Frequently Asked Question

Cardiologists are physicians who treat the heart and its diseases using diagnostics and medication. Unlike cardiac surgeons, they do not perform surgical procedures. They see patients with both routine and complex cases of heart disease and heart conditions.

Interventional cardiologists are trained in cardiology, and then continue on for additional training in interventional cardiology. This extra training allows them to perform minimally invasive procedures involving small incisions and catheters instead of traditional surgery. These procedures are used to diagnose and treat diseases such as heart valve disorders; coronary artery disease; congenital heart disease; endocarditis; peripheral artery disease.

Cardiothoracic surgeons are heart surgeons who perform surgery in the area of the heart and lungs. Cardiothoracic surgeons have extensive experience in complex, life-saving procedures and cardiac care, including advanced, specialized procedures such as robotic and video assisted lung surgery, minimally invasive mitral valve repair and complex neonatal repairs.

Cardiovascular surgeons perform surgeries that include repair or replacement of heart valves; bypassing or widening of blocked arteries to the heart; repair of aneurysms; treatment of coronary artery disease; implanting of devices to regulate heart rhythm or support heart function and blood flow; and replacement of a damaged heart with a healthy heart from a donor.

Many years of scientific studies have shown a close relationship between cardiovascular disease and cholesterol levels. Your doctor may request a lipid profile—a test that shows the levels of LDL (bad cholesterol), HDL (good cholesterol), and triglycerides in your blood—to assess your risk for developing heart disease.

No. Fish oil has the ability to lower triglycerides, but not LDL cholesterol. However, there may be other potentially protective effects from fish oil, such as making your blood less likely to clot.

Even though you have low total cholesterol levels you can still be at an increased risk for heart disease, especially if you have a family history of vascular disease that begins at an early age.

Your risk also increases if you have metabolic syndrome, which is defined by having three or more of the following:

abdominal obesity, meaning your waist is more than 40 inches for men or 34 inches for women

• blood pressure over 130/85
• triglycerides over 150
• HDL less than 50 in a woman or less than 40 in a man
• high blood sugar levels

Yes. Although statins lower your cholesterol and reduce your risk of a heart attack, studies have shown that the amount of saturated fat you eat correlates with the progression of plaque buildup in your arteries, which can cause a heart attack or stroke. There is also evidence that high fat levels in your blood after eating a meal high in saturated fat can interfere with some of the protective function of the cells that line your arteries.

The frequency of liver problems with statin therapy is actually quite low. Less than 1 percent of people have to stop taking statins because they develop liver problems. Long-term trials have confirmed the safety of statins—the latest guidelines do not suggest a need to monitor people on statins who have normal liver function. In addition, in some cases where there is evidence of fat deposits in the liver, statin therapy may actually improve liver function tests.

The risk controllable risk factors of coronary artery disease are:

• Smoking
• High BP
• High Cholesterol
• Obesity & lethargic lifestyle
• Diabetes

Yes, you can reduce the heart disease risk by including certain food items in your diet such as:

• Green vegetables, fruits, grains, and legumes
• Avoid saturated fats
• Eat complex carbohydrates and avoid simple carbohydrates
• Reduce the consumption of salt

The common symptoms are:

• Weakness and fatigue
• Breath shortness & dizziness
• Nausea & Vomiting
• Heaviness in Chest

No, when the heart doesn’t pump blood enough to circulate blood throughout the body, this condition is heart failure. It can be due to weakness of heart muscles or inadequate filling of blood in the heart chambers.