Read articles written by Georgia Heart Institute board-certified cardiologists, heart surgeons, vascular surgeons and experts in care.
Georgia Heart Institute provides a range of treatments and services with our state-of-the-art technology and research — from diagnostic procedures to life-saving angioplasty to minimally-invasive valve surgery.
Cardiac catheterization is a medical procedure used to diagnose and treat heart conditions. Sometimes called a “cath” for short, in involves inserting a thin, flexible tube called a catheter into a blood vessel and guiding it to the heart. While the idea of having a tube inserted into your heart might sound scary, cardiac catheterization is generally […]
If you have been told that you need a coronary artery bypass grafting surgery, you probably have a lot of questions — especially about how long the procedure and recovery take. The answers depend on several factors, including the type of surgery and your overall health. Read on to learn more about this common heart […]
At your last checkup, your primary care provider said you have high blood pressure. What does that mean for your health? High blood pressure is quite common. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, almost 50 percent of adults in the United States have high blood pressure — and many people are unaware they have it. […]
You might be familiar with coronary artery disease, but how much do you know about carotid artery disease? The two conditions deal with arteries in different parts of the body. They are basically the same. Both coronary artery disease and carotid artery disease occur when blood flow is cut off to a certain part of the body. […]
At your last appointment with your cardiologist, you were told you have a CTO, but what exactly is that? A chronic total occlusion, or CTO, is a relatively common condition. To explain what a CTO is and what it means for your health, let’s first zoom out to focus on how the heart works. Your heart […]
“I remember hearing the helicopter. Thump-thump-thump, like a heartbeat. But after that, I don’t remember.” Jan Leakey credits her best friend, Pam Russell, with saving her life. Pam insisted that Jan go to an urgent care center in Clayton. It turned out Jan was having a heart attack. By the time she arrived via life flight at Northeast Georgia Medical Center […]
If you’ve ever watched a TV medical drama such as “ER” or “Grey’s Anatomy,” then you might have seen an emergency room doctor order an EKG. This common heart test is used to help diagnose many health conditions, including cardiac events like heart attack. While often used in an emergency setting, EKG — short for electrocardiogram — may also be used as part of a regular medical visit, including a cardiology appointment. At Georgia Heart […]
Are you at risk for heart disease? For most Americans, the answer is yes. New research is shining a light on the number of people in the United States who have cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome, a newly defined condition that increases the risk of heart disease. The syndrome, which was defined by the American Heart Association […]
In the past, atrial fibrillation, often called AFib, was primarily diagnosed in older adults. Recent research, though, shows that the condition is more common in younger adults than previously thought. Wondering whether you are at risk for developing this common heart issue? Keep reading for the details. What is AFib? The Centers for Disease Control […]
After he had a heart attack in spring 2023, Ron Josey was told he would need coronary artery bypass surgery. The Savannah man did some research, and the idea of open-heart surgery made him anxious. “I soon began to realize, if possible, that I did not want the traditional bypass with the sternotomy,” said Ron, 62, using a term […]
Over more than 20 years of practicing cardiology, Zachary George, MD, has learned that it’s important also to practice empathy with his patients. “I’m always reminded of a Robin Williams quote: ‘Everybody that you meet is going through a battle that you know nothing about.” Dr. George, an interventional cardiologist who recently joined Georgia Heart Institute, keeps […]
Heart disease affects both men and women, but many still believe it is primarily a concern for men. However, women are equally at risk for heart disease, including heart failure, which is often overlooked. In fact, heart disease causes more deaths in women each year than all types of cancer combined, including breast cancer. Heart […]
While heart disease is the leading cause of death among both men and women, it is still often considered a “man’s disease.” Because of that, many women don’t get the regular screenings they need to ensure their hearts are healthy. One important screening is a panel to check for high cholesterol. High cholesterol doesn’t cause […]
From left to right: Stéphane Rinfret, MD; Zachary George, MD; Olga Toleva, MD People in Northeast Georgia now have more choices for advanced lifesaving heart care. Georgia Heart Institute, the comprehensive heart and vascular service line of Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS), recently welcomed interventional cardiologists Zachary George, MD; Stéphane Rinfret, MD; and Olga Toleva, […]
When you hear about someone having a heart bypass, you probably think about it as a major open-heart procedure. But with new technologies and techniques, opening up the chest isn’t always necessary. Thanks to innovations in minimally invasive procedures in the last decade and robotic technology, some heart bypasses—also called coronary artery bypasses—can now be […]
At your latest appointment with the cardiologist, you were told that you have atrial fibrillation. What does that mean, and how will it affect your life? Atrial fibrillation, often called AFib, is a heart rhythm abnormality. AFib occurs when the heart’s upper chambers, or atria, are out of sync with the lower chambers of the […]
Coronary artery bypass surgery, also called heart bypass or CABG, is a common way of treating severe blockages in the arteries that deliver blood to the heart. What are your options, though, when you aren’t eligible for a heart bypass? More than 18 million Americans have coronary artery disease, making it the most common type […]
As recently as a few decades ago, there were few good options for treating heart health issues like aortic valve disease. These days, innovative surgical procedures like TAVR greatly increase the odds of successfully treating these heart problems. Another key to successful treatment is completing cardiac rehab after surgery. In many cases, you might consider […]