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Category Archives: Education

Dr. Dinesh Pubbi discusses AFib Part 1

Electrophysiologist, Dr. Dinesh Pubbi with First Coast Heart & Vascular Center discusses Atrial Fibrillation (AFib).

The Link between Heart Disease and Diabetes

The majority of people living with diabetes understand that they have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. But the following statistics show clearly that there is a strong link between heart disease and diabetes.

  • As many as 68 percent of people age 65 and older with diabetes die from some form of heart disease.  Approximately 16 percent will die of a stroke.
  • Adults who have diabetes have twice the chance of developing heart disease as people who don’t have diabetes.
  • The American Heart Association considers diabetes to be one of the seven main controllable risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

The link between diabetes and heart disease begins with high blood sugar levels. Over time, the high glucose in the bloodstream injures the arteries, making them become stiff and hard.

The fatty material that builds up on the inside of these blood vessels can obstruct blood flow to the heart or brain and potentially cause a heart attack or stroke. Your risk of heart disease with diabetes is even higher if you also have a family history of cardiovascular disease or stroke.

Diabetes can also affect many major organs in your body, which can lead to an assortment of dangerous complications when left untreated. These medical problems include:

  • Cardiovascular disease including peripheral artery disease (PAD) and stroke;
  • Kidney disease;
  • Harmful cholesterol levels, which can cause atherosclerosis;
  • Damage to one’s eyesight;
  • Nerve damage and numbness in your extremities which can result in amputation;
  • Metabolic syndrome;

Healthy Lifestyle Habits

It’s important to have healthy lifestyle habits that can help you control your diabetes and prevent heart disease.

  • Follow a healthy eating plan.
  • Physical activity should be a part of your daily routine.
  • Stay at or get to a healthy weight.
  • Work with your health care team to manage your disease, which may include the use of medications.
  • Know your health numbers. – blood pressure and diabetes.

Managing your Diabetes

Understanding your diabetes numbers will reduce your risk for heart disease.

  • The A1C test reveals your average blood sugar level over the past three months. High blood sugar levels can damage your heart, blood vessels, kidneys, feet, and eyes.
  • High blood pressure makes your heart to work too hard. It can cause a heart attack, stroke and kidney disease.
  • There are two types of cholesterol LDL and HDL. LDL is often referred to as the bad cholesterol. It can build up and clog your blood vessels and can trigger a heart attack or stroke. Talk with your health care provider about your cholesterol numbers. Sometimes you may need to take medications to lower your cholesterol and protect your heart.
  • Don’t smoke and quit if you do. It is particularly important for people with diabetes since both smoking and diabetes narrow the blood vessels, so your heart has to work even harder.

Is there a connection between AFib and Dementia

Is there a connection between AFib and Dementia?

One of the most comprehensive studies to date has revealed more evidence that people diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (AFib), a type of rapid or irregular heartbeat may be at greater risk for cognitive decline and dementia.

The new study doesn’t conclude if the association is more than a correlation, and there is no evidence showing atrial fibrillation is an actual cause of cognitive decline or dementia.

Dr. Lin Yee Chen, a cardiac electrophysiologist and associate professor at the University of Minnesota Medical School in Minneapolis who led the study stated that “the short answer is we don’t know. It is too early to say that atrial fibrillation directly causes cognitive decline.”

The new findings, published March 7, 2018 in the Journal of the American Heart Association, come from data gathered on 12,500 women and men from North Carolina, Maryland, Minnesota and Mississippi enrolled in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study. Over half the participants were women and about a quarter were African-American.To read more about the study.

One of First Coast Heart & Vascular Center’s Electrophysiologists, Dr. Neil Sanghvi offers his viewpoint on this interesting study.

Neil Sanghvi, MD“The ARIC-NCS study highlights another risk associated with atrial fibrillation – the risk of worsening cognitive functioning and potential risk of future dementia.  

“Asymptomatic” AF may not truly be asymptomatic since these future consequences of long-standing AF need to be considered.  Talk to your physician about appropriate management including adequate anticoagulation.”

Symptoms and Conditions of the Heart and Vascular Systems

Today heart disease is America’s number one killer, but, unlike many diseases, there isn’t a specific age to start screening for heart or vascular disease. Your primary care doctor may refer you to a cardiologist if you have risk factors for cardiovascular disease or you are exhibiting symptoms that suggest that it may already be present.

Nearly half of Americans have at least one risk factor for heart disease, such as high blood pressure, obesity, physical inactivity or an unhealthy diet. Risk also increases with age.

While our First Coast Heart & Vascular physicians are your partners in heart health, you are your own best advocate. Become familiar with the risk factors and the symptoms of heart and vascular problems.  Talk to your doctor if you notice changes in your health and don’t hesitate to make an appointment with one of First Coast Heart & Vascular Center’s physicians today. If you experience any of the following symptoms of heart or vascular system disease:

HEART

  • Angina (chest pain).
  • Shortness of breath.
  • Irregular heartbeat.
  • Weakness, slurred speech, dizziness, coldness, numbness or pain in the arms or legs.
  • Pain in the throat, jaw, neck, upper abdomen or back.
  • Note: Men usually have chest pain whereas women often experience extreme fatigue, shortness of breath and/or nausea.
  • Swelling of the legs or abdomen.
  • Heart infection (pericarditis, myocarditis, endocarditis).

Vascular Disease

Vascular disease deals with the circulatory system outside of your heart. Vascular disease is frequently called a silent threat since the symptoms of vascular disease may be sudden or may not present themselves at all. Talk with your physician if you have any of the risk factors shown below, to find out if you are a candidate for a vascular screening test.

  • Peripheral vascular disease; uncontrolled hypertension, excessive muscle cramping, limb weakness, numbness, cold feet or hands, discoloration of legs ulcers in hands or legs, claudication (pain in the legs when walking), extremity hair loss or muscle wasting, abdominal pain with eating and weight loss or swelling of the legs.
  • TIA (Transischemic Attack or mini-stroke)
  • Stroke
  • Pulmonary Embolism (clots in the lungs)
  • Clots in the legs or arms

ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY

People with heart disease may present with symptoms such as an abnormal heartbeat or arrhythmia. Some of the symptoms include:

  • Palpitation or “racing of the heart”
  • Slow heartbeat
  • A “fluttering” feeling in the chest
  • Pain or discomfort in the chest area
  • Lightheadedness (even fainting)
  • Dizziness or shortness of breath
  • Atrial flutter or atrial fibrillation
  • Extra heartbeats or PVC (premature ventricular contractions)
  • Graying of the skin or turning blue
  • SVT (Supraventricular Tachycardia)

We work in harmony with your primary care physician to deliver diagnosis and treatment of all stages of heart and vascular disease. The following are health conditions that may put you at risk for a life-changing occurrence:

  • Aneurysms (abdomen, arms, legs) in both arteries and veins
  • Atrial fibrillation or any heart rhythm problem
  • “Clots” or DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) in extremities (arms, legs) or even in the heart
  • Diabetic issues
  • Heart attack
  • Heart failure
  • Heart valve disease (valve malfunction causing to be either leaky or blocked)
  • High cholesterol (Hyperlipidemia)
  • Hypertension (high blood pressure)
  • PAD (Peripheral Artery Disease)
  • Pulmonary Embolism
  • Stroke
  • Swollen legs
  • Shortness of breath, angina or chest pain
  • Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) or mini stroke
  • Varicose veins, spider veins, or leg ulcers due to vein disease.

Lunch and Learn Event August 15th 2017

Cardiologists Dr. Dinesh Pubbi and Dr. Van Crisco will be speaking at a Lunch and Learn event August 15th 2017 at the WJCT studio in Jacksonville.

CLEAN PIPES AND FUNCTIONAL WIRING: MODERN APPROACHES TO PREVENTING ATHEROSCLEROSIS AND ARRHYTHMIA

What You Don’t Know CAN Hurt You. Understanding Your Risk Factors for Heart & Peripheral Artery Diseases. Did you know that after menopause, a woman’s risk of heart increases? 90 percent of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease and or peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and Arrhythmias. It’s time to learn about the causes of heart disease, PAD, Atrial Fibrillation and ways you can prevent them.

Understanding Your Heart & Peripheral Artery Health Risk Factors… Learn how YOUR SEX and your age can impact your Heart, Peripheral Artery and Rhythm Health.

The focus of this community education is to discuss available therapies to treat heart disease and peripheral artery disease (PAD) for both men and women.

Learn more about:

  • The causes of heart disease in men and women.
  • Increased risk of heart disease based on ethnicity.
  • Available treatments for atrial fibrillation (Afib).
  • Available treatments for PAD.
Lunch and Learn Event August 15th 2017

Dr. Caracciolo at Senior Center

Dr. Caracciolo at Senior CenterDr. Caracciolo at Senior Center

On Oct 14, 2016 Dr. Vincent Caracciolo spoke at the Palm Coast Senior Center in Palm Coast.  He spoke about Heart Disease and Women.

Dr. Vincent Caracciolo at Palm Coast Center

Dr. Vincent Caracciolo at Palm Coast Center

Cardiologist, Dr. Caracciolo will be speaking this Friday, October 14th at 11:00am at the Palm Coast Community Center.  He will be discussing Heart Disease in Women. Dr. Caracciolo sees patients in Palm Coast and St. Augustine, Florida.

Dr. Pubbi Discusses Atrial Fibrillation

Dr. Dinesh Pubbi was recently featured on First Coast Living and discussed Atrial Fibrillation also known as AFib.

What is atrial fibrillation?

  • Also called AFib.
  • Most common arrhythmia in USA and world wide.
  • 5 to 6.5 million now. By 2050 eight million will be effected.
  • Irregular heart beat from upper chamber of heart.

2- What are the signs/symptoms? What Do People Feel?

  • Some people may complain of palpitations shortness of breath, chest pain, racing heart.
  • Flip flops in heart fluttering or flopping.
  • Fatigue and tiredness.
  • 30% may not have any symptoms at all.

3- Are women more likely than men to have irregular heart beats? What about Race; are Afro Americans more likely than the white population to suffer from irregular heart beats?

  • Women tend to develop atrial fibrillation at an older age then men; 4 years older.
  • Risk of death higher in women with AFib.
  • Women need to see electrophysiologist sooner.
  • Caucasians have higher prevalence of AFib.

4-Is atrial fibrillation associated with stroke or heart attack risk?

  • AFib is the leading cause of stroke.
  • Risk of stroke five times higher than normal population.
  • Up to 80%of strokes in people with AFib can be prevented.

5 -How is AFib treated?

  • Depends on how long you have it.
  • Three kinds of AFib – paroxysmal, persistent, and permanent.
  • Reset the rhythm.
  • Prevent blood clots from forming.
  • Coumadin and the new agents.

6-Can a person be cured of AFib? Can it go away?

  • Antiaarrhythmic medications, cardio version.
  • Ablation can be a cure for some patients.
  • Catheter ablations minimal invasive.
  • Can use heat Radiofrequency energy or freeze cryotherapy.
    • Used to treat hot spots or abnormal cells.
    • This corrects the arrhythmia without the need of medication or implantable device.
  • Need to see Electrophysiology doctor.

What is a heart attack?

What is a heart attack?

Interventional Cardiologist, Dr. Van Crisco discusses a recent patient that came into Memorial Hospital in Jacksonville, FL having a heart attack. Dr. Crisco was called to Memorial Hospital to perform a heart catheterization on the patient and the patient was saved.

Heart Drug Warfin used to treat AFib tied to Dementia Risk

Heart Drug Warfin used to treat AFib tied to Dementia Risk

An interesting study was recently published showing that people with the heart rhythm disorder atrial fibrillation (AF) may be at a greater risk of developing dementia, and the quality of their drug treatment may play a role.

Researchers found that patients on the clot-preventing drug warfarin showed a higher dementia risk if their blood levels of the medication were frequently too high or too low.

This turned out to be true not only for people with AF, but also for those using warfarin for other reasons.

To read the entire article.

Heart Drug warfin tied to Dementia Risk

Dr. Neil Sanghvi commented on this study and article.

I believe this study highlights the importance of monitoring warfarin levels closely and to consider alternate anticoagulation options if the warfarin levels are difficult to maintain.  Patients should not become concerned if their warfarin level is in range > 75% of the time.  This study also supports the importance of using anticoagulation in AF patients since patients with too low warfarin levels were also prone to dementia.”

 

SOURCES: T. Jared Bunch, M.D., Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute, Murray, Utah; Gordon Tomaselli, M.D., chief, division of cardiology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, and past president, American Heart Association; May 5, 2016, presentation, Heart Rhythm Society annual meeting, San Francisco

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