Mitral Valve Disease Archives - Page 3 of 5

Heart surgery is major surgery, even when it’s a minimally-invasive procedure. After such a major surgery, a person will certainly need lots of rest and relaxation to recover properly. Although you know your heart was just repaired, it can be hard to exercise patience. Who doesn’t want to get back to their normal routine as soon as possible? Even though you asked the doctor endless post-op questions prior to surgery, you still begin to wonder when you’ll be able to return to your normal daily activities.

Recovery can be hard both physically and mentally. Your recovery is unique because you are a unique individual. Every patient heals differently and at a different rate.

For the first week post op, you most likely will be in the hospital. You will spend one to two days in the ICU and then be moved to a regular hospital room for the remainder of the week. During your hospital stay you will be walking regularly and gradually increasing physical activity, so you will be able to walk and go up and down stairs before you head home.

Before sending you home, the doctor will give you recovery instructions, such as watching for any signs of infection, incision care, pain management, and post-op side effects. You will still be sore, but may no longer be on pain meds. The doctor will determine how much physical activity you can do, and will encourage lots of rest throughout the day. The doctor may recommend cardiac rehabilitation, as well as permanent lifestyle changes when it comes to diet, physical activities, tobacco usage, and stress management to promote healing and recovery. If something hurts, stop doing it. Focus on performing activities that don’t hurt you.

Around the fourth or fifth week post-op, you will be getting close to being back to your normal activities. You can be back to work, can travel and celebrate a holiday without feeling awful. Although you are still not 100%, you will feel significantly better now.

Looking for a cardiac surgeon to perform your heart valve surgery? This is Dr. Peter Mikhail’s specialty. Dr. Mikhail is a cardiac surgeon based in New Port Richey, FL, and treats patients in Tampa and Clearwater. He is considered one of the foremost authorities and specialists in mitral valve surgery and TAVR. To book a consult, click here or call 727-312-4844.

Infective endocarditis (also known as IE) is an inflammatory condition that affects the inner lining and valves of the heart. It occurs when bacteria enter the bloodstream and settle on damaged heart tissue, weak or abnormal heart valves, or prosthetic valves.

IE is more prevalent among older Americans and men in particular. It affects an estimated four out of every 100,000 people in the U.S., and the number of reported cases appears to be increasing, according to a 10-year study published by the online journal PLOS ONE.

It’s not uncommon for bacteria to enter the bloodstream during certain surgical, routine medical, or dental procedures, and a healthy immune system will fight off the microscopic invaders. However, if they find their way to the heart, those bacteria can accumulate on a damaged heart valve and grow into a mass known as a “vegetation.”

Symptoms of an acute infection, which can become life threatening in a matter of days, include a sudden high fever, increased heart rate, shortness of breath, and fatigue. A sub-acute, or gradual infection will present itself with a mild fever, elevated heart rate, fatigue, chills and night sweats, and a low red blood cell count.

Individuals with heart disease and existing heart conditions – such as surgically repaired heart valves and congenital heart defects – have a higher risk of developing IE.

Infection in the heart is commonly detected with an echocardiogram. A blood culture can determine what type of bacteria is present. Treatment typically involves the use of intravenous antibiotics over a four-to-six-week span.

Oftentimes, doctors will prescribe oral antibiotics to patients prior to a dental procedure, minor surgery, or a colonoscopy as a precautionary measure.

Gingivitis is a known cause of infection, so keeping your mouth clean and healthy, and getting regular dental care are two simple ways to prevent IE. The American Heart Association offers wallet cards in English and Spanish for people who require extra protection from infection.

Dr. Peter Mikhail is a cardiac and thoracic surgeon based in New Port Richey, Florida, who treats patients in the Tampa and Clearwater areas. For more information on his practice or to schedule a consultation, visit his mitral valve surgery and AVR site for more information or call 727-312-4844.

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This is a heart condition that affects a very small percentage of the U.S. population, and its symptoms may include irregular heartbeat and chest pain.

Mitral valve prolapse, also known as click-murmur syndrome, Barlow’s syndrome and floppy valve syndrome, occurs when the mitral valve flaps do not close smoothly or evenly as the heart beats; instead, the flaps bulge, or prolapse, upward into the left atrium.

In most cases, it’s harmless and most people aren’t even aware they have it. However, some cases require treatment; for instance, when a prolapsed valve allows a small amount of blood to leak backward, a heart murmur may occur. For some, MVP is genetic, but for others, it’s caused by other health issues, such as progressively weakening connective tissue.

Health professionals can typically detect a murmur during a routine examination, especially if a patient has experienced heart palpitations (sudden rapid heartbeats), chest discomfort and fatigue. For those without symptoms, physicians may use an echocardiogram or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to look for issues.

Mitral valve surgery may be required if symptoms appear to be getting worse, the left ventricle of the heart is enlarged or heart functions are worsening. While mitral valve prolapse rarely becomes a serious health condition, it can cause arrhythmias – when the heart beats too fast or slow – that are potentially life-threatening, according to the American Heart Association.

Physicians typically recommend treating the symptoms of MVP with regular exercise, over-the-counter pain relievers and relaxation/stress reduction activities, while avoiding caffeine and other stimulants. Beta blockers, or medications that slow the heart, may also be used to treat heart palpitations.

Experts recommend that individuals with mitral valve prolapse should see their doctor regularly, and a cardiologist every 2 to 3 years. Those with moderate symptoms should get an echocardiogram every 6 to 12 months.

Dr. Peter Mikhail is a cardiac and thoracic surgeon based in New Port Richey, Florida, and treats patients in the Tampa and Clearwater areas. For more information on his practice or to schedule a consultation, visit the Tiny Scar Valve Surgery contact page or call 727-312-4844. To learn more about this disease, visit Dr. Mikhail’s Mitral Valve Disease page.

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If you have been diagnosed with mitral valve disease, you probably have a list of questions. As you should! Mitral valve disease is one form of heart disease, and it can be a very serious condition. Part of your heart valve isn’t working properly, and it’s you and your doctor’s job to decide what to do next so you can live a healthy and long life.

There are three different types of mitral valve disease: mitral valve regurgitation/insufficiency (leaking), mitral valve stenosis (obstruction), and mitral valve prolapse (bulging).

The type of mitral valve disease you have and the severity of it will determine your doctor’s treatment plan. One treatment option is surgery. But when is it time to repair your mitral valve? Is there a good time? Well, if you have a severe case or a big leak, it’s recommended you get the valve repaired now. If you put off surgery, the damaged valve will begin to cause damage to the heart itself. Valves cannot repair themselves; there is no point in waiting. Studies have shown if you wait for symptoms to become severe before you choose surgery, your chance of experiencing complications after the surgery is higher.

If the valve is severely damaged, a surgeon may not be able to repair the valve and a replacement will have to be done. If your valve disease is life-threatening, a replacement valve will be chosen over a repair.

Treatment isn’t always needed for minor causes of mitral valve disease. Sometimes the doctor will just monitor a patient’s heart over the years to see if the disease is getting progressively worse. The doctor can also prescribe medications to reduce the symptoms that patients are experiencing from the disease, but the medications cannot fix the broken parts of the mitral valve. Patients can take antiarrhythmics, beta blockers, diuretics, and anticoagulants.

The thought of surgery can be terrifying; there may be no “right” time, but you want to fix the problem before it gets worse. Dr. Peter Mikhail performs minimally-invasive mitral valve heart surgery on his patients. He makes a small (2 to 3 inch) incision in the right side of the chest. This is not open-heart surgery. With minimally invasive surgery, recovery is shorter. Surgery can take anywhere from 2 to 4 hours.

If it’s time for you to get your mitral valve repaired or replaced, let Dr. Mikhail look at your heart and determine the best course of action. He is a cardiac and thoracic surgeon who specializes in mitral valve surgery. He treats patients in the New Port Richey, Tampa and Clearwater areas of Florida. To book a consult, click here or call 727-312-4844. Learn more about this surgery on Dr. Mikhail’s Mitral Valve Surgery page.

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One in four women dies of heart disease in the United States each year; this means about one woman dies every minute of this disease in this country. A new study from researchers in China is suggesting that breastfeeding may lower a woman’s risk of heart disease and stroke. So not only does the baby reap major benefits from breastfeeding, the mother does, as well.

In this study, researchers analyzed around 300,000 women in China. Women who had breastfed were 8 to 10 percent less likely to develop heart disease and stroke compared to mothers who did not breastfeed. Mothers who breastfed for 2 years or more were found to have an 18 percent less chance of developing heart disease compared to women who did not breastfeed. They saw a mother’s risk of these conditions decreased even further (3 to 4 percent) with every additional 6 months of breastfeeding.

Although this particular study cannot prove for certain that breastfeeding caused these women to have a lower risk, it does show that breastfeeding has benefits for the mother when it comes to her cardiovascular health. Researchers say this lowered risk of heart disease and stroke may be related to a metabolism “reset” that occurs following the pregnancy. It is hoped that these findings will help encourage more women to breastfeed.

Beyond cardiovascular health, it has been commonly known due to past studies that mothers who breastfeed can experience a lot of health benefits including weight loss, lowered blood pressure, lowered glucose levels, and lowered cholesterol.

Researchers want to conduct further studies on this subject matter with women in other countries to see if they can confirm these findings.

Currently, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends women exclusively breastfeed for the baby’s first six months. After six months, mothers can breastfeed until 12 months while introducing foods into the baby’s daily diet.

Whether you have breastfed or not, as a woman you should pay close attention to your heart health. If you are currently suffering from heart disease and are looking for a cardiac surgeon, Dr. Peter Mikhail specializes in mitral valve surgery and aortic valve surgery in the Tampa, Clearwater, and New Port Richey area. To book an appointment, click here or call 727-312-4844.

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Get up, and get moving! Exercise is essential to heart health. However, you don’t have to be overly athletic or a marathon runner to reap the benefits of exercise. According to the American Heart Association, a person can improve his or her overall cardiovascular health by participating in at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise (or a combination of both) per week. Exercise comes in many different forms, from running and lifting weights to Zumba class and walking. For this article, we focus on the benefits from one particular type of exercise, Yoga.

Yes, yoga. This form of exercise is much more than a bunch of funny-looking body positions. People have been practicing yoga for more than 5,000 years to help rejuvenate the body and help themselves live a longer life. Yoga has been shown to have numerous benefits including helping reduce stress and bring clarity and peace to a person’s mind. Recently, a new study published in the European Journal of Preventative Cardiology said that yoga may help lower a person’s risk for heart disease in the same way as walking or another conventional exercise.

In this study, people of all ages and health conditions saw improvements in their health while participating in yoga. These people lost weight, lowered their blood pressure, and lowered their LDL (“bad”) cholesterol levels.

Yoga is physical but it also involves a lot of breathing exercises and meditation. These activities can all have positive effects on the heart and body. Yoga’s impact on muscles and the mind can help control blood sugar, lower blood pressure, and calm the nervous system, which can reduce stress in the body. Yoga can also help increase a person’s aerobic capacity, and has also been known to help people with atrial fibrillation have fewer episodes.

Yoga classes are available for people of all experience levels. If you have a health condition or aren’t in great shape, a beginner class is a great way to learn all the moves in a slow, controlled way that isn’t intimidating. Hatha yoga is good for beginners, while Vinyasa yoga is better for those individuals who are more experienced and physically fit. Bikram yoga or Hot yoga, which is yoga in a room with a temperature of more than 105 degrees, is not recommended for people with heart conditions like heart disease.

If you currently have heart disease, talk to your doctor about taking a yoga class. If you’re a candidate for heart valve surgery, Dr. Peter Mikhail performs mitral valve surgery and aortic valve surgery in the cities of Tampa, Clearwater, and New Port Richey of Florida. To book a consult, click here or call 727-312-4844.

During your annual physical, a doctor will listen to your heart with a stethoscope. If the doctor hears anything troubling or odd, he or she will recommend that you have an echocardiogram done on your heart. What is an echocardiogram? An echocardiogram (echo) will show doctors the size, structures, and movements of the parts within your heart. Through this test, a doctor will be able to determine several things, including: the size of your heart, the state of your heart muscles, heart valve problems, problems with your heart’s structure, and signs of blood clots or tumors.

During an echo, a technician will place three electrodes which are attached to an electrocardiograph monitor (ECG or EKG) on your chest. You will be asked to lay down on your left side. He or she will place a wand (with gel on the end) on your chest; the wand is a sound-wave transducer. You may have to change positions a few times during the test, so several areas of your heart will be photographed. Echos are safe and you should feel no discomfort.

An echo lasts for about 40 minutes; you can return to work or other daily activities immediately following. You can eat, drink, and take any medications normally before this test.

There are several different types of echocardiograms and your doctor will determine which one is right for you. Here are brief descriptions of the types of echocardiograms:

Transthoracic echocardiogram – This is the basic echo and is like an x-ray (minus the radiation).
Transesophageal echocardiogram – In this echo, the transducer is inserted down the throat into the esophagus, because the esophagus is close to the heart.
Stress echocardiogram – This echo is taken while the person exercises on a treadmill or stationary bike.
Dobutamine stress echocardiogram – This is a stress echo but without the exercise; the stress is obtained through a drug that makes the body think its exercising.
Intravascular ultrasound – This ultrasound is performed during cardiac catheterization, and the transducer is threaded into the heart blood vessels through a catheter in the groin.

If you’ve had an echo or other stress test, this can help the doctor determine if you are currently suffering from heart valve disease. If you found out you have mitral valve disease or aortic valve disease and need surgery, Dr. Peter Mikhail is an experienced cardiac surgeon who specializes in mitral valve surgery and mini-AVR. To book an appointment, click here or call 727-312-4844.

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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.

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.

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If you’re experiencing symptoms of heart disease, there’s a good chance you’ve gone to see your doctor. Chest pain, dizziness, and shortness of breath are all red flags that should send you to your doctor immediately. If a doctor hears anything alarming through a stethoscope, he or she will suggest you have some testing done to confirm if you have heart disease. You will also need to make an appointment with a cardiologist. One such test you will have to take is a stress test.

A stress test can help the doctors determine if you have heart disease. One type of stress test, and the one most often used, is the exercise stress test. During an exercise stress test, you will either walk on a treadmill or pedal a stationary bike. The doctor will use the test to track your electrocardiogram, heart rate and blood pressure.

What does this test do or show? An exercise stress test will show a few things to the doctor, including:

If enough blood is flowing to the heart during activity
If there are any abnormal heart rhythms
If the heart valves are functioning properly
If you have coronary heart disease
If your symptoms (chest pain, palpitations, dizziness) are being caused by a heart issue
If your heart medications are working (if you’re on any) and how

Before the test, you cannot eat or drink anything except water for four hours prior to the test, and cannot have caffeine for 12 hours before the test. There are also certain medications your doctor will tell you that you cannot take before the test, – your doctor will advise you.

Before you begin exercising on the test, an EKG will be done to take your heart rate at rest. After the EKG, you will begin exercising. The exercising will gradually get more difficult to get you exhausted. You will be asked throughout how you are feeling and if you’re experiencing any symptoms. The test lasts about 60 mins, but you’re only exercising around 10 minutes.

If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above, it may be time to talk to your doctor and see if a stress test is a good idea. Depending on the test’s results, you’ll want to see a cardiologist. If you’re looking for a cardiac surgeon, Dr. Peter Mikhail specializes in mitral valve and aortic valve surgery. To book an appointment with him, click here or call 727-312-4844.

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MITRAL VALVE BLOG

What to Expect Post Heart Valve Surgery

What is infective endocarditis?

What is Mitral Valve Prolapse?

When Is Mitral Valve Surgery Needed?

Does Breastfeeding Reduce the Risk of Heart Disease?

How Yoga Benefits the Heart

What is an Echocardiogram?

NSAIDs Link to Heart Disease

The Best Vitamins to Take for Heart Health

How a Stress Test Can Reveal Heart Disease

Time in the Sauna Can Benefit the Heart

Aortic Stenosis 101

What is Structural Heart Disease?

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