Ankle swelling can be due to a number of issues, with cardiac issues likely to be the most concerning. Other causes include, but are not limited to, venous insufficiency (incompetent valves), venous thrombosis ... continue reading  about  If you are a cardiac patient, what does it mean when your ankles are swollen? How much is too much, and for how long? Could this be diet, meds or both?

When the heart beat starts to slow down, or when the conduction starts to block every so often, sometimes it is because a medication is stressing the heart's electrical system. If there are no medications to ac... continue reading  about  My heart has been skipping and I'm feeling dizzy. I went in for testing and was diagnosed with second degree heart block. The doctor said that if it goes to third degree, he might suggest a pacemaker. What can I do to avoid moving to third degree?

Pacemakers are considered a contraindication for commercial and military diving. Recreational diving has limited medical literature. Each diver should have a detailed conversation with their personal physician ... continue reading  about  I'm a scuba diver who just had a pacemaker implanted. Is it safe to continue to dive? I have normal heart muscle function.

Milia are pin-head sized white bumps on the face, often around the eyes. They are tiny cysts caused by "clogged oil glands" and are distantly related to the tendency for acne. Using greasy creams can create mil... continue reading  about  I get these little white bumps around my eyes/eyelids that come and go. I know these are common, but I heard they could actually be a sign of high cholesterol?

I am not familiar with this particular statistic, but let me answer by explaining the differences between sudden cardiac death and a heart attack - and the warnings we get with each.Heart attacks occur when a c... continue reading  about  I recently read a scary statistic that said two-thirds of women who die suddenly of heart disease report no previous symptoms (as compared with half of men.) So if there are no symptoms – how would we know if a heart attack is coming on?

It sounds like your husband has been through a lot in the last year. There are several layers to your question and to your concerns.Generally, patients need to avoid salt if they have congestive heart failure o... continue reading  about  My husband had triple bypass surgery last August and in December, a defibrillator was implanted. He's having problems gaining weight. They said that he can eat anything as long as he limits salt. Can he eat high-fat meals?

There are several things that a patient can do to prevent a stroke. First and foremost, make sure that you are following up with your primary doctor to ensure that all of your possible stroke risk factors are t... continue reading  about  Is there anything I can do to lower my risk of having a stroke?

You are correct. There is concern that at least two of the statin drugs, Crestor and simvastation (Zocor), are associated with an increased risk of the development of Type 2 diabetes. A recent meta-analysis (po... continue reading  about  I read that taking rosuvastatin (Crestor) may increase the risk of getting type 2 diabetes. Is this true for other statins? I'm a 55-year-old woman who is taking a low dose of Lipitor. My last fasting blood sugar showed that I'm at a pre-diabetes stage.

I am so sorry to hear about your mother. Aortic valve stenosis is a narrowing of one of your heart's valves that prevents it from opening fully. This can obstruct blood flow in your heart from going onward to t... continue reading  about  My 86-year-old mom just passed away from aortic valve stenosis. Should I contact my doctor and have my heart checked out? I've heard that most heart exams are geared for men more so than women. What should I do?