A stroke results from lack of blood flow to the brain. This means that a region of cells is not able to work properly and can generate a variety of symptoms, depending on the brain area that has been affected. ... continue reading  about  How do I know if I have had a stroke?

Statistics have shown that the leading causes of death among people with diabetes are heart disease and stroke. That is because people with diabetes often times have hypertension, elevated cholesterol, and they... continue reading  about  I'm a woman (51) who has diabetes. I read recently that women with diabetes have a much greater risk of developing heart disease than those who don't have it. Why is this, and what can I do to protect myself from heart problems?

Your question is an excellent one, and a hot topic in the world of cardiology and preventive medicine.Vitamin D is not a true vitamin since we can manufacture it in our bodies, through the action of UVB rays th... continue reading  about  I read recently that a vitamin D deficiency may be linked to increased heart disease. Should I be tested for this deficiency, and if I'm low, would a supplement take care of this increased risk?

A fat pad can be a normal occurrence on the sac (pericardium) that surrounds the heart. In certain cases in can obstruct the view of the right middle lobe. If there is enough clinical suspicion (by symptoms or ... continue reading  about  I had a chest x-ray because of allergy symptoms. The doctor who read the x-ray said because of a cardiac fat pad in my right lobe, it was hard to tell if I had pneumonia. What is a fat pad, is this something that should concern me, and can I exercise?

Your question is at the heart of an important and common issue that cardiologists deal with regularly. When is chest pain a serious problem related to the heart? When is chest pain from something other than the... continue reading  about  I'm having chest pains, but all my tests related to the heart have come up clear. What could be the causing this pain?

Some migraines can be associated with neurological symptoms such as weakness, numbness, tingling, vision and speech changes, and some strokes can be associated with headaches. Therefore, sometimes it is difficu... continue reading  about  Migraine and stroke symptoms seem to overlap. How do I know I'm just having a migraine and not a stroke?

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?

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?

Great question, and one we get asked often. We also get asked about the use of Viagra. Sexual activity is generally categorized under "vigorous physical activity." Patients with known heart conditions need to c... continue reading  about  Can you participate in sex if you have an enlarged heart?