialty in mitral valves and aortic valves.
Look for a cardiac surgeon who performs more than 20 mitral valve or aortic valve surgeries throughout the year.
Look at pictures and testimonials of your doctor’s past patients. Specifically, look at patients’ stories who are like yours.
Ask questions. Ask as many as you want. To ensure you’ll receive all the information you need, jot your questions down. As a patient, you have the right to know what the surgery will entail and what you will have to experience before, during, and after the surgery.
Make a checklist about all the things you will need help with post-surgery. With this list, you’ll be able to ask family and friends ahead of time to help you with everything from running an errand to vacuuming. You don’t want to get stuck doing anything by yourself that could potentially delay your recovery or harm you.
Think about things to bring to the hospital for you to use post-surgery. Such items may include your own pillow, dry shampoo, feminine products, iPad/phone, books, nightgowns, shorts.

Although this is just a brief list, it gives you an idea of some topics to think about when considering or preparing to have heart valve surgery.

If you’re thinking about having mitral valve surgery or TAVR, Dr. Peter Mikhail is a cardiac surgeon who specializes in these surgeries. Dr. Mikhail is based in New Port Richey, FL, and treats patients in Tampa and Clearwater. To book an appointment, click here or call 727-312-4844.

About two months ago, Dr. Mikhail began performing TAVR at his New Port Richey, FL location. For those of you suffering from aortic valve disease, we would like to share with you some basic information on this surgical procedure. TAVR stands for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement and it is considered a revolutionary, and still relatively new, heart valve treatment. TAVR is an alternative to open-heart surgery, which means it is minimally invasive. This surgery is performed through a small catheter.

This procedure is recognized as a big advancement in modern medicine since open-heart surgery was developed in the 1950s. In the last several decades, many patients, especially the elderly, were unable to undergo open-heart surgery for their aortic valve disease because the surgery had too many risks. Because they were unable to receive the surgery, these patients would unfortunately end up dying from the disease. With TAVR, patients do not need a sternotomy (chest cracked open) and do not need to be placed on a heart-lung machine. TAVR isn’t considered such a high-risk operation, so more people are able to receive this treatment.

In TAVR, the doctor will insert a catheter in the leg or chest and guide it to the heart. The replacement aortic valve is inserted through the catheter into the heart. If the valve isn’t expanding on its own, a balloon is often used to expand the valve. After the valve is implanted, the doctor removes the catheter from the blood vessel. With TAVR, there are three different approaches. The doctor will decide which TAVR approach is a good match for you. The approaches are:

Transfemoral Approach – This is done through an incision in the leg.
Transapical Approach – This is done through an incision in the chest between the ribs.
Transaortic Approach – This is done through an incision in the upper chest.

Since TAVR is still a new procedure, it is recommended mainly for those suffering from severe aortic valve disease but who are at high risk if undergoing open heart surgery. A cardiologist, cardiac surgeon and imaging specialist will determine if a patient is in the high-risk category and eligible for this type of surgery. Some factors that make a patient high risk include older age, previous heart surgeries, lung disease, and kidney disease.

TAVR is considered a relatively safe surgery, but as with any surgery it comes with risks, including death, stroke, valve leaks, kidney failure and vessel damage. These complications are rare, and as TAVR becomes more widely used, the complications continue to decrease.

TAVR patients, for the most part, leave the hospital within a week following the surgery. Many patients will be placed on a blood thinner following the procedure.

If you suffer from aortic valve disease and think you may be eligible for TAVR or want to know more about this surgery, call Dr. Mikhail’s office at 727-312-4844 or click here to book an appointment. Dr. Mikhail is a cardiac surgeon who treats patients with aortic valve disease in the New Port Richey, Tampa, and Clearwater areas.

Heart disease is the Number One killer in America. Some people are born with heart disease. Some people have a buildup of fatty plaque in their arteries due to lack of exercise, smoking or an unhealthy diet. Some people develop heart issues from drug habits or stress. Some people develop heart disease from high blood pressure. Some people have heart issues from trauma or infection. As you can see, there are many ways a person can develop heart disease, which means it’s in your best interest to do everything within your power to ward off the disease.

No one lives a perfect life. No one has the ideal diet. People skip workouts. People don’t sleep enough. Accidents happen. But we can help ourselves by trying to lead the healthiest lives possible to keep our hearts strong so we can live longer, happier lives.

Making a lifestyle change for better heart health can be overwhelming for some, so we want to share with you some real, basic tips on everyday things you can do to improve your heart health and lower your risk of heart disease.

If you have to lose a lot of weight, don’t stress. Set your weight loss goals at small increments. Aim for 5 pounds, then aim for another 5 pounds. It’ll add up quickly and these smaller increments will seem far more attainable than saying, “I need to drop 60 pounds.”
Incorporate more fresh fruit and vegetables in your diet. Your body needs a variety of different vitamins and minerals to function properly. Try to eat around 5 servings of fruit and veggies per day.
If you smoke, quit! It is easier said than done, but if you quit you lower your chance of developing heart disease or having a heart attack by 50 percent!
Aim for 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night. Research has shown that proper rest reduces a person’s chance of developing heart disease.
Exercise keeps your heart healthy. 30 minutes of exercise a day is ideal to keep your heart in a heathy state. If 30 minutes is too much for you, you can split it into two 15-minute segments of exercise or three 10-minute segments throughout the day.
Stay hydrated! When your body and blood are well hydrated, the heart doesn’t have to work as hard to pump and keep the blood flowing.

Changing your lifestyle to promote better heart health doesn’t have to be a daunting, overwhelming task. Take it one step at a time! Slowly start incorporating the above list in your daily habits, and I bet you’ll start feeling better!

If you currently suffer from heart disease, including mitral valve disease or aortic valve disease, and are considering surgery, you should book a consult with Dr. Peter Mikhail. Dr. Mikhail is a cardiac and thoracic surgeon who performs mitral valve surgery and mini-AVR on patients with mitral valve or aortic valve disease. He treats patients in the Tampa, Clearwater and New Port Richey areas of Florida. To book an appointment, click here or call 727-312-4844.

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Blood pressure and heart health go hand in hand. Your blood pressure reading reflects two numbers, systolic pressure and diastolic pressure. Your systolic pressure measures the pressure of the blood against your artery walls when the heart pumps blood out during a heartbeat, while your diastolic pressure measures this pressure in-between heartbeats when your heart is full of blood. Ideally, your blood pressure should read below 120/80. One in three American adults suffer from high blood pressure. One thing you can do to keep your blood pressure in check is to eat a balanced diet. Certain foods are known to increase your blood pressure. We suggest you avoid the following foods or limit them in your diet to keep your blood pressure in a good range:

Soda/sweetened beverages – Sugar-loaded drinks can quickly lead to weight gain; excessive weight on the body can raise a person’s blood pressure.
Processed meats and other foods – Deli meats like turkey or ham are loaded with sodium, which can raise a person’s blood pressure. Lots of packaged foods contain high amounts of sodium, e.g. canned soup, frozen meals, tomato sauces, canned vegetables and bread. These foods have a lot of sodium, because this ingredient is used to preserve the foods.
Baked goods – Cakes, doughnuts, muffins, cupcakes, cookies, pies and more are loaded with sugar, but also contain a lot of saturated and trans fats. Both these “bad” fats are known to increase blood pressure.
Candy – When you eat a piece of candy, you’re basically consuming empty calories and a lot of sugar; candy can spike your sugar levels and can lead to weight gain.
Alcohol – Excessive use of alcohol can lead to weight gain and dehydration both of which can lead to an increase in blood pressure.

Each day, you should aim to keep your sodium intake to less than 2,300 milligrams; sugar should be limited to 37.5 grams per day for men and 25 grams per day for women. It’s best to avoid or limit the above foods and opt for water, 100 percent fruit juices, fresh meat, fruit, homemade (healthier) desserts, nuts, legumes, vegetables, and whole grains.

If you currently have high blood pressure or heart disease, it’s wise to discuss with your doctor the best meal plan for you. If you suffer from mitral valve disease or aortic valve disease and need surgery, Dr. Peter Mikhail is a cardiac surgeon treating patients in the Tampa, Clearwater and New Port Richey areas of Florida. To book an appointment, click here or call 727-312-4844.

A good part of a person’s heart health is dictated by diet. The food we eat can either be our medicine or our poison. Of course, no one has the “perfect” diet. Moderation is key when choosing foods to eat. It is OK to eat some desserts and snack foods on occasion, so long as your diet is full of fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, whole grains, and lean proteins as well. Micronutrients are essential for your body to grow and thrive. Since our diets cannot be perfect on a daily basis, it is OK to supplement one’s diet with vitamins, although it is best to discuss taking vitamins and supplements with your doctor.

If you think you may be deficient in a vitamin, get tested. If you are deficient, your doctor will recommend what to do to get your numbers in a normal range. Many vitamins and supplements can be used to manage cardiovascular health and are a good idea to take to keep your heart in a healthy state, whether you have heart valve disease or not. It should always be your goal to work towards having a healthy heart.

Below, we share some of the best vitamins and supplements you can take that your heart will benefit from and to keep heart disease at bay, or to keep your heart from deteriorating further.

Omega-3 (Fish Oil) – This supplement is great for people who are at risk for heart disease because it helps balance cholesterol and triglycerides. It also helps slow the buildup of plaque in the arteries and is known to lower blood pressure.

Vitamin D – A Vitamin D deficiency can lead to heart problems, including raising the risk for a heart attack.

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) – This supplement produces energy in the mitochondria of cells. It is also an antioxidant that fights off free radicals, and manages blood pressure and cholesterol. It also helps with the health of the arteries and heartbeat.

Magnesium – Magnesium helps support relaxation and dilation of vascular and arterial walls. It also helps move potassium and sodium through cells.

Other vitamins and supplements to take for heart health: Niacin, L-carnitine, and turmeric.

If you currently live with heart disease and are considering heart valve surgery, Dr. Peter Mikhail is a specialist in mitral valve and aortic valve surgery. He is based in New Port Richey, Florida. For more information on valve surgery, click here. To book an appointment with Dr. Mikhail click here or call 727-312-4844.

You’ve probably heard the term “statins” before. In case you haven’t, statins are a class of lipid-lowering/cholesterol-lowering medications. They are known to help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, chest pain, strokes, heart attacks, and death in people. For this article, we want to share a general overview of statins and heart disease and if a person should or should not be taking them. Ultimately, this is a conversation to be had with your primary care doctor or cardiologist. Every patient’s situation is different and should be handled differently.

Many studies have shown that statins have been able to keep people alive longer by reducing the risk and number of heart attacks and strokes a person will or may experience. Statins help in preventing the arteries from building plaque and becoming blocked. They inhibit the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase.

If you happen to have many of the risk factors of developing heart disease (and not just solely based on your age), a doctor may recommend this drug to you. The statins help reduce the chance of heart disease by preventing atherosclerosis, which is blocked arteries or narrowed blood vessels.

Like any drug, there are side effects and risks. Some side effects include: muscle aches and cramps, pins and needles feeling, bloating, diarrhea, rashes, stomach pain, cataracts, impaired memory, headaches, liver failure, skeletal muscles and diabetes.

If you suffer from heart disease or are at a high risk, your doctor may put you on a statin regardless of your cholesterol levels. On average if your risk is over 7.5 percent in the next 10 years, the doctor will likely prescribe a statin.

If you are a heart disease patient, it is time to discuss with your doctor if a statin is right for you. If medication is not an option, heart valve surgery may be recommended. Dr. Peter Mikhail of Tampa, Clearwater, and New Port Richey, Florida, performs mitral valve surgery and mini-AVR on patients with mitral valve disease and aortic valve disease. To book an appointment or learn more, click here or call 727-312-4844.

By now, most people know that smoking cigarettes is not good for the body. However, many people associate smoking with only its negative impact on the lungs, teeth, and mouth area. This is far from the truth. Smoking can affect the entire body, including the heart. There are many studies out there that suggest cigarette smoking is a major cause for coronary heart disease, which could ultimately lead to a heart attack. One out of five deaths from heart disease is related to smoking.

When a person is smoking, the combination of smoke and nicotine raises blood pressure, decreases good (HDL) cholesterol, decreases a person’s ability to exercise effectively, and increases the likelihood for a blood clot. Smoking also reduces the amount of oxygen that goes to the heart, increases heart rate, gives the blood a sticky consistency, and harms the blood vessels.

People who smoke and have a family history of heart disease have an even higher chance of developing heart disease themselves. The odds are not in a smoker’s favor. If you are a smoker, your chances of developing heart disease can double or even be quadrupled than if you didn’t. If you’re a woman, your odds are even higher as a smoker (25 percent more likely) to suffer a stroke.

If any one of these facts scares you, you may want to rethink putting that next cigarette in your mouth. Once you quit smoking, your risk for heart disease and stroke is cut down in half just after one year of being smoke free.

If you are diagnosed with heart valve disease, your doctor will recommend several lifestyle changes – quitting smoking will be one of them.

Heart valve disease can turn deadly if it leads to a heart attack or stroke, so it’s in your best interest to practice heart-healthy habits that will keep you healthier longer.

If you currently suffer from heart valve disease and are considering surgery, contact cardiac surgeon Dr. Peter Mikhail in Tampa, Clearwater, and New Port Richey, Florida. Dr. Mikhail specializes in mitral valve surgery and min-AVR, which are minimally invasive surgeries. To learn more about heart valve surgery, click here or call 727-312-4844 to book an appointment with Dr. Mikhail today.

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Heart disease is the leading cause of death in America. Each year, more than 600,000 people die from a form of this disease. Each year, more than 5 million Americans are diagnosed with heart valve disease. But, why? Why do so many people develop heart disease? When it comes to heart disease, there are a number of different risk factors that can lead a person to developing one of the many forms of heart disease. Below, we share with you some of the common risk factors associated with heart valve disease.

Genetics – Heart disease or abnormalities can commonly run in families, especially bicuspid aortic valve disease or mitral valve prolapse.

Age – As we get older, the heart valve ages as well. The flaps (leaflets) in the valves can thicken and harden as they get older which causes a restriction of blood flow. Men over 65 years old and women over 75 years old are at the highest risk for developing heart valve disease.

Heart attack – When a person has a heart attack, this can cause damage to the heart, and affect the function of the valves.

High blood pressure – If a person has perpetual high blood pressure, the heart works harder, so it becomes enlarged. The enlarged heart causes valves to stretch, which can keep the valves from closing correctly.

Cardiomyopathy – If the person has an enlarged heart, not only are the valves stretched, but the tissue ring around them also becomes stretched. If this does occur, leakage in the valves will happen.

Calcium deposits – Calcium deposits can start to build up in the mitral or aortic valves.

Rheumatic fever – Rheumatic fever can damage a person’s heart valves because it causes them to thicken so they no longer open and close properly.

If you fit one or more of these risk factors and are experiencing some symptoms, it may be time for you to contact a doctor. Dr. Peter Mikhail is a cardiac surgeon specializing in mitral valve surgery and mini-AVR. If you’re looking for a cardiac surgeon to perform your heart valve surgery, click here for more information or call 727-312-4844 to book an appointment with Dr. Mikhail.

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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.

MITRAL VALVE BLOG

Things to Think About Regarding Heart Valve Surgery

What is TAVR?

Changes to Make to Prevent Heart Disease

Food to Avoid in Your Diet to Keep Your Blood Pressure in Check

The Best Vitamins to Take for Heart Health

Using Statins with Heart Disease

Smoking and Its Connection to Heart Disease

What Are the Risk Factors of Heart Disease?

Low Testosterone and Its Relation to Heart Disease

Time in the Sauna Can Benefit the Heart

Aortic Stenosis 101

What is Structural Heart Disease?

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