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Heart

Follow the clues to find hope for advanced heart failure

A diagnosis of advanced heart failure sounds ominous, but the key to managing the condition is detecting it early. Dr. Mark Drazner, Chief of Cardiology at UT Southwestern, shares six simple clues that can help patients recognize advanced heart failure so they get the specialized treatment they need.

Mark Drazner, M.D.

October 30, 2019

Heart

New drugs for cardiac amyloidosis provide hope for patients

For decades, there were no FDA-approved treatments for cardiac amyloidosis in the U.S. But in the last two years, two new therapies were approved for cardiac- and nerve-related ATTR. In this week's MedBlog, Justin Grodin, M.D., discusses these therapies and what they mean for North Texas patients.

Justin Grodin, M.D. / Ankit Kansagra, M.D.

July 31, 2019

Heart; Nutrition

The bitter truth: 25 cups of coffee a day might not be healthy

Is it safe to drink 25 cups of coffee a day like a 2019 study suggests? Wanpen Vongpatanasin, M.D., says probably not. Find out where the confusion comes from and what the experts say in this week’s MedBlog. Learn more.

Wanpen Vongpatanasin, M.D.

July 24, 2019

Heart

TAVR is not the ‘beginning of the end’ for aortic stenosis open heart surgery

Two studies presented in March at #ACC19 are the talk of the cardiology community. Both address one question: Can low-risk patients with aortic stenosis benefit from TAVR? Dharam Kumbhani, M.D., says the data are intriguing, but the excitement is a bit premature. Learn more.

Dharam Kumbhani, M.D.

June 6, 2019

Heart; Nutrition

Considering keto? 3 health questions to think about

Is the keto diet safe? According to Anand Rohatgi, M.D., the answer is not as simple as ‘yes’ or ‘no.’ Patients should consider these 3 health questions before giving up carbs to lose weight or prevent heart disease. Learn more in this week’s MedBlog.

Anand Rohatgi, M.D.

May 22, 2019

Heart

Why are we still in the middle of a ‘statins war’?

As medical journals and websites debate who should take statins and the severity of their side effects, Dr. Hill says not to forget that they save lives.

Joseph A. Hill, M.D., Ph.D.

April 3, 2019

Heart

What we know – and don’t – about South Asians’ heart disease risk

Why do South Asian people living in the U.S. have a higher risk of heart disease than other populations? In this week’s MedBlog, Parag Joshi, M.D., discusses the latest research shared at the 2019 American College of Cardiology conference in New Orleans. Learn more.

Parag Joshi, M.D.

March 22, 2019

Heart; Prevention

How CTEPH treatment can eliminate blood clots in the lungs

People who develop a blood clot in the lungs typically treat it within three months by taking blood thinners. However, select patients with CTEPH must instead undergo surgery to remove the blood clot. Learn what surgical options are available at UT Southwestern.

Sonja Bartolome, M.D.

March 8, 2019

Heart

Fish oil for heart health? A tale of two studies

Many people take fish oil supplements daily to reduce the risk of heart attack. But do omega-3 fatty acid pills really work? In this week’s blog, Joseph A. Hill, M.D., Ph.D., discusses the ongoing debate, as well as scientifically proven strategies to reduce heart attack risk.

Joseph A. Hill, M.D., Ph.D.

February 28, 2019

Heart

MitraClip therapy: Which patients are ‘sick enough’?

MitraClip has emerged as a treatment option for patients with mitral valve disease who are not healthy enough for valve replacement surgery. However, the device is approved for only a small patient pool – and it might be unnecessary with optimized medical therapy.

Dharam Kumbhani, M.D.

February 20, 2019

MedBlog

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