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News & Blog Articles

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Arrhythmia Heart Failure Heart Surgery Interventional Cardiology Patient Stories Structural Heart Vascular Care Women’s Heart Health Cardiovascular Prevention
March 06, 2023
Where to start your nutrition journey
With all the conflicting information out there, making healthy food choices can quickly become overw...
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February 20, 2023
A personal journey with heart failure leads to philanthropic support
Debbie Jones has lived all across the United States. The California native met her husband, Chuck, i...
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February 15, 2023
Patient travels from Minnesota for Georgia Heart Institute's first robotic heart surgery
Heart surgeries that used to require long incisions and months of recovery can now be performed in G...
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February 13, 2023
Can you live a normal life with cardiac amyloidosis?
You’ve been diagnosed with cardiac amyloidosis and have begun treatment. But what’s next? Any ti...
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February 02, 2023
Pregnancy & your heart health: What's the connection?
When you’re expecting a new addition to the family, your heart health is probably not the first th...
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January 10, 2023
Is there a connection between alcohol and AFib?
Looking to lower your risk of developing heart health issues, including atrial fibrillation? It turn...
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December 30, 2022
Resolving to eat a heart-healthy diet in 2023? Start here.
Looking to improve your eating habits in the new year and lower your risk of heart disease? There’...
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December 28, 2022
5 Resolutions You Can Make for Your Heart Health
It’s time for New Year resolutions! This year, why not set some goals for how you can improve your...
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December 22, 2022
Can you live a long life after heart bypass surgery?
If you’ve undergone a CABG, or coronary artery bypass grafting, you know it’s a major procedure....
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December 20, 2022
What are the signs of an Aortic Aneurysm?
Aortic aneurysms were the main cause of death of nearly 10,000 people in 2019 in the U.S.  It’s i...
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December 14, 2022
Is Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy always dangerous?
If you’ve been told you have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, you may wonder what that even means. The...
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December 07, 2022
What happens when the Mitral Valve isn't working correctly?
Have you ever heard of the mitral valve? Unless you’ve been diagnosed with mitral valve disease, i...
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November 22, 2022
How long does it take to recover after a Heart Bypass?
If you’ve been told you need a heart bypass, you probably have many questions. That’s only natur...
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November 18, 2022
Georgia Heart Institute continues to grow by adding Dr. Olaniyi Osofisan
The Braselton and Jefferson communities now have even more access to high-quality heart care as Olan...
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November 09, 2022
What does it mean to have heart bypass surgery?
You recently underwent a cardiac catheterization to give your cardiologist a good look at your heart...
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November 08, 2022
Yale Medicine Cardiologist joins Georgia Heart Institute
People in northeast Georgia continue to get more local access to high-quality heart care, as Georgia...
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November 03, 2022
Can you live a long life after a heart attack?
If you’ve experienced a heart attack, it’s only natural to wonder about your health and your fut...
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November 03, 2022
Nationally-renowned Robotic Heart surgeon joins NGPG Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery and Georgia Heart Institute
Whether it’s saving lives on a battlefield in Iraq, walking on to a Division 1 college football te...
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October 24, 2022
Dr. Siva Chiranjeevi joins Georgia Heart Institute
Patients in the Gainesville and Clayton areas now have even more access to expert heart care as Siva...
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October 21, 2022
What is Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy?
In the last few months, you’ve been experiencing shortness of breath, fatigue, and occasional dizz...
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October 11, 2022
How Do I Know if My Heart Health is OK?
A loved one recently had a heart attack, and now you find yourself wondering about your own heart he...
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August 31, 2022
NGHS Foundation Receives $1 Million Grant to Fund Maternal Health Initiatives
Thousands of pregnant women experience cardiovascular-related complications each year. Physicians an...
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July 27, 2022
Preeclampsia & Your Heart: What Expectant Moms Should Know
During pregnancy, your OB/GYN may talk to you about a number of health conditions he or she will wat...
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July 07, 2022
Is Gestational Diabetes Dangerous for My Heart?
You “failed” your glucose test, and you’ve been diagnosed with gestational diabetes. What’s ...
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July 07, 2022
NGMC is Nationally Recognized for its Commitment to Providing High-Quality Cardiovascular Care
The American Heart Association presents the Get With The Guidelines award for proven dedication ...
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June 28, 2022
Georgia Heart Institute Hosts Inaugural Georgia Heart & Vascular Symposium
More than 50 renowned experts in heart care from around the globe gathered in Braselton on Friday wi...
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June 27, 2022
Should I worry about peripartum cardiomyopathy?
In the last trimester of pregnancy, it’s quite normal for your feet to swell and for you to experi...
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June 21, 2022
One Way to Prevent Cardiac Disease Before it Starts
What is Cardiovascular Prevention? When it comes to healthcare, prevention can be defined as stoppin...
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June 12, 2022
"My heart stopped for 38 minutes.": A Race for Survival
Just a few miles into last year’s Gran Fondo bike Race in Helen, Georgia, 54-year-old Cory Eubanks...
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June 06, 2022
Heart-Healthy Fruits & Veggies for Summer Days
Summer is here! While we have hot weather, vacations and cookouts to enjoy, it is also important to ...
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May 19, 2022
NGHS Recognizes Physicians Named to Georgia Trend Magazine's 2022 Top Doctors List
Georgia Trend magazine recently announced its 2022 Top Doctors list, which includes many physicians ...
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May 04, 2022
4 Lifestyle Changes That Can Help You Prevent Both Heart Disease & Stroke
As providers at Georgia Heart Institute, it’s only natural that we write a lot about ways to boost...
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April 21, 2022
What Is Cardiac Rehab & Do I Need It?
If you’ve had some type of heart health issue or undergone a surgical procedure related to the hea...
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April 12, 2022
Georgia Heart Institute Welcomes Dr. Marc Veneziano to Blairsville Location
As a third-year medical student, Marc Veneziano, MD was in New York City on September 11, 2001. He c...
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April 11, 2022
On the Rise: The Pandemic's Effect on Blood Pressure
It’s been over two years since the COVID-19 pandemic began. There’s no doubt that it’s had an ...
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April 05, 2022
The Facts to Know About Genetics & Heart Disease
You’ve probably heard about heart disease and other medical conditions “running in the f...
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March 28, 2022
Have you had your exercise snack today?
When it comes to planning your health, people often schedule food snacks during their day – either...
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March 10, 2022
The Silent Dangers of High Cholesterol
Some of the risk factors for heart disease are pretty obvious. If you’re a smoker, you know you sm...
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February 25, 2022
What Expectant Moms Should Know About Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD) 
When you’re expecting a new addition to the family, your heart health may be the last thing on you...
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February 11, 2022
Valentine’s Gifts to Give Your Love’s Heart Health a Boost
Valentine’s Day is a chance for us to show love to those who matter most. Why not show a little ex...
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February 09, 2022
Georgia Heart Institute Welcomes New Medical Director
Patients searching for structural heart services in Georgia now have a new option for their complex ...
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February 04, 2022
Pay Close Attention, Ladies: Your Heart May Be Talking
If you’ve ever read a romance novel, you’ve probably seen the cliche phrase, “listen to your h...
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January 26, 2022
7 Things You Never Knew About Heart Health
While it’s safe to say most of us know the basics when it comes to heart-healthy foods, exercise, ...
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January 15, 2022
Have a Heart-Healthy Spoonful of Comfort
The cooler days and nights are settling in. Something about a chill in the air makes all the cozy, w...
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January 12, 2022
Does a Family History of Heart Disease Increase My Risk?
At some time or another, you’ve probably filled out an intake form at the doctor’s office that a...
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December 21, 2021
6 Hacks for Healthy Eating This Time of Year
It’s December. You’ve tried to make heart-healthy food decisions most days – but the holidays ...
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December 20, 2021
A User’s Guide to Heart Health in Your 40s
Your 40th birthday has come and gone. Maybe you’ve scheduled your first mammogram, or started taki...
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November 24, 2021
Making Over Holiday Favorites: Easy Healthy Cooking Substitutions
There are many reasons to love the holiday season, including all the delicious foods and recipes you...
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November 19, 2021
How Serious Is Valve Disease?
How much do you know about how your heart valves work? You’ve likely heard more about the coronary...
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November 12, 2021
How Is Mental Health Connected to Heart Health?
Those who have some type of mental health issue often experience heart health issues, too. But why i...
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October 30, 2021
Recognizing the Risk Factors for Arrhythmia
Did you know? Around one in 18 Americans has a heart arrhythmia, or a disruption of the heart’s no...
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October 20, 2021
6 Easy Tips to Lower Your Blood Pressure
If you’ve been diagnosed with high blood pressure, you may wonder whether you’ll need medication...
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October 01, 2021
5 Unexpected Signs of Heart Disease Everyone Should Know
Could you have heart disease and not even know it? Quite possibly, because while you might think all...
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September 07, 2021
Northeast Georgia Health System Launches New Heart & Vascular Institute
Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS) continues to lead the way in innovative heart care with the l...
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August 26, 2021
Firefighter’s Journey From Near-Death to On-Duty
Just one year ago, Barton, Rexroat and the HCFS Training Center team experienced a life-altering event they never saw coming.
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August 08, 2021
Georgia Heart Institute Welcomes Three New Cardiologists
Georgia Heart Institute has always been known for leading the way in cardiovascular care. Now, with ...
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July 28, 2021
It’s Hot Out There! What Does It Mean for Your Heart Health?
Whether you’ve lived in northeast Georgia all your life or only recently moved here, you’ve probably realized that it’s hot here in the summer.
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July 22, 2021
Why Do I Need a Heart Stent?
At your last appointment with the cardiologist, you were told you needed to have a heart stent impla...
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July 19, 2021
“Hey ALEXA, remind me to take my meds”
By: Maria Angel, MD | PGY-2 Family Medicine Resident​ Why is it so important to take my medication...
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July 15, 2021
The Facts About Holes in the Heart & How They’re Treated
The very idea of a hole in the heart may sound alarming, but it’s surprisingly common. On top of t...
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July 09, 2021
7 Surprising Factors That May Increase Your Risk For Heart Disease
When it comes to heart disease, it’s hard not to automatically think about the three main risk fac...
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July 07, 2021
What Does It Mean If I Have Structural Heart Disease?
If you’ve been told you have structural heart disease, you may wonder what that even is. You’re ...
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June 23, 2021
8 Facts Everyone Should Know About Heart Failure
When it comes to heart health, we often hear about heart attacks and heart disease. But heart failur...
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June 19, 2021
5 Quick Tips For Men To Keep Their Hearts Strong
Preventing heart disease is important for everyone, but the challenges men and women face are unique...
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June 04, 2021
5 Steps You Can Take To Lower Your Blood Pressure
If you’ve been told you have high blood pressure, you aren’t alone! In fact, you’re in good co...
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May 08, 2021
5 Easy Ways Cardiologists Keep Their Hearts Healthy
While it’s no secret that heart disease is incredibly common – and deadly – knowing the key wa...
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May 08, 2021
I’m getting a cardiac ablation, what does that mean?
Ablation is a fairly common type of medical procedure that involves carefully regulated destruction ...
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May 08, 2021
4 Surprising Ways Mental Health Impacts Physical Health
By: Adam J. Raulerson, MS, LMFT While we all know that mental health is important – especially aft...
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April 16, 2021
5 Heart-Healthy Fruits & Veggies To Eat This Spring
Spring has finally sprung here in Georgia – and there’s so much to love about the season. All th...
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April 09, 2021
How Serious Is Having An Irregular Heartbeat?
While we may say our heart skips a beat when it comes to falling in love. But when your heart litera...
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March 25, 2021
10 Delicious Foods That Boost Heart Health
When it comes to keeping your heart healthy, we hear a lot about what not to eat. But ther...
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March 15, 2021
The Surprising Ways Sleep Impacts Heart Health
Everyone has experienced a restless night at least once or twice, likely even more. Worse than the t...
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March 09, 2021
How to Prevent Deep Vein Thrombosis
By: Nekitia A. Hyde, BS, Healthcare Leadership, RDMS (AB, Ob/Gyn), RVT  Did you know ...
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March 04, 2021
4 Myths About Women & Heart Disease
When it comes to heart health, there are far too many misconceptions. This is especially true for wo...
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February 26, 2021
Why Women Are More Likely to Die From a Heart Attack
When you think of heart attack symptoms, what comes to mind? At the top of the list is probably ches...
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February 18, 2021
What Is Heart Failure – And Would You Recognize It?
When it comes to heart health, we don’t usually hear a lot about heart failure. But while the cond...
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February 15, 2021
Are you a Candidate for a Coronary Calcium Scan?
by: Tracy Greer, CT Technologist Did you know that heart disease is the number one cause of dea...
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February 12, 2021
5 Valentines You Can Give to Your Heart Health
You’re probably familiar with conversation hearts, those heart-shaped candies that pop up each Val...
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February 05, 2021
7 Things Every Woman Needs To Know About Heart Disease
Heart Disease is serious – we know that it’s the number one killer of women and we know that nea...
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December 22, 2020
Heart-Healthy Recipe: Beef Wellington
While this holiday season has been anything but normal, there are simple ways to make the most of it...
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December 04, 2020
Heart-Healthy Recipe: Oatmeal Cookies
There’s nothing better than a warm, freshly-baked cookie on a chilly, winter day. Especially if th...
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November 30, 2020
Heart-Healthy Recipe: Herb-Seasoned Turkey Breast
This time of year is extremely special for many reasons; reconnecting with those we love, enjoying t...
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November 13, 2020
5 Things You Should Know About Nurse Practitioners
When thinking of your go-to healthcare provider, what’s the first expert that comes to mind? Most ...
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October 16, 2020
Heart-Healthy Recipe: Butternut Squash & White Bean Bisque
This heart-healthy fall recipe is great for individuals with heart failure – and is oh so deli...
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October 16, 2020
Should I Get a Flu Shot If I Have Heart Disease?
There’s so much to love about the fall season – cooler weather, changing leaves and Halloween. B...
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October 13, 2020
9 Key Risk Factors For Heart Disease Everyone Should Know
When it comes to a condition as common as heart disease – the leading cause of death for both men ...
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September 02, 2020
COVID-19 and Worsening Heart Failure
Author: Ugochukwu O. Egolum, MD, FACC At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March, we noticed a s...
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July 28, 2020
Why Wearing a Face Mask Is More Important Than Ever
As COVID-19 continues to be a major part of our lives – impacting everything from shopping at groc...
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July 10, 2020
6 Questions You Should Ask Your Cardiologist
There’s no shortage of reasons to take heart health seriously. Not only is heart disease the leadi...
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June 26, 2020
Listen To Your Heart
Doris Croker has no shortage of things keeping her busy. Whether she’s spending time with one of h...
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June 25, 2020
Good Cholesterol vs. Bad Cholesterol: What You Need To Know
While most of us know that having high cholesterol doesn’t necessarily boost heart health, is it r...
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June 20, 2020
Men & Heart Health: 5 Common Mistakes
There’s no denying that heart disease is scary. After all, it’s the number one health threat we ...
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June 17, 2020
What Does It Mean To Have High Blood Pressure?
While high blood pressure (aka: hypertension) may be common – affecting nearly 1 out of every 3 U....
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June 10, 2020
5 Easy Ways To Support Heart Health This Summer
The summer season has officially arrived. Even if the first day of summer isn’t for a few more wee...
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May 27, 2020
How We're Keeping You Safe During In-Person Visits
Your Safety Comes First – Here Are The Steps We’re Taking. Your health needs don’t stop – an...
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March 31, 2020
COVID-19: Tips For Heart Patients
By: Ugochukwu O. Egolum, MD, FACC As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to grow and evolve, it’s impo...
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March 27, 2020
5 Ways To Start Boosting Your Heart Health Today
When it comes to taking action and supporting your heart health, it’s never a bad time to start. W...
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December 20, 2019
Heart-Healthy Recipe: Baked Apples
If you had to choose between warm homemade cobbler and fresh fruit, which would you choose? It’...
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December 10, 2019
Heart-Healthy Recipe: Brownies
There’s nothing better than an ooey-gooey brownie; especially one that’s good for your hear...
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November 27, 2019
6 Heart Healthy Ways to Beat Holiday Stress
Most of us can agree that there’s no shortage of reasons to love the holiday season – ga...
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November 21, 2019
Heart-Healthy Recipe: Avocado Deviled Eggs Low-Sodium
Check out this heart-healthy low-sodium avocado-deviled egg recipe that you can use all year round!...
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November 14, 2019
Technology extends Alto man’s life from months to years
Written by: The Northeast Georgian Patients with advanced heart failure now have an option for treat...
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November 13, 2019
Heart-Healthy Recipe: Cranberry Turkey Cocktail Meatballs with Low Sodium Turkey Gravy
Are you looking for a delicious heart-healthy recipe for your next holiday gathering? Look no f...
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November 11, 2019
6 Surprising Facts About Heart Disease
Cardiovascular (heart) disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United St...
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November 07, 2019
Heart-Healthy Recipe: Low Sodium Turkey Gravy
As you prepare your holiday menus, check out this low-sodium turkey gravy recipe that will pair...
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October 29, 2019
Heart-Healthy Recipe: Low-Sodium Herb-Rubbed Turkey
The holidays will be upon us before we know it. To assist you in following heart failure and cardiac...
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October 22, 2019
Heart-Healthy Recipe: Low-Sodium Turkey Stuffing
We are quickly approaching the holiday season, and we all know what that means – it is time to...
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October 14, 2019
NGMC Heart Failure Success with LVAD Implant
Northeast Georgia Health System patient, David T., recently underwent a heart failure procedure to i...
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February 08, 2019
Stephen P. Prater, MD, FACC, FHRS, Now Accepting Patients in Blairsville
STEPHEN P. PRATER, MD, FACC, FHRS, NOW ACCEPTING PATIENTSIN BLAIRSVILLE BLAIRSVILLE, Ga. — Dr. Ste...
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