Heart Health

Aortic aneurysms were the main cause of death of nearly 10,000 people in 2019 in the U.S.  It’s important to know what to look for to detect this condition before it causes problems. The aorta is the main artery carrying blood throughout your body. When an aortic aneurysm occurs, a weak spot in the aorta […]

If you’ve been told you have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, you may wonder what that even means. The first thing to know is that most people who have the condition live a normal, healthy life. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, often simply referenced as HCM, is a type of genetic heart disease that causes the heart muscle to thicken. As […]

Have you ever heard of the mitral valve? Unless you’ve been diagnosed with mitral valve disease, it might be unfamiliar to you. But if you’ve been told you have mitral valve disease – mitral valve regurgitation or mitral valve stenosis – you may wonder what this valve does and what happens when it malfunctions. We’ll […]

If you’ve been told you need a heart bypass, you probably have many questions. That’s only natural when you’re undergoing a major medical procedure. Many patients and their family members have questions about what recovery after a heart bypass looks like. Once the surgical procedure is over, what happens next? Think of it this way: […]

You recently underwent a cardiac catheterization to give your cardiologist a good look at your heart. After the diagnostic procedure, you were told you need to have heart bypass surgery. What does that even mean? You probably know someone who has had a heart bypass. It’s an incredibly common procedure—in fact, around 200,000 of these […]

If you’ve experienced a heart attack, it’s only natural to wonder about your health and your future. But rest assured: In many cases, people can live long and full lives after a heart attack. In the days and weeks following a heart attack, you’ll be coached through ways to strengthen your heart and protect it […]

In the last few months, you’ve been experiencing shortness of breath, fatigue, and occasional dizziness. Your cardiologist says you have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. But what is that? While you have probably never heard of the condition, it is actually the most common form of genetic heart disease. Around one in 500 Americans have the condition, though […]

A loved one recently had a heart attack, and now you find yourself wondering about your own heart health. Are you at risk of heart problems yourself? And how can you tell if your heart is healthy? If you’re wondering, “How do I know if my heart is OK?”, you’re not alone. Whether a loved […]

During pregnancy, your OB/GYN may talk to you about a number of health conditions he or she will watch for. One of those conditions is preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is a specific type of high blood pressure that occurs after week 20 of pregnancy. If you’re diagnosed with the condition, should you worry about your heart health? […]

You “failed” your glucose test, and you’ve been diagnosed with gestational diabetes. What’s next, and what does it mean for your heart? If you’ve ever been pregnant or even known someone who was, you’re probably familiar with the dreaded glucose test. During this test, usually done between weeks 24 and 28 of pregnancy, you drink […]

In the last trimester of pregnancy, it’s quite normal for your feet to swell and for you to experience some shortness of breath on occasion. But in rare cases, those symptoms could be a sign of a medical condition known as peripartum cardiomyopathy. It’s important to note that peripartum cardiomyopathy is incredibly rare. The condition […]

Proactively protecting your heart health can help you avoid serious health issues and improve your quality of life. With the right guidance, you can make sustainable changes that support a healthier future and reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease.  What is Cardiovascular Prevention? Cardiovascular prevention involves taking steps to reduce the risk of heart disease […]

Just a few miles into last year’s Gran Fondo bike Race in Helen, Georgia, 54-year-old Cory Eubanks’ life changed forever. “I’ve always been an avid cyclist, riding thousands of miles every year,” Cory said. “But pulling my bike over is the last thing I remember from that race.” Cory suddenly collapsed. Luckily, five different cyclists […]

Summer is here! While we have hot weather, vacations and cookouts to enjoy, it is also important to remember your heart health and to stay hydrated. There are many fruits and vegetables in season during the summer, which it makes it easier to add these natural sources of fiber to your nutrition plan and they […]

As providers at Georgia Heart Institute, it’s only natural that we write a lot about ways to boost your heart health. But in recognition of Stroke Awareness Month this May, we also have a few suggestions for preventing stroke. And the good news? Stroke and heart disease share many risk factors, so you can take […]

If you’ve had some type of heart health issue or undergone a surgical procedure related to the heart, you may have been referred to cardiac rehab. But what is it, exactly? Cardiac rehab, also called cardiac rehabilitation or cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, is a specialized program designed to help patients ease back into normal life after a […]

It’s been over two years since the COVID-19 pandemic began. There’s no doubt that it’s had an effect on nearly every aspect of our lives—and it turns out, it’s also impacting our blood pressure. Research released by the American Heart Association in December showed that the pandemic is associated with higher blood pressure among middle-aged […]

You’ve probably heard about heart disease and other medical conditions “running in the family.” But if you have a family history of heart problems, will you also have heart health issues? It’s an interesting question – and the answer isn’t entirely straightforward. Some forms of heart disease can be inherited, meaning they have a genetic […]